Page 30 of His Love

I looked up at Reagan and she nodded. “We love you and want you to feel all better.”

Tears pricked my eyes and I tried to blink them back. These people really did love me.

Chapter Ten

Axel

I smiled as I peered over into the crib at the club. Paisley was sleeping hard, probably from the pain medicine she’d had about two hours before. Maddox had let me know he and Reagan had tucked her in before they left. She was laying on her side with her foot and lower leg elevated with a pillow. She had Fancy tucked under one arm and her favorite lovie—a cow named Stella—tucked under her chin. Who knew the cutie pie had an obsession with cows? I noticed she liked to rub the soft material on her face, so I wasn’t surprised to see she slept with it tucked under her head.

“How is she doing?” Elliot asked as he stepped into the room. He was holding his Little one on his hip. She had her custom pink pacifier in her mouth, but she waved at me.

“Well, hello, Teenie! How are you?” I cooed as I stepped toward them.

His Little one, Tinsley, was the teeniest tiniest Little in our group—the total definition of a babygirl.

She babbled at me and I grinned like I understood her garbled Little speak. I mostly did, though it was harder with her speaking around her pacifier.

“Are you getting so excited for your vacation?” Hell, I was excited for their vacation. It was about time Elliot took some time off.

She nodded, making her long black locks bounce.

“Tell Uncle Axel where you’re going.”

“Baby ‘pital! Get a baby!”

Elliot nodded and patted her bottom. “We are going to Babyland General Hospital to adopt a Cabbage Patch Kid. She’s been a very good girl and earned a new baby.”

I chuckled at her happy nods.

“That sounds so fun, Tinsley. I’m so proud of you for earning such a happy fun reward. You must have been the best girl ever!”

Elliot and I chuckled as she nodded. He set her down and held her hand. “I promised her she could go see Uncle Pike too, so we’re headed that way. Do you need anything before we go? Is she tolerating the pain meds okay?”

“She is. She hasn’t seemed to have too much pain. The crutches are hard for her, but I have let her use them as much as it hurts my Daddy heart. I know that she will need to get used to them when she goes to work.”

“And when you go back home,” Elliot said, raising his eyebrow. “You can’t stay with her the entire six weeks, Axel.”

“Why can’t I?”

He studied me for a moment and then his eyes widened. “Y-you're serious about her, aren't you? This isn’t just an Uncle Axel thing to you, is it?”

I shook my head. “No.”

“Do you have feelings for her?”

“Yes.”

I understood his surprise. He was there the night I chose to take Junie off of life support. He’d been there for months after helping me pick up the pieces of my shattered heart. He’d seen me at my darkest.

“I will always love Junie…”

“I know, I know you will, Axel. I’m so fucking happy for you, man. I just... I didn’t think we would ever be here. You were so broken and I am just so glad you’re going to...” He trailed off, a bit choked up.

I hated emotions, but I stepped forward and hugged him.

“Good for you, man. Good for you,” he finished, patting my back. Little arms hugged us too, making me chuckle. I picked up Tinsley and kissed her cheek. “So tell me what kinda baby you’re thinking about adopting?”

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