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“I don’t know, maybe in a year? How about you?” I ask, wondering where his mind is at. Is he asking me because he’s ready or because he’s not? Or is he just bracing himself for when the time comes?
“A year sounds good,” he agrees. “I just want you to be happy, and not feel like you’re missing out on anything because you chose me to fall in love with.”
“That wasn’t a choice. I couldn’t have stopped myself if I tried.” I grin, resting my head on his shoulder. “But it’s not all about me and my timeline. We’re a team, and we can compromise so we’re both happy.”
“I think a year is good. Gives us some time with just us, before we add to our family.”
“Did you ever think you’d be having this conversation?” I ask.
“No,” he laughs. “Nor did I think I’d ever be in a room with a woman giving birth.”
We go back in to see baby Julian, who is absolutely gorgeous, with dark hair and his dad’s brown eyes. Seeing River holding him makes me question if I can wait the year I just requested.
“You look very nice with that baby,” I say, and Julianna laughs.
“Uh-oh, you’re in trouble now, River.”
Instead of freaking out like I thought he would, he smiles and looks down at the baby. My heart flutters at the sight of him. He’d be an amazing dad, I’ve always known that, albeit a little overprotective.
But I’d balance that out in him.
“I just thought I’d let you know that his full name is Julian River Montanna,” Julianna adds, smiling happily. “And we’d like for both of you to be his godparents.”
River looks away, rubbing his eyes. It’s the first time I’ve seen him cry. “I’d love that.”
“Me, too,” I reply, hugging my cousin. “And now I know it’s a boy, I get to go shopping.”
I hug Romeo, and River does the same.
And then we leave them to get acquainted with their new bundle of joy.
Our godson.
Chapter Thirty-Two
River
Now that they have a baby, Romeo and Julianna get their own little place, but because they will still be at the clubhouse a lot, we also set up a nursery and babyproof the house for them. Bella and I surprise them with the fully stocked nursery, and we get Corey, who is amazing at painting, to do a mural on the wall. She paints an ocean theme, with a whale shark, octopus and manta ray. It looks fucking wonderful. Bella went out and bought wooden letters so we can put his name up on the wall.
Julian River.
What a strong name, and it means the world to me that they named him after me.
After three nights in the hospital, they come to the clubhouse and we surprise them with the nursery. Julianna cries, and Romeo gets all emotional, hugging me.
“It’s nicer than the one we have set up at our new place,” Julianna says, wiping her eyes. “Now we might as well just live here.”
“We wanted him to be comfortable when he is here,” Bella says, carrying Julian against her chest and gently rocking him.
“Corey, I had no idea you were so talented,” Romeo says to my sister, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her against him.
“Thank you.” She beams, looking over at her work. “I’m glad you like it.”
“We love it,” he replies.
Bella puts Julian in his new crib, and Julianna takes photos of him doing things like sleeping and breathing.
Jag comes into the room and nods for us to come out with him.
