Page 27 of Dubious Secrets

She moves to me with a smile and I catch her waist.

“You good?”

Stassie swallows. “Yeah, yeah I’m fine. I was just…it’s fine.”

I study her face and sigh, pulling her into my arms. “I wish she was here too.”

She stiffens and then relaxes into my hold. “I gave her a few weeks before texting, but she hasn’t responded at all.”

“I know, baby. I’m sure she’s thrown herself into work, but it’s still only been a few months. We have no right to get impatient with her timeline.”

Stassie sniffs and steps back, grabbing her cup from me. “Lemon?”

“Pear. You said last night the lemon was too lemony.”

She wrinkles her nose. “Oh yeah. Thank you.”

After she takes a drink, I lean down and kiss her and rub her belly. “I love you, and I love our daughter.”

She kisses me back. “We love you too.”

When we get to my parents’ house and settle in, I take a photo of Stassie from the side, showing off her large pregnant bellyand the banner of the shower’s theme in the background, and send it to the one person I know Stassie wanted here. When the messages go through, just like the rest, I breathe out a sigh of relief. If there’s one thing I know about Mary, it’s when she’s done with someone, she’s done. She has her own parents blocked on her phone, so I know whenever she’s ready, she’ll be open to speaking to us again.

Chapter 12

Stassie

Ryker carriesthe baby carrier in front of me, looking like the hottest dad on the planet as the nurses push me in the wheelchair behind him. Once he’s got our girl locked in the car seat base, he comes back and helps me into the seat next to her.

I smile down at her sleeping face. She’s worth the nearly two days of labor and stitches in my hooha. I’d do it all over again because she’s perfect.

“You want to grab food or anything? My mom brought over some frozen meals, but if you’re craving anything on the way home, just let me know,” Ryker says as he gets into the car.

I shake my head. “I just want to get home and rest with our girl.”

He grins. “Me too. You did so good, baby. I’m so proud of you.”

I’m too tired to blush at his compliment, and I stare down at our daughter. When my water broke, I started having a panic attack that Ryker brought me down from. All of a sudden, I’d been terrified to give birth, and my mind went to every horrible scenario that could happen. I’d cried and told Ryker I didn’t want to give birth anymore, that she’ll just have to stay. Helaughed, but then he realized how serious my panic was when I begged the doctor to just put me under and cut her out. Thankfully, the team had assured me it was still an option if needed, but they wanted me to give birth vaginally if possible.

The nurses were a godsend, and Ryker’s patience was unmatched, trying as much as he could to calm me. It was the exact opposite of how I expected my birth to go, but in the end, I don’t care because she’s here and she’s healthy, and we’re both okay.

“I can’t wait to lie in our bed,” I say, sleepily.

Ryker nods. “I locked Archibald out of the room so when we go in, the baby’s bassinet should be next to your side and the sheets are fresh.”

I hum in acknowledgement. Archibald prefers to sleep in the living room in his tower, but sometimes he’ll end up in the room with us. He often follows me back from the bathroom in the middle of the night.

“And my mom said to let her know when you want her to come by, she’ll wait patiently until you’re ready.”

My nose tingles, and I blink away the tears. Ryker’s mom is everything I could have wished for, and while it’s embarrassing that everyone knows we technically cheated into a relationship, they’ve been more than welcoming.

“Maybe tomorrow if I’m up for it. I’d love to see your mom,” I say, grinning when our daughter’s tiny hand tries to wrap around my finger. “Did you send her some photos at least?”

“Oh yeah, they’re in the family group chat. Your phone is in the hospital backpack if you want it,” he tells me, glancing at me through the rearview mirror.

I don’t move for it, not needing the reminder that no one on my side of the family will be checking in on us. “I’ll catch up later.”

He doesn’t respond, probably knowing exactly where my mind went. We’re only twenty minutes from the hospital, but it feels like an eternity. My nerves fray with every bump and tap of the brakes, afraid of the absolute worst. When he finally parks in the apartment complex, I let out a sigh of relief.

---