‘COULD NOT BE HAPPIER FOR YOU LOVEBIRDS!!!!! How’s it feel to join the newlyweds club?!’ There’s a heart-eyed emoji. ‘Hope you’re sleeping in. Tell Luke to RELAX…it’s good he’s following his heart and these are necessary things. So let’s not get upset about the press. This is why we have PR… Love you both. Talk soon. Xxo’
Maybe Eden can feel my heart racing, because when I look back down, her little brown eyes are open again.
"Hey there, cupcake. Aren’t you just the perfect little baby, mmhmm? I think so." She has a beauty mark near her mouth and the smallest, softest little bow lips. Long lashes and smooth skin. And just a little peach-fuzz hair so far.
"You're gonna be a good kid, aren't you? Do you think it's okay for me to smell you? People are always talking about how babies smell. It seems creepy, but what do you say? Just a little sniff?"
I hear a low chuckle and look up to find Sky standing in the doorway between living room and hall, wearing nothing but a pair of soft, gray sweatpants.
"Gray sweatpants." I shake my head. "What a zaddy..."
"I told you," he says, all husky, folding his arms over his chest. "I'm not a zaddy. You can't call me that."
I snicker at his look of outrage. "Come over here..." I wave him closer. "Come give me a kiss, my husband."
He kisses my cheek, and I kiss his lips, and I say, “I missed waking up beside you.”
He kisses my forehead and smiles at the baby. “Me too. Look at this one, though…”
“The cutest, right?”
"Why don't I get you breakfast?” he says. “Or you can pass our little bundle off to me and you could do that if you want a break for your arms."
"Can we both go in there?" I feel almost silly asking.
"Of course. Let's do it. I'll whip up some omelets?" His hand comes over the top of my head, kneading my short hair gently. It sends chills down my spine.
"Please do.” I tip my head back, kissing his wrist. “And what do I call you?” I ask softly. “Are you daddy and I'm papa?"
"Do you want to be?" Luke smiles.
"I don't know. Just throwing out ideas."
"Papa,” he says, trying it out.
"Or...I don't know. I could be dad, too,” I say.
"What feels right?” he asks. “We've both got issues in the dad department. This should be something that doesn't make us feel...like them," Sky says quietly.
"What did you call your dad?"
"Dad."
"So you want to avoid the dad?" I ask him.
"Maybe." He stands up, chewing his lip, and I stand with him, kissing his cheek.
"What if I was Papa?” I say, bumping shoulders since my hands are holding Baby. “And you're Daddy. Since I have no memories associated with that word at all," I add.
Luke’s eyes soften. "That's not what I meant,” he starts.
I swallow quickly. "I would like that. If you would." I laugh—because this is so damn weird.
"You can take papa instead,” he offers. “If you like it better."
"Nah. I want to call you Big Papa." I grin, and Luke pushes his hands into his pockets.
"What if I'm not...the way a Daddy should be?" I ask as my throat knots unexpectedly.
"You are, Rayne. C'mon." He runs a hand over my hair again. "You're everything that anyone should be."
"So are you, McD. And more." We hug with the baby in between us, and she makes a funny sound, waving her arms as if she knows she's become the PB&J between two pieces of dad bread.
I kiss his temple. "Looking fine this morning, Papa."
"Looking hot in those plaid pants, Daddy."
"What if she shortens it and just calls me Dad?"
"I like it.” His eyes hold mine, and they’re so gentle. I’m hit by a wave of gratitude, that we’re married, and Sky babe loves me like I love him.
I shift Baby in my arms, lifting her up a little, and when I do— "Oh damn, Sky, I just smelled it!"
"Baby smell?" He steps closer. "I want to smell it." He bows his head, and I lift her up toward him.
“Wow,” he breathes. “That is a smell. Smells a bit like baby powder.”
“I know, right?” I murmur.
"Almost hate to cook around her. Make her smell like breakfast food." He chuckles.
I bounce her and step around him while we talk about his mother and the dinner that she wants us to have at her house tonight. When I look down again, I realize that the baby is asleep.
17
Luke
I ride to work alone, on this of all days. Vance can't come with given that we don't have childcare set up. I'm not even sure he wants to. Maybe it's better this way. The more I think about it, the more I realize how much tension I feel with him in the building. It's probably something that I need to talk to Derek about—trying to be the perfect pastor for Evermore and the perfect husband to Rayne.