Page 92 of Ready or Not

“You know you just told me you love me, right?” I ask, grinning like a fool.

“Yep.” She smiles back. “I said it because I meant it.”

A low growl vibrates out of my chest as I kiss the hell out of her. It’s tantalizing and slow, and I pour every bit of my love for her into the meeting of our tongues.

She pulls back and pecks a final kiss on my lips. “I’m sorry I told you I hate you. I didn’t mean it.”

I chuckle, nuzzling my nose to hers. “I totally get it. For a minute there, I was kinda hating my sperm, too, but she’s the most beautiful baby I’ve ever seen.”

“She really is,” Bishop says. “It’s clear she’s ninety-nine percent Vale.”

I snort, finally feeling like I can breathe again. Becoming a parent for the first time is a total roller-coaster ride of emotions.

Bishop has Aurora cradled in his huge forearm. I grab the digital camera my mom packed with three extra memory cards and snap a few pictures. His hair is falling out of the tie he’s got it up in, which normally would be driving him crazy, but he looks just as enamored with Aurora as we all feel.

Once Aurora came back from the nursery, we switched.

Mercy and Holt are snuggled up on the hospital bed with Vale between them, but it looks like she’s finally getting some rest.

I take the seat next to Bishop. “Can I have a turn?”

Bishop grunts, cradling her to his cheek, but he finally hands her over.

She’s sleeping for the moment, but that’s okay.

She had a big day.

Hell, we all have.

I’ve barely gotten a look at her eyes, but they seem to be dark blue. Who knows what color they’ll be when she’s older.

She grunts, and her little nose scrunches as she wiggles.

My entire heart melts watching her yawn.

I still can’t seem to comprehend that Andrew Landis almost took all of this from me. He’s going to pay dearly for his crimes. That’s for fucking sure.

Aurora grunts, waking me out of a light sleep. I shove out of the uncomfortable bed-chair and make my way over to the hospital cart. Mercy makes it to my side a half second later, cursing me under his breath.

“It’s my turn to change her diaper,” I tell him with zero sympathy. If he wanted to change this one, then he should have been faster.

“Your little hat is about to pop off,” Mercy murmurs in a weird-as-hell voice. I think it’s meant to be soothing, but it just makes me chuckle.

The nurse told us to check for a line on her diapers, and we’d be able to tell if she needs to be changed. I carefully unroll her from her burrito blanket. Her eyes pop open once the confined feeling ends. Her lower lip trembles, like she’s unsure how she feels about these new developments.

“Oh, she’s awake.” Mercy trips over his own feet on the way to grab the camera.

“You’re going to be spoiled as hell,” I tell the baby, running my fingers over her belly. The onesie the nurse put on her is easy enough to undo because it only has three bottom buttons. They said they keep them in this style because it’s quick to get them in and out of it.

I lift her tiny legs and roll up the front and back flaps. The line is hard to make out, but I think it’s time for a change.

Mercy comes back, snapping away. “I won’t use the flash, and I have a feeling these will be difficult to make out, but I’m still going to try.”

I chuckle as the baby starts to fuss. I grab the wipes and a diaper, but holy God. That color can’t be normal.

“Hey.” I slap Mercy in the shoulder, refolding the diaper. “Look, is this normal?”

Mercy bends over, so I get closer too. I pull the diaper back completely, not expecting the stream of pee that dribbles all over my hand.

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