2
Rafe
As we walk through the sterile halls of the hospital toward Laurel’s room, I have to physically force my feet to keep moving. It’s like I’m trekking through mud. Meanwhile Virginia can’t walk fast enough. She’s practically bouncing with excitement. It’s kind of cute, but I want to know why she’s so damned excited—just because she likes babies, or because this one’s mine?
That’s another thing that’s not normal if she likes me the way Laurel thinks she does. Why would a normal woman be excited that I knocked up someone else? If Virginia harbors fantasies about being with me someday, wouldn’t she want that for herself? Now that Laurel’s having a boy, I never have to have kids for any reason. My heir is born today.
That’s pretty fucking crazy. Never even thought I’d have an heir. Definitely never thought Sin would be raising my heir. I’m sure he’ll do a better job than I would have, but still, damned weird.
“That’s her room,” Virginia says, indicating the next door on the right.
I slow to a stop and stare. “I should have brought a present.”
Virginia halts beside me, nodding her head. “Yes. It’s too late now. You can pick one up tomorrow.”
Still, my feet don’t move. If I remain on this side of the wall, it doesn’t have to be real. Laurel can still be pregnant, absently rubbing her tummy and glowing with maternal happiness. God only knows what awaits me inside that room. Not a glowing, happy Laurel, that’s for sure. She just went through labor and I didn’t even offer to come. She’s probably going to want to cut my dick off and feed it to me. She’s a ruthless little shit.
Then there’s the baby. It’s just a mostly unobtrusive basketball tucked beneath Laurel’s clothes until I walk in this room. Then it’s a living, breathing, crying thing.
Will he like me? Not just right now, but ever? Will he think I’m an asshole for letting Sin play daddy, knowing I’m the one who knocked up his mom?
I didn’t sign up for any of this.
Glancing over at Virginia, I suggest, “How ‘bout we cut out of here? I’ll visit tomorrow.”
“Nope,” Virginia says adamantly, taking my arm and dragging me toward the room. “We’re going to meet your son.”
Son. Christ, she’s not helping.
As soon as we step inside the room, I see the blonde messy bun of Laurel’s sister, Carly Morelli. She turns to see who walked in, and her eyes narrow when she sees it’s me. Then her sharp gaze drifts to Virginia, her gaze moving over her briefly before she shakes her head in disbelief.
“Seriously? You brought a date to meet your son for the first time? That’s low. You really are Satan.”
“Me?” Virginia asks, as if surprised. “No, I’m not his date. I’m his waitress.”
Carly blinks. “His waitress.”
Virginia nods. “We met once before. I wouldn’t expect you to remember me, but you and Vince came out with Laurel and Rafe. I was your waitress. Anyway, I’m Laurel’s friend.”
Laurel’s voice rings out from the hospital bed behind Carly. “Rafe.”
I glance up, and I’m relieved to see a huge grin on her face at the sight of me. Her long dark hair hangs in a loose pony tail covering one breast, and in the crook of her arm on the other side is a bundle of striped blankets. My heartbeat accelerates and I can’t help peering at the bundle as I walk closer.
“Come on,” Laurel urges, carefully folding the fabric away from his face.
Shit, I am not ready for this.
I look at Sin, sitting in a chair right next to her bed on the other side. I’m not sure why I’m reluctant to approach Laurel and the baby with him over there. Since I finally gave Laurel up all those months ago and Sin helped me fix business shit—again—things have calmed down between us. We’re friends again, but his woman did just deliver my baby. I would not be okay with this. I don’t see how he is.
Laurel follows my gaze to Sin and her voice softens. “Honey, would you mind running out and getting me some of those ice chips and a bottle of water? I’m really thirsty.”
Sin’s gaze flickers away from me to her and he stands, nodding his head wordlessly before leaving the room.
Now Laurel’s attention turns to Carly. “And maybe you could call Vince and check on Skylar?”
Carly wrinkles her nose up at being kicked out, but she takes her phone out and leaves the room anyway.
Virginia senses the trend and says, “Oh, crap, you know what? I forgot the onesie in the car. I’ll go grab it and be right back.”