Page 133 of Rival
Mason is sitting to my left, grabbing my hand once my arms are free. He hasn’t let go for more than a few moments, and I let my head roll toward him with an easy smile. “You okay over there?”
“Mhmm. I’m doin’ great. Can I get you anythin’, girl?”
My eyes are watering from the tears watching Jaxon with my daughter, and I shake my head gently. “No, I’m perfect.She’sperfect.”
Kissing the back of my hand over the spot the IV was placed, he asks, “What’s her name?”
I hold my hands out for her when she starts fussing, and Jaxon brings her back to me. Hoping she’s hungry, I lower my gown and bring her to my breast, Griffin watching like a hawk as I help her latch on.
The moment she does, I sigh with happiness, whispering, “Blakely Ruth.”
“Why Blakely?” Jaxon asks, resting his elbows on the edge of the bed, watching as she does her best to earn some milk. He’s already got a chair next to Griffin. Having the three of them around us just feels right, and I push away the anxiety that someone might leave once we find out who her father is.
It’s silly to feel embarrassed, but I share my reason with them, anyway. They should know where her name came from.“It’s the only thing I know about my mom. Her name was Blakely. I’m pretty sure she’s not alive anymore, and maybe hasn’t been for a long time. But I like the idea of her having a do over.”
Jaxon’s head dips in understanding, but the other two are grinning as they watch her feed from me.
Mason reaches out, brushing her short hair to the side. “I think Blakely is perfect. And ol’ Ruth is gonna lose her mind over it.”
Giggling, I nod and sigh, closing my eyes, enjoying the feel of her mouth tenderly moving against my breast. I’m absolutely exhausted, but I don’t think I’ll be able to fall asleep for a long time.
My mind begins to wander, and I keep my eyes closed when I whisper, “We should have paternity within the next day or two.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Jaxon says. I peek an eye open to see him staring hard at me. Reiterating what he just said, he lowers his voice. “I don’t care, and I don’t think these two do either. She’s got all of us as her daddy, even if you wanted nothing to do with us.”
Pressing my lips together, I choose not to respond. I believe him, but I don’t want to be swayed by my hormones and, thankfully, he doesn’t push me.
I’m not sure who removes her from my arms and closes my gown, but one of them does as soon as little Blakely releases her mouth from my nipple. I fall into a deep sleep to whispered promises of love and learning how to ride horses as my guys talk to her.
I wake a few hours later and blink the sleep from my eyes when I hear a soft cry from my baby. Reaching my arms out, Griffin hands her to me. Cradling her against my chest, she nuzzles until she finds my nipple, then feeds frantically.
As soon as she latches, I let my head fall back to the pillow and I focus on the room around me, then snort out a laugh when I see all of them standing around the bed. “You guys should probably take turns sleeping or something. We’re both fine.” I tighten my hold on her, solidifying my words in my head.
“Can’t stop lookin’ at her, darlin’. I’m pretty sure we’ll all be awake for the next eighteen years.” Griffin is grinning, but it’s clear he’s tired.
Lifting my chin toward the couch in the corner, I tell him, “There’s a pull out in that sofa and the recliner also lays all the way back. Why don’t at least two of you try to get a few hours? There’s nothing to do that requiresallof you.”
Begrudgingly, Jaxon and Mason both kick their shoes off to sleep after Griffin volunteers to take first watch. Blakely’s feeding takes a solid twenty minutes, but as soon as she’s finished, I hand her over.
The way he holds her against his chest absolutely melts me. Swaying from side to side as he pats her swaddled back to burp, he meets my eyes and smiles happily.
“You know she’s perfect, right? I don’t think you could have given us a more beautiful little girl in the world.” I know his words should make me happy, but my lower lip trembles, and I cover my mouth to hold back a sob.
A flash of panic crosses his face and he’s sitting carefully down, still holding her as he reaches a hand out to take mine.
“What’s goin’ on, darlin’?”
“What if she’s… I’m so afraid of you being upset if she’s not yours.”
Tightening his fingers over mine, he winks, then releases me to lean back and continue patting her softly. “She’s mine. Don’t matter if her DNA says she’s not. I was here while you pushed her out and I’m gonna to remind her of that when she’s headin’ out on her first date with a boy we’re all gonna hate.” Studyingme, he seems to understand my worry. “All of us feel the same way, Edith. I know you’re worried, but I’m tellin’ you, this little girl already has us sunk for her. Itdoesn’tmatter. You could tell them to cancel the test and we’d all be here every day helpin’ you to raise Blakely.Which, by the way, I fucking love.”
I do my best to trust his words and watch as he whispers his love and silly little facts in her ear until she falls asleep against his chest. Finally, he pulls out our book and lays it on my bed and begins to read from where we’ve left off.
Trying my best to stay awake, I only make it a few pages before I’m dozing off again to the sound of his voice, my daughter doing the same. Just before I’m out, I whisper, “I love you so much, Griffin. You make me smile.”
“I know, darlin’. Sleep now. I’ve got our girl until you wake.”
That’s the last thing I hear before the sun wakes me.
