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I touch the end button and my hands fall slack at my sides. A lady who looks like she’s about to pop and her significant other are walking up to the front doors. The man looks like he’s about to cry, and the woman is taking in quick breaths, releasing a long one at the end.
“Grow some balls, Jason. I’m the one in labor. Stop crying,” she screams, hitting him in the arm. I bite my lip, holding in the chuckle trying to escape. I can imagine Addison saying something like that. God, I can’t wait for her to have my children.
I watch the doors shut behind them only to open again. Max is standing there with his hands in his pockets.
“She had the baby,” he says.
This is it. Even though I’m almost positive she’s not mine, I can’t be one hundred percent sure. I might be a dad at this very second, and I’m about to look into the eyes of a child who might be mine. I push off the wall with my foot, sticking my phone into my back pocket and walk back inside.
“How are they?” I ask as we walk toward the nursery.
“Both are doing well. They’re cleaning Presley up right now,” Ryan says, pointing at a huge piece of glass in front of us. We walk up and watch nurses tend to the babies. Some are sleeping and some not so much. One of the not so much ones is Presley. She is pissed off and beet red. I would be, too, baby girl, if they were smearing greasy crap in my eyes. They weigh her in front of us and boy does she have a set of lungs. It’s not until they clean her up and wrap her in some white blanket that she settles down. She’s wrapped so tight, I’m surprised she can breathe.
“Don’t you think that’s a little too tight,” I ask the guys, not taking my eyes off her.
“Fuck if I know,” Max answers. “It doesn’t look comfortable.”
“I’d hate not to be able to stretch my arms. It looks like they Saran Wrapped her. It doesn’t look right,” Ryan comments.
We all stand there and gaze at the baby. And then she opens her eyes and looks right at me. Blue eyes stare up at me. She blinks a couple times. She has little dark blond hairs on top of her head. She’s beautiful. She reminds me of…
“Is it weird I’m thinking she looks like Addison? God, that’s messed up.” Holy shit, this baby thing is messing with my head.
“No, she kind of does. But all babies are born with blue eyes. Not sure where she got the light hair, though,” Ryan answers, looking over at me and then back to her. Jessie’s natural hair color is dark brown, just like mine. “She doesn’t look anything like you.”
My eyebrows furrow, looking at Ryan. “She looks like a raisin right now. I don’t think you’d be able to tell who a kid looks like when they’re first born.” One thing is for sure, we’re all mesmerized by her.
“Isn’t she beautiful?” Macie coos from behind us. Ryan turns to her and pulls her to his front so she can see.
“She is,” Ryan replies, resting his head on top of hers. “Hopefully we’ll have one soon.”
I whip my head in their direction. “Are you guys trying?”
Macie sighs. “We’ve been trying,” she says, defeated. “For what feels like forever.”
I slap Ryan on the back. “It’ll happen. You guys will be great parents.” How I wish we were staring at their baby right now.
“Thanks,” he says quietly.
“Do you want to go hold her?” Macie says, clearing her throat and glancing up at me. She tries to hide wiping away a tear by rubbing her whole face.
“Macie,” I say, looking away.
“Aiden, you don’t know. You’ll regret it for the rest of your life if you find out you are.”
I turn my attention back to Presley. She’s wide awake and so small. I’m afraid I’ll break her. At least with Lexi, I can play around with her, throw her in the air. I don’t ever feel I’m going to hurt her. I’ve never held a baby before.
“I will. Just give me some time.” She lays her hand on my back, so I reach around and pull her into my side. We stand there for a few more moments in silence before she speaks.
“I’ll go check on Jess. She should be cleaned up by now. They moved her to room 410.”
“Thanks, Mace.” I kiss the top of her head before she turns out of my arms and walks away.
“How are we going to do this?” Max asks. He’s back to business.
“I’ll go into Jessie’s room and hold Presley. I’ll need a swab on hand, so I can do it when she’s not looking.” My voice is hushed. Both guys nod in understanding. I look back at Presley and wonder. Who’s your daddy, little girl? Holy shit! I look up to the ceiling and grimace in disgust. I’m not sure if I’m madder that I thought that just now or because I have used that line on a grown woman. Never again.
Max’s hand slaps my back. “Let’s go get some lunch, then we’ll come back.”
