Page 122 of Play the Game
“Oh my god, they’re going full court press,” Amelia mutters, eyes dancing with amusement as Cooper stands from his perch on the bed.
We all look over to see Noah, Cooper, and Elliot flank Jordan, all four Wyles brothers standing shoulder to shoulder, matching smiles on their faces.
The nurse sighs. “Just try and keep it quiet, okay? There are tired new moms and sleeping babies up here.”
As the nurse turns to leave, Cooper turns his head and winks at me, blue eyes switching from sparkle to smolder in a single beat.
“Jesus Christ,” I mumble. “If I could feel my vagina, I’m pretty sure I would have had a tiny orgasm just now.”
Hannah snorts out a laugh. “Not the greatest advertisement for childbirth.”
I shake my head. “I won’t sugarcoat it. It was the worst. Every damn minute of it. I’ll be shocked if I can ever have an orgasm again. I have an ice pack shoved into giant mesh underwear, a nurse handed me a squeeze bottle for some unknown reason I think has to do with going to the bathroom which, gross, and I think I’m broken forever.”
“You’re not,” Pam says, patting my leg. “I promise. It just feels that way.”
“What feels what way?” Cooper asks, sitting back down next to me.
“Nothing, baby.” Pam says, running a hand over Cooper’s hair and bending to kiss his head, pride and love flashing in her eyes. “Girl talk. So, are you planning on telling us what my granddaughter’s name is?” she asks. “The granddaughter I haven’t gotten to hold yet?”
She narrows her eyes at Cece, who smiles serenely. “Be patient, Pammy. I could die tomorrow and then you’d be sorryyou didn’t let me hold my first great-grandchild for as long as I wanted today.”
Pam rolls her eyes. “You’ll never die. And if you do, you’ll just come back and haunt us, so it won’t be like you’re actually dead at all.”
“Isn’t it kind of dark to talk about death around a newborn?” Noah muses.
“Nah,” Cece says. “This baby girl’s aura is all yellow. She’s smart and strong and powerful and already knows her own mind. There’s not a shred of darkness in her.”
“No fucking way,” I marvel without realizing I’m speaking as Cece’s words echo in my head.
Cece’s gaze swings to me. “What is it, honey?” she asks, the tone of her voice telling me she already knows exactly what’s going through my brain.
“Her name,” I say, my eyes glued to Cece and the baby in her arms. “It’s Emerson.”
I feel Cooper’s arm tighten around me as I say our daughter’s name out loud for the first time, but I’m watching as Cece takes in the word, a slow smile spreading across her face. “Well, well, well, looks like I’m not the only witchy woman in this family after all.”
“Uh, what is happening right now?” Elliot asks.
I turn to him and laugh, a little incredulous. “The baby’s name is Emerson. It means strength and power. Independence and intellect.”
Cooper lets out a low whistle and grins, moving his arm from my back and tossing it around my shoulders. “Well, what do you know, Rhodes. Maybe you’re a little psychic too.” He looks at the baby in Cece’s arms and turns to the rest of his family, my brother, and Rio. “Meet our Emmy girl.” His voice breaks a little on the last word, and I look at him just in time to see a tear sliding down his cheek even as a grin splits his face.
He's still dressed in his work clothes from earlier, his hair disheveled from our very long day. His arm is tight around me,pulling me into his warm, solid body as happiness radiates from him and hits me right in the chest. My own eyes tear up as I soak him in, my love for him so huge it would be terrifying if it didn’t feel so exactly right. “I think they need to know her middle name too,” I say, leaning into him and smiling.
“You don’t want to tell them?” he asks.
“Well, someone better fucking tell us,” Noah says, leaning forward, eyes wide like a kid waiting to hear the world’s greatest secret.
I laugh, kissing Cooper on the cheek. “Nah, this one’s all you.”
Cooper clears his throat, taking in his family one at a time until his eyes land on Cece. “Cece,” he says quietly. “Her name is Emerson Cece.”
The room goes silent, Cece’s breath hitching as she stares at us for a second before turning back to the baby in her arms, leaning down and pressing a kiss to her head. “Welcome to chaos, Emmy girl,” she murmurs. “We are so happy to have you.”
“Jesus, Mom, do you think you’ll let someone else hold her at some point or nah?” Pam’s voice cuts through the emotion hanging heavily in the room, and everyone laughs. Cece finally hands Emmy to Pam, who, predictably, starts to cry instantly while all four of her sons tease her about it. Pam hands her to Rob, and then slowly, Emmy makes the rounds, landing in eleven sets of open arms. Eleven people who kiss her and hold her close and shower her with more love in these few precious minutes than some people feel in a lifetime.
“What are you thinking, Rhodes?” Cooper asks quietly, as I watch Jo hold Emmy and Jordan hold them both.
Smiling, I lean back against him. “I’m thinking our daughter is lucky to have all these people who love her.” I tip my head back so I can look at him. “And so am I.”
