Page 69 of It Must Be Fate

“Dads are usually so excited to have sons,” Doctor Miller points out. “This is new.”

“I already have two of those. I want a daughter.” I pause, then add with a pout, “Rhys has two.”

Bellamy groans. “Is that what this is about? You want what Rhys has?”

“I’m just saying it’s not fair. I just wantone. Three sons is insane, what are we going to do with them?”

“Love them?”

“Well that’s a given, Bell, but me and my sperm are also going to have a long conversation about why the boys keep winning the race to the egg. It feels sexist and I don’t like it.”

“Oh, my god.”

“I’m being serious.”

“I’ve been with you for nine years, baby. I know you are.”

I look over at the baby moving around on the monitor and feel the familiar rush of warmth I experienced when looking atmy first two boys. We’re going to have an unruly household with that much testosterone under one roof.

“And now I’m going to have to share and compete for your attention with yet another boy. My time with my wife has been cut by three fourths because of my sons? This sucks.”

“Daddy not happy,” Rhodes points out.

“No, Daddy is not happy. But Daddy is going togethappy otherwise he’ll find his time cut down to zero,” Bellamy says with a sweetly threatening smile.

“You wouldn’t,” I say, horrified.

“For my sons? I would.”

I drop my head in my hands. “See, it’s already starting.” I groan again and look over at the doctor. “Is it too early to schedule a c-section so we can get him out and get back to trying for a girl?”

“Doctor, ignore him.”

“Sweetheart, I—”

The words die on my lips when I see the look she gives me.

Very simply, Bellamy taught me how to love. The emotion was foreign and held very little value to me before she came into my life. My friends may love their wives, but I’m dependent on mine. Our souls are tied together in such a way that if the fates ever tried to cut the string and take her from me, I’d follow her head first into the afterlife.

So when I say that I’m controlled by the slightest passing emotion on her face, I mean it.

I stand and set Rhodes down on my chair, leaving him to wage war on a fresh batch of cotton balls, and go to my wife. I stroke her hair quietly for a moment, staring into the hazel eyes that first bewitched me nine years ago.

“Is the baby healthy, Doc?” I ask without turning towards her.

“Perfectly healthy. Ten fingers, ten toes. He’s going to be as adorable as the first two.”

“Good,” I whisper, speaking to Bellamy now. I bend forward and press a soft kiss to her lips. “That’s all that matters to me.”

“I don’t want you to be disappointed.”

“I’m not,” I promise. “I’m having another baby with you. That’s what makes me happy. I’ll love this little boy like I love the others.” I straighten, squeezing her hand. “But fuck, good luck to the world. Three Royal boys? They’re going to terrorize everybody.”

She laughs. “The teenage years will be painful,” she admits. “But we’ll get through it.” She reaches a hand out to our son. “Rhodes, baby. You’re going to have another brother.”

His face screws up in a grimace. “Yuck.”

Bellamy glowers at me.

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