Page 93 of I Wanna Be Your Lager

The corner of my mouth curves into a smile. When Eve and I started our relationship, I never wanted Jake to be caught inthe middle. He only wants what’s best for his sister. I’m glad to know he now trusts me to be the one to look after her and not just keep her out of trouble. It took some time, but those wounds are healed, including the ones on my face. Now it’s time for us to take our relationship to the next level: raising a baby together. Without another word, I’m pushing through the door and racing to my truck. I jump inside and turn it over. My tires spin on the pavement as I step on the gas. I get to our townhouse in record time and grab the hospital bag Eve packed.

Eve’s having the baby. I know he’s not biologically mine, but fuck, he feels like mine. I’m going to be there for him as if he’s mine. It doesn’t matter if we’re blood or not. He’ll always be my son. The entire drive across town is a blur. At the hospital, I park in the first available parking spot. I shove the envelope Jake gave to me in the front pocket of Eve’s bag and torpedo across the parking lot and inside. After I find what floor Eve is on, I forgo waiting for the elevator and hoof it up the two flights of stairs. I come to another waiting area when I spot Rylee standing near the large window that faces Lake Superior.

“Rylee!” She spins around, and I jog to her. “Where’s Eve?” My chest heaves as I collect my breath.

“They took her through the doors.” She points to a set of double doors behind me. “I’m sure it’s to check to make sure everything is okay.”

Spinning around, I spot the reception desk and close the distance. “Excuse me. I’m Lach Murray, I’m looking for Eve Porter. She just came in here. Her water broke.”

“Yes. They took her to a delivery room. If you want to have a seat, we’ll keep you updated.” She points to the waiting room chairs.

“Really?” I slam my hands on the desk. “That’s all you can give me? She needs me. I should be there with her.”

“Lach.” Rylee’s hand rests on my arm. “Come. It will be okay. She’s in good hands. She’ll let the doctors know you’re here.”

I nod and follow Rylee to a row of chairs in front of the window. Rylee takes a seat, but I can’t sit. I want answers, but no one can give me any. My feet carry me from one end of the row of chairs to the other. I repeat the path over and over again; I’m surprised I don’t wear a hole in the carpet. Seconds turn to minutes. The minutes add up to half an hour. Then three-quarters of an hour.

“Lachlan Murray.” My name draws my attention to a doctor, Eve’s doctor, standing in front of the double doors. I race over to her.

“Yes. Is Eve okay? The baby?”

“Both Eve and the baby are doing great. We had to perform an emergency C-section. Everything went as planned. Would you like to see them?”

Dumb fucking question. “Yes.” I follow Sofia through the double doors and down a short hallway. She comes to a stop in front of an open door. Eve’s lying in bed, holding her baby boy. My heart swells to twice the size. Once for Eve and the second for the little boy in her arms. I rush to her side. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t be here for you.”

She peers up at me, pure elation and happiness adorning her eyes. “It’s okay. You’re here now.”

I press my lips to her forehead. I glance down at the baby in her arms, swaddled in a blanket. His tiny fingers wiggling in the cool air. “Does he have a name?”

“He does. Lach, I’d like you to meet Asher Lachlan Porter.” She smiles up at me.

“Lachlan, huh?”

“I kind of like the name and guy I got it from. Archibald was also in the running.” She flashes me a teasing smirk.

“I like Lachlan better.”

“Would you like to hold him?”

“Yeah.” I take a seat in the chair next to her, and she passes me Asher. I stare down at his little nose and little mouth as his lips move. I’m going to love him as much as I love his mom. “Oh. Jake gave me this. I thought it might be important.” Carefully, I bend over to pluck the envelope from the hospital bag and pass it to Eve.

“What’s this?”

“I don’t know. You’ll have to open it.”

Her eyebrows pinch together as she breaks the seal and slides out a piece of paper. Her eyes follow the words, reading line for line. She drops the letter to her lap. A vacant, emotionless look fills her eyes and spreads across her face.

“What does it say?”

Her lips pull into a smile. “Pax signed over his rights.”

With Asher in my arms, I lean over to Eve. “I love you, Sunflower.”

Her hand rests against my cheek, and I lean into her warmth. “I love you too.”

EPILOGUE

TWO MONTHS LATER

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