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But they both knew the likelihood of that. Once Shelby saw it, she’d call their mom.
That horrible, trapped feeling lurked at the edges of his mind. He didn’t know what he hated more, the anticipation leading up to the fight, or the fight itself.
Because it was always a fight.
And his sacrifices had never been enough to get them to leave him alone.
“Would you like to hold your niece?” Nikki asked, breaking into his dark thoughts.
Asa immediately stood and went to the sink, washing his hands. He returned to Nikki’s side and took the tiny bundle she offered him.
Amber grunted and blinked at him sleepily. The warmth of the newborn soaked into him and eased his residual tension. He slowly sat back down in the chair.
“She’s perfect, Nik,” he whispered.
She really was. With her scrunched up face and her tiny, tiny eyelashes. She was the most perfect thing Asa had ever held.
He started humming one of his and Nikki’s favorite songs before he began singing the words out loud.
“Best of Friends” from the movieThe Fox and the Hound.
They’d watched the movie so many times when they were younger that they’d worn out the VHS copy and had to wait until it came out on DVD. They had the entire thing memorized.
Every time Asa saw a copy of it for sale, he bought it. Just in case.
It was still a comfort watch for him on those really tough days.
“Damn you, Asa Young.”
He looked up at Nikki, who was wiping her eyes, and he grinned.
“Have to start her young,” he explained. “It’s imperative that she know her family history.”
Nikki snorted and reached for the tissues on the tray table beside her.
“When do you get to go home?” he asked, taking Amber’s tiny fist and rubbing the soft skin with the pad of his thumb. She even had tiny fingernails.
“Uh, tomorrow I think.”
“Is the apartment ready or do I need to go over and finish things for you?”
“You’re the best,” she said. “No, I think it’s ready.”
He glanced up at the tone in her voice. She was looking off to the side in thought.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
She lifted her eyebrows and slid her gaze back in his direction. “I was just thinking about all the stuff we have to finish at the house.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, mama. You have time. And you know I’ll help wherever I can.”
She smiled and blinked slowly. “I know. That’s because you’re the best.” She yawned. “I think I might take a short nap,” she said.
“Go for it,” he said. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Nikki nodded and closed her eyes, sinking back into the pillow.
Asa adjusted his hold on the sleeping baby and got comfortable himself.
