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Dad comes around the bed to stand next to me. “We couldn’t be more proud of you. Both of you.”
A knock on the door precedes our nurse’s entrance. “Sorry to interrupt, but we have quite a few people in the waiting room who come bearing gifts.”
I raise my eyebrows at Kylie. “Sounds like the troops have arrived.”
She grins. “Best not to keep them waiting then.”
Mom passes Reina back to Kylie and offers to send some of the group back since they limit how many people can be in the room at one time.
I should’ve known the girls would find a way to skirt the rules though, and all six of them file in a minute later.
Gia, Farrah, and Gwen head straight for Kylie, giving her hugs and making sure she’s feeling okay. Knox, Emmett, and Holt make their way to me on the other side of the room, hugging me as enthusiastically as the girls. London makes quick work of introducing everyone to her baby sister, soaking in the attention while she stays snuggled next to Kylie and Reina.
“How did the Nerf gun work?” Gia asks.
“That was your fault?” I gasp.
She smirks. “Oh, it so worked.”
Kylie starts giggling. “No, it was my idea. Gia just made sure it got packed in the bag.”
“Why did you need a Nerf gun?” Holt asks.
“She shot me with it while I was asleep,” I accuse, although I throw her a wink to tell her I didn’t mind.
“Damn. I’m glad Hannah never had anything like that. She would’ve shot me just to shoot me,” he jokes about his late wife.
“I’m pretty sure you would’ve deserved it,” Gia throws back. I’m always astounded by her ability to talk about Hannah without batting an eye. I have so much respect for the way she’s never tried to erase or replace Hannah. Gia is no doubt the perfect woman for Holt. “Now I want to get some for the girls. We could have a war one night.”
Holt looks at Gia with stars in his eyes. “We’ll stop at the store before we pick them up from Mom and Dad.”
After a long round of handwashing, Reina gets passed around our friends like a football. I watch it all with an exhausted happiness I had no idea was possible.
It’s an incredible experience to feel the full weight of how much you’re loved in one afternoon. I’ve always been grateful for my best friends, but seeing the way they have enveloped Kylie without a single hiccup only amplifies that feeling.
Before I have to say anything, our friends notice Kylie’s energy flagging and make their way out. Mom and Dad spend a little more time with us and then shuffle an exhausted London out as well.
When we’re finally alone with Reina, I snuggle into Kylie’s hospital bed to hold them both close.
Kylie snuggles into my chest, releasing a happy sigh when she gets comfortable. “I’m so glad we get to do this together, Gray.”
“Me too, Ladybug.”
Me too.
CHAPTER 41
Kylie
“What do you think, baby girl? You happy with your outfit change? You look beautiful. Just try not to have an explosion in this one too, okay? We have to look like we have our shit together in our pictures, and explosive poops do the exact opposite.”
I curl my lips between my teeth to keep from laughing at Grayson’s conversation with Reina. Peeking my head into her nursery, I watch Grayson snuggle our girl into his chest while he bounces her back and forth. He presses his lips to her dark hair and stays there for a long moment with his eyes closed.
Tears prick the back of my eyes. God, I love that man.
I still can’t believe Reina’s been here for two months already. A few weeks ago, it hit us that we don’t have any family pictures of the four of us, so we called a local photographer to take some shots.
Bethany is coming out to the house so that we don’t have to go anywhere. Gray and I have enjoyed being in our little bubble. We’re not quite ready to leave it just yet. I’ve got another few weeks before my maternity leave is up. Holt gave me twelve weeks to spend with Reina, with the agreement that he would understand if I decided to stay home with her.
