Page 79 of Crossed Up

I pick up our sleeping son and cautiously hand him to our friend. Cope’s face softens immensely with a small smile as he strokes one long, inked finger down the baby’s soft cheek.

“What did y’all end up naming him?”

I glance at my wife, raising a brow. I think she’ll want to be the one to tell him. She pats the bed next to her so Cope can sit down and leans her head on his broad shoulder. She keeps her eyes trained on our son but raises her voice so everyone can hear. “Everybody, we’d like you to meet Carter Copeland Black.”

Cope’s jaw drops, and for only the second time in our nine years of friendship, I watch tears fill his eyes as he glances my way. “You named him after me?”

My smile never wavers as I shake my head no. “Ly chose his middle name.”

He turns his tear-filled eyes to my girl. “Tiny…”

Her bloodshot eyes get misty, and she tosses an arm around his waist in a side hug. “You went out of your way to help me before we even knew each other, Cope, and you’ve continued to do so ever since. The last few years you’ve become even closer to me than an actual brother would be, and I can’t imagine our life without you in it. Carter might not be here if it weren’t for you, and I thought it made sense to name him after my best friend.”

There isn’t a dry eye in the room by the end of Lyla’s speech, and as tears drip down Cope’s face, I find myself pulling him in for a hug, careful not to squish Carter between us. Lowering my voice so only he can hear, I give him my own version of thanks.

“You’ve been my best friend for nearly a decade, Cope. You’ve never hesitated to jump in and help when I needed it, but the way you’ve been there for my girl has only made my respect for you grow. If you hadn’t dove in without question to help with Sebastian three years ago, I might not have a wife and son. For that, I’ll always owe you. We love you man, and naming Carter after you was the only choice that made sense.”

I lean back and lock eyes with him so he knows how serious I am. “Your place in our life is not dependent on your career with the Raptors. You are a member of this family, whether you come back or not, you got that?”

He nods, clearing his throat. “Got it.”

His phone starts ringing, so he hands Carter back, and after their own newborn snuggles, Wren and Rhodes get ready to leave, too. Wren’s phone pings loudly, and I watch her eyes widen further as she reads whatever’s on the screen.

“Everything alright, Wrenny?” Lyla asks carefully, clearly noticing the change in her demeanor.

She turns wide eyes our way. “Jamie’s here.”

My eyebrows shoot to my hairline, and I have to work to keep my voice quiet since I’m still holding Carter. “What the fuck? Is he okay?”

Wren glances to her husband nervously, showing him the text. Rhodes visibly pales, glancing to me with a nervous look in his eyes I rarely see.

“He just became a father.”

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