Page 95 of Just the Wrong Twin

“So, no one wanted Sheba.” He thought of Rex again. That dog had been lucky, but he could change this one’s luck right here and right now. “What do you say, girl? Should we be a team?”

Sheba tilted her head when she spoke, and it seemed that she understood. She gave a little bark, then stood beside him, facing Mack.

A team.

Mack looked between the two of them. “Do you want me to find out about the handler’s family?”

“No, it’s good. She’s got me now. If they want to get in touch, we can do that, but they clearly don’t want her.” Nate had a look at the prosthesis. “If you could bring me some tools, I might be able to modify this a bit. We’ll need something for that blister, too.”

“In the bag,” Mack said and smiled. “I packed in the spirit of optimism.”

“I like that.”

Mack shook a finger at him. “Remind me to never visit a shelter with you.”

“Why?”

“We’re both pushovers. We’d end up bringing all the dogs home.”

“Maybe that wouldn’t be such a bad thing,” Nate said and Mack grinned. He laughed and Sheba looked up at the sound. Her ears pricked a bit and Nate grinned at her. “We’re going to be just fine, girl,” he said. “You just wait and see.”

And she wagged her tail, just once, as if she wanted to believe but wasn’t quite sure.

Nate could work with that.

* * *

Cassie carriedMichael into the hospital on Monday evening, bracing him on one hip. In her other hand, she carried a take-out box from Reid’s place in the lobby at F5F. The bodega wasn’t technically open, but they were preparing take-out and food boxes there for the employees of the club. Reid had stayed home with Marty, only having reluctantly surrendered the argument about accompanying her. It was better for the baby to keep away from the hospital during the pandemic, and Cassie wanted to see Ty and Shannyn herself.

There had been a time when she’d thought Ty was the only man for her, then Shannyn had stolen his heart away. It was only after Cassie had connected with Reid again that she’d realized she’d never love Ty the way she adored Reid, and that they could never have been so good together.

Still, she didn’t mind peeking in at the life she didn’t have. It was a good reminder that she’d landed exactly where she needed to be.

She’d given Michael dinner and he was sleepy, plus a lot heavier than Marty at a year older. She had to believe that Shannyn had delivered already, given the speed of Michael’s arrival, and she was right—the nurse on the desk informed her that Ms. Hawke had been moved to a room in the maternity ward. Cassie took an empty elevator upstairs, fully expecting to find Ty with Shannyn.

He was. He looked tired but happy, rocking the new baby in the dim light by Shannyn’s bed. Shannyn was asleep, a drip in her arm, and Ty’s suit jacket was thrown across the foot of the bed. His tie was loosened and he was murmuring to the new arrival. Cassie stood in the doorway for a minute, just watching them together.

Who would have guessed all those years ago, when the friends had joined together to start a fitness club, that they’d all be happily married with kids by now—and loving every minute of it?

“Dada,” Michael said, stirring and seeing his father. He stretched out a hand toward Ty.

Ty looked up and smiled. He brought the baby to Cassie, rocking him all the while. “Joshua,” he said softly. “Meet your big brother, Michael, and my friend, Cassie.” The baby squeezed his eyes shut and emitted a small cry, his little fist shaking.

“Maybe he was hoping to be an only child,” Cassie said quietly.

Ty grinned. “It’s probably the light.”

“Hi Joshua,” Cassie said softly, touching the back of his small hand. Babies were such miracles and each one just melted her heart. She looked up at Ty. “Everything good?”

“Great. Terrific APGAR.” He widened his eyes. “Lightning fast delivery.”

“Shannyn gets it done,” Cassie said with a measure of envy. “None of this twenty hours of labor crap for her.”

“I don’t know,” Ty said. “At least you have time to get to the hospital.”

“Did you make it today?”

“Barely. We didn’t get to the ER but she was on a gurney this time.” Ty smiled, not looking troubled in the least, probably because all had gone well.

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