Page 58 of A Minute Past Midnight

“Upstairs. First door on the left. I'll be up to say good night in a moment.”

They bid us a good night as I turned to Samir. “I knew this wouldn't go well.”

“You don't have to feel bad about what happened tonight, Cin. I've handled bigger men than him.” He winked.

I smiled lightly. “I don't feel bad. It needed to be said. Honestly, if you weren't here, I'd probably be on my way back to Tennessee.”

“And I’d be uprooting my life, going from a city boy to a country boy.”

I laughed as he dropped a kiss on my forehead.

“I love you.” Those three words made me pause. It was the first time in six months that we’d been dating that he’d said it. “Remove the shock, baby. I fell for you the day I saw you again, but I fell in love with you the night you stayed at my house. You and this baby have become a part of my every thought. Every day, I try to think of different ways to spoil you and see those cute little dimples I know the baby will inherit.

“You're beautiful inside and out. No nigga walking this Earth could resist falling in love with you. I did that, and I want to give you the life you've always wanted and deserve.”

Tears slipped from my eyes, and I swear I'd become the biggest crybaby since being pregnant, but even if I wasn't, Samir just did everything to make me feel whole.

Even the reconciliation with my parents didn't make me as happy as this man had made me over the past six months.

“I love you too.”

He cracked a wide grin. “That's all I needed, baby. Now we live out our happily ever after.”

I’d faced situations in my life that should’ve broken me, but nothing could’ve prepared me for watching Juliana bring my baby into this world.

“Look at me, Cinderella.”

Her sweaty face turned toward mine, tears streaking down her cheeks as she gripped my hand with enough force to probably break every bone in my shit.

“I can’t do this.” She cried.

“Yes, you can.” I brushed her damp hair from her forehead and kissed her temple. “You hear me? You’re the strongest woman I know. One more push, baby. Get my baby out of there. He’s ready to come home.”

“Samir, please shut the hell up!” she screamed.

I almost laughed.

Almost.

“Okay,” I said quickly. “You can cuss me out later. Right now, we’re having this baby.”

Another contraction ripped through her, and Juliana cried out as the doctor coached her through it.

“Push, Juliana. You’re doing so good.”

“Come on, baby,” I whispered, holding her hand. “We got this.” With one final scream and push, the room was suddenly filled with the most beautiful sound I’d ever heard.

The baby’s cries.

My son.

My eyes filled as I stared at him while the nurses quickly cleaned him up and placed him on Juliana’s chest. “He’s beautiful,” I whispered.

“It's a boy. Our boy,” she said, lifting her head, looking down at him with a smile.

“It is. Samir Asaad Junior.”

Juliana chuckled through her tears. “Just my luck.”