Page 230 of Force Play
He grabs Hudson from his wife and gently places him in my girlfriend’s arms, and I practically melt at the sight.
All I can envision isourfuture.
One day, I’ll get to watch Lucia holdourbaby like this.
“Hi, Hudson,” she says softly. “I’m your Aunt Lucia. Welcome to the world, little man.”
Harlow watches on so happily and then turns to her husband. She tries to whisper, but seeing as Knox is standing right next to me, I hear it anyway.
“I’m ready, Knox. I want this. I want to start trying.”
Suddenly, Knox is only looking at his wife, so absorbed with what she just said.
I keep my eye on myfuturewife. She’s rocking Hudson in her arms, and I can see how natural this is to her. How badly she wants this for us as well.
“Would you like to hold him, Ari?” she asks me.
“Yeah,” I reply softly, holding out my arms. Lucia helps me get him into the right position so I’m supporting his tiny head, and I’m so overcome with emotion looking down at him.
Hudson is perfect, a wonderful blend of Josh and Ella.
I can’t wait to have this for myself.
My entire life, I’ve never been emotional, but the thought brings tears to my eyes, and I have to wipe them away.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Hudson. I’m your Uncle Ari. We’ve all been so excited for you to get here.”
Lucia looks at me holding him, and I feel all the love she radiates.
I meet her eyes and try to tell her I’ll do whatever I can to make sure this happens for us.
If she can read what I was trying to say, all she does is smile in response.
We spend most of the day at the hospital, occasionally stepping out to give Josh and Ella some time with their son, but they’re so happy to have us there that it’s hard to even want to leave.
Especially when Hudson is that fucking cute.
It’s only seven right now, but after such a long day, Lucia jumps in the shower as soon as we get home, and we’re just heading to bed after this.
I pull on a pair of navy athletic shorts and then watch as my girlfriend walks into the room wearing only one of my oversized Stars T-shirts, her long legs on display.
“Come here, sweetheart,” I call, holding my arms open for her.
Lucia closes the distance between us quickly, falling into my embrace with her head resting on my shoulder.
“What a whirlwind the past day has been.”
I smile down at her. “Even more so for Josh. World Series champion to first-time dad in the span of less than twelve hours.”
She gazes up at me now, eyes sparkling in the bedroom light. “Hudson is perfect, isn’t he?”
“He is.” Lucia picks her head up and rests her forehead against mine. “I can’t wait for us to have our own.”
Her grin is blinding. “Neither can I.”
“I’m putting a baby in you next time,” I assert. “I fucking promise it.”
Lucia bites her lip and smiles at me. She kisses me softly before saying, “You already did.”
