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She nods, cheesing. “Boys first. That way they can look out for any future girls.”

“Damn right,” Lawson says from behind me.

It’s probably inappropriate, considering the location, but I can’t help myself.

I shove my mouth to hers for a quick kiss. “I love you so much, pretty girl. Can you believe we’re going to be parents?”

“It’s kinda surreal, but they’re also sitting on my bladder, so I’m coming to terms with it.” She gives a wide smile that makes my heart flutter.

Sometimes I think about how different life would have been if I had skipped checking on the gym and restaurant that morning… It never fails to make a pit form in my gut.

I’m not religious, but I’ll never get over how lucky we got that day.

Epilogue

Luka

Not being able to have all three of us in the room while the boys were delivered was hard, but I was able to video call with Bryant and Lawson while they waited in Abby’s hospital room. With the boys being identical twins, they needed to be delivered by C-section. Since they shared a placenta, but not amniotic sacs, they were able to bake until thirty-six weeks.

I’m still shocked that Abby was carrying around a little less than thirteen pounds of baby. They’re so small, but when I think about the fact they were floating in her stomach less than eight hours ago, it’s a mindfuck.

The female body really is a wonder.

I thought Lawson was going to be the blubbering baby, but it ended up being me, and I’m okay with that. I’m still having trouble regulating my emotions.

It was tough watching Abby undergo major surgery. Not only that, but she barely got a few hours of rest before they took out her catheter and had her walk around.

After witnessing what I did, I’m pretty sure we should be done with two kids. At the very least, I’ll let Bryant or Lawson be in the room if she ever has to have another C-section. It was fucking brutal, and everyone acts like it’s completely normal. I guess it is for the doctors and nurses.

I’m perched next to Abby on the hospital bed, and I snuggle a little closer as she feeds Colt. She’s made it clear that she’s not completely sold on breastfeeding, but she wants to at least try to get them both a little colostrum.

With everything she’s been through over the last twenty-four hours, I wouldn’t blame her for wanting to solely bottle-feed. I want to be supportive of whatever she wants, though formula feeding would finally allow us to take over for more than diaper changes.

Goddammit.

Why didn’t anyone tell me how helpless I would feel while watching the woman I love suffer?

Lawson has Beau tucked in his forearm as he gently rocks him against his chest.

The boys are incredible.

It’s an instantaneous feeling of love that I didn’t know existed, and I’m still beating myself up for everything Abby had to go through to bring them into the world.

Abby nuzzles her cheek to my shoulder, peeking up at me from under her lashes. “Are you doing okay over there? Your emotions are kind of a mess in the bond.”

“Me?” I scoff. “How are you? Can I get you anything?”

“You were more traumatized by my C-section than I was.” She laughs, shaking her head. “I’m not going to lie, I was hurting pretty bad when they tried to give me Tylenol after cutting me practically in half. Once they coughed up the good stuff, I’m feeling great.”

Yeah, that is pretty fucked up.

I threw out my back playing basketball a few years ago, and they gave me stronger meds than what they gave Abby at first.

I bend down, kissing the side of her head. “I’m so relieved that you’re feeling better. Can I get you anything?”

“Nah, I’m enjoying snuggling with you,” she says, running her fingers over Colt’s cheek. “If I need anything, I’ll make Bryant get it.”

He chuckles. “Direct me where you need me, pretty girl.”