Page 74 of Simply You & Me

I melt. I melt like all the women in Jude and Gabby's books. I melt like the women Rylee writes about when they fall more in love. That's what happens when Addie offers me this lifeline. This hope. Hope and a request for the future, which means she's striving towards one that I'm in.

I'll draw her all the pictures she wants.

The first whooshing helicopter sound on the monitor changes me.

I don't care if I can hardly pick out what all the black and grey are or the strange sounds. That's my baby. That's my fucking baby!

"There he is," the lady says, pointing at the screen. "Everything looks good, Ms. West."

My eyes are locked on the screen, completely entranced by the little life we finally get to see.

My baby boy. Did you know nowadays you can find out the sex of the baby through a blood test? Wild. And just as we thought, we’re having a boy!

"I'll give you two a minute," Dr. Hart murmurs, offering us a small smile.

I hardly notice her leaving the room. I don't notice much else until Addie's grip on my hand starts to make my bones creak. Looking down, I choke, fear gripping me at the number of tears dripping off her chin and her wobbly lip.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong?" I try to keep the panic from my voice, but I have no idea what’s happening or how to help. I have all the same information she does, and it was good. Our little boy is happy and healthy.

"He's real!" She finally gasps out, her fingers pulling the computer closer to her. I study her face, trying to read her so I can make her stop fuckin' crying. "He's real, Julian," Addie whispers.

The look of awe on her face has me relaxing a bit. "So, you're okay?" I ask hesitantly.

Her head whips to mine, a big ass smile on her face. "I'm amazing. The baby is okay! We're having a baby! A boy, just like you dreamed!"

Holy fuck. The sheer joy on her face sends me to my knees. I tuck her hand against my lips as I bow against the exam bed she's in. My eyes water, and I find myself unable to stop them as they tickle her wrist.

"Jules?"

I choke out a little laugh and look up at her. From my spot on the floor, the light above her makes me her look angelic, beautiful.

"I love you, Addie May. So much. Please forgive me," I plead. At this moment, I can't hold back anymore. I am in love with this woman and we're having a baby boy together. A family. I need to know she feels this connection just as deeply as I do.

Her eyes blink rapidly, more tears gracing her pale cheeks. That damn plush lip wobbles again, yanking on my heart each time. A whimper breaks free, then she's pulling me off the ground and forcing my body to lean over her teeny form.

She grips my cheeks in her dainty palms and looks me in the eye. It's not shallow. No. Addie sees everything. And I let her because she is everything.

"I forgive you, Julian," she murmurs, pressing her forehead to mine. The touch feels like our souls are truly intertwining. Like we are becoming one. Then she says the words that irrevocably connect our futures. "I love you. So much."

Chapter Forty-Eight

Adelyn

Seeing our baby for the first time changed things. Blank and grey smudges with a heartbeat to match. My baby boy rewrote me. I thought the guys were affecting my heart, mind and soul, but Bean changed me. He put things into perspective, just like his dad did when Julian crumpled to the ground and bared his soul to me.

Everything’s changed, and yet, nothing has. We're driving back to the guys’ house and still have shit to deal with. Now though, I find myself excited to get back and share the news while also dreading the day Rory and I have to move back into our apartment.

Julian's hand squeezes my thigh, almost like he knew my mood shifted without me having to say anything. He reads me like he's known me forever, not like he's known me for almost three months.

God, three months, and we're having a baby together. I should be royally freaked out, but seeing our baby today settled something inside of me.

This is happening, my family is growing, and I found out I truly can forgive these men. I know from the bottom of my heart that they love me and would do anything for me. Of course, we still have a ton to work through and entire lives to figure out, but I think everything’s going to be okay now.

Seeing Wyatt hurting threw me off completely. If Tate and Zach helping out for a week softened me a bit, then Wyatt getting hurt was like a slap in the face. My body screamed at me to run to him, while my heart shouted its love with every anxious beat. All I could think about was making sure he was okay. Then Julian; my sweet, vulnerable Julian. I thought Tate might be the most emotional one, and he is in some ways, but this whole ordeal showed me a whole other side of Tate that I can't help but love him for even more. He's going to be such an amazing dad. They all are, and I can't wait to tell them!

Twining my fingers between Julian’s, I admire the sharp lines of his jaw and cheekbones. He's a work of art, and when he smiles at me like he's doing right now, it feels like I'm the center of his world.

It happens in slow motion. His crinkled, laughing eyes widen at something over my shoulder as his smile morphs into a devastating scream. I have no reaction, his own confusing me into frozen fear. His hand on the steering wheel whitens and yanks to the left too fast for me to register why. Then I'm wheezing and coughing, the hands we were holding having bashed against my chest to keep me from flying forward.

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