Page 204 of Wild Card

“It’s not my fault he was anxious to arrive,” Jay replies sweetly.

“He gave you signs you ignored. You should have taken clues from Jewls’ experience.”

Jay takes his hand. “We’re all good, Tom. But next time, I promise to report every tinge and pinch when my baby dances on my organs.”

Shayla’s had enough, pushing Tom away and wading right into their space. “You gave birth to your husband. And he’s nearly as big.”

“Achilles was also over nine pounds,” Sandy confirms.

Willow’s arm tightens and she buries her face in my shoulder.

“No wonder he was ready to come early.” Shayla tries to lift him, and Ace grumbles, eyeing her harshly.

“Give him over, big guy.”

“No,” he answers sharply.

I know what’s coming since he’s already shared with us.

“Actually, he didn’t come too early. We um… we…”

“We fucked up the conception date,” Ace takes over for Jay.

“How do you mess that up? Aren’t there blood tests and other back-dating?”

“It’s not common, but possible,” Chase offers his opinion with a grin.

“Well, can we at least have a name?” Shayla snaps, but her eyes are dancing with hilarity. “Let me guess, Hercules?”

Harley bursts into giggles. “That was on my list and got knocked down. We settled on Maverick Blue Kingston.”

“Maverick Blue,” Willow whispers in amazement. “It’s perfectly fitting.”

Harley beams.

All the women swarm the bed, no one trying to hold Maverick for fear of Ace’s reaction.

It doesn’t take long for Ace to give us the signal he’s done.

Willow comes with me willingly as the others say goodbye.

“How long before you think he’ll let someone else hold the baby?” she asks me as we weave down the hallway.

“Give it a day or two.”

“She really freaked him out, didn’t she?”

“What makes you think that?”

“Wasn’t a secret.” She nudges me. “Even big strong cavemen can’t hide that kind of fear.”

“Jay’s stubborn.”

Willow steps in front, stopping me mid-step. “Tell me what happened?”

“She refused to stop trying, even when they pushed her to consider the c-section. They already knew he was a big baby, but thought they had more time to convince her.”

“She knew she could do it. We women know our limits.”

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