Page 88 of Breathtaking

“No.” I press a kiss to his chest. “I knew you wouldn’t. And I didn’t want you to, if we’re being honest. But there isn’t much you can do here in the meantime. I figured one of us should get some sleep. And somebody has to take care of Meatball.”

“Rome is taking Meatball for us. And I wasn’t going to get any sleep without you anyway. Besides, who’s going to get up and change Brennan and bring him to you when he wants to eat? Callen told me that’s my job for the foreseeable future. Change the baby and bring him to you, so you can nurse. I’m pretty sure I can handle that.” His voice is scratchy but somehow lighter than I’ve heard it in so long. “Sleep, Lennon. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

The conversation we had last spring flashes in my mind, and I suddenly realize how full circle we’ve come.

“Thank you for saving me, Maddox...” My voice shakes, betraying my emotions. “That night in the snow and every day since I showed up last summer and blew up your entire world.”

“Don’t you see it,principessa? You are my world. Brennan was exactly what we needed to figure out a way to be together. And trust me when I say we were always supposed to be together.” He sinks further into the uncomfortable hospital bed and pulls me with him. “Thank you for giving me a chance to prove it to you.”

“I can’t wait to get home and start our life,” I admit hesitantly. “The three of us.”

I close my eyes, wishing my mom was here to see this and realize I have to call my brothers. Shoot. I can’t have them hear about this in the news. “Hey...” I wake a dozing Maddox. “Could you hand me one of our phones?”

“Umm-hmm...” He passes me my phone from the rolling hospital table, and I smile as he goes right back to sleep while I dial Rhys.

He picks up on the second ring, and I see his smiling face and him sitting at his desk. “Hey, big brother,” I whisper. “Guess what?”

“Hey, kid. Why are you whispering? And what time is it there?”

I pan the phone over to where Brennan is sleeping soundly in his little clear hospital basinet, wrapped in a blue-and-white blanket with a matching blue beanie on his small head. “Meet your nephew.”

“Lennon... Wow. Seriously?” He inhales. “He’s beautiful, just like his mother.”

“I wanted you and Atticus to hear it from me,” I yawn as my body fights to stay awake. “But I’m so tired. Could you tell Atticus? And let him know I’ll call in a few hours?”

“Wish I was there to meet him,” he says solemnly.

“I do too. Maybe you could come back over during Christmas.” I know it’s a long shot, but I don’t think I’m welcome at home, and I’d love for my brothers to meet Brennan.

“I’ll see what I can do. FaceTime me tomorrow when you and the baby are awake. I want to meet him.” I recognize the sadness in his eyes because it’s reflected in my own.

“I will. Love you, Rhys.”

“Love you too, little sister. Get some sleep.”

I disconnect the call and steal another peek at the perfection lying in the bassinet next to me, then snuggle back into Maddox’s arms. I close my eyes, knowing this is as close to perfect as a person ever gets to have in life, and I’m so lucky to be here.

LENNON

I thought I knew what beauty was,

but beauty didn’t exist until I watched my husband hold our son.

—Lennon’s Secret Thoughts

The sun drifts in through the curtains, pulling me unwillingly from my dream, and it was beautiful. Maddox and I were lying on a blanket in the rolling field with irises behind the palace with Brennan between us. It was quiet and peaceful, and somewhere in the depths of my soul, I knew my mother was there with us. So happy for me. Happy I found my way to this life. Happy I managed to get what she never had. A marriage based on love, not political or financial gain.

She whispered in my ear,“Do not age gracefully, my love. Fight for every day. Every minute. Fight for your family and know that I tried to fight for mine.”

I roll over and reach for Maddox, but my hand brushes cold sheets instead of my husband, and I startle, now fully awake. The room is empty.

No Maddox. No Brennan. Not even Meatball, and our lazy dog loves nothing more than to climb in bed with me the second Maddox leaves it. He knows he’s not supposed to be there, but he’s as obstinate as Maddox.

Where is everyone?

My boobs hurt as I stand and stretch, so I know it’s time for Brennan to eat. My son never misses a chance to nurse. The only issue we faced with his early delivery was that his suck wasn’t quite as strong as it could have been, and my milk hadn’t quite come in yet. So instead of nursing every three hours, he’s been nursing every two. And instead of him being done in twenty minutes, my beautiful baby boy likes to take his time and linger. Time to find my men.

I throw a sweater over the pretty white nightgown Caitlin gave me when I got home from the hospital. According to her, it may look sweet and innocent, but something about it will drive your husband wild. A woman on some show on Netflix that was based on a romance book wore it a few times and now it has its own Reddit page. Well, she was right. Maddox loves it, and I now own three in white, two in ice-blue, and one in pale-pink.

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