Page 142 of Falling

I called my mom to let her know, and she said she was too busy to come down now and will come to visit when the baby is here. I don’t know what I was expecting from her, but I’m pissed on Austin’s behalf. My dad was able to make it so he’s sitting in the waiting room chatting with Miles and the girls.

“Wrenny, baby, can you sit down? You’re making me dizzy,” Miles says, rubbing his eyes dramatically. I stop in front of him and heave out a sigh. He was in the middle of an evening practice when I called him, and he got here just before Zion did. I didn’t exactly want my boyfriend to meet my sister whilst she was in labor, but I guess the world doesn’t always work out in my favor.

“What if something goes wrong?” I ask for the thousandth time.

“She’s in a room full of trained professionals. She’ll be okay,” my dad says, laughing quietly. “They do this every day.”

“Do you think she’s scared? What if she’s scared?” I whisper, finally taking a seat between Kennedy and Miles. Miles rubs my knee reassuringly, the pressure of his hand soothing me for a second. “I just want everything to go okay.”

“And it will,” Miles says, dropping his head to my shoulder. “We just have to be patient.”

Of course he’s right. It’s not long before Zion walks through the doors to tell us that the baby is here, and that Austin is doing well. I swear my heart triples in size when we all walk into the room and she’s sitting with the gorgeous baby boy in her arms.

We let my dad walk in first and he immediately starts crying. I can’t imagine what it must feel like to see your little girl have a kid of her own. I watch them have their moment and it suddenly makesme excited to be in her position one day. To be able to hold a child that I created in my arms and instantly fall in love. My dad steps out the room to compose himself and Miles and I shuffle closer to get a better look.

He’s got golden brown skin, lots of curly hair and the cutest little face. “He’s perfect,” I whisper, smiling at my sister and then to Zion. “The perfect mix of both of you.”

“I’m hoping he gets your sister’s talent. I’ve not got much to offer,” Zion says, laughing quietly.

Austin frowns at him. “You’re spectacular, babe. He’ll probably have your brains. He’ll be able to read before he can even walk.”

“We can only hope,” he replies, kissing my sister on the forehead. “Wren, do you want to hold him?”

“Seriously? Already? Isn’t there like rules about when you can hold babies? He’s quite literally fresh out of the womb. I don’t want to break him,” I ramble, my hands shaking. I don’t know why I’m nervous. I don’t get to be around kids much, but this one is already extra special. I can feel it. And I don’t want to give him my bad luck.

“Just sit and hold your nephew, Amelia,” Austin snaps and I listen. Zion walks around the bed, picking up the baby and placing him in my arms as I sit in the chair next to the bed. An overwhelming feeling washes over me when I look down at him as he sleeps. I didn’t think my heart could get any fuller, but it can, and it is. It’s like my heart is being bumped with helium and at any moment I could float away.

I don’t know when I started crying, but my tears fall onto his baby blanket, and I tilt my head back. “He’s so cute and perfect and sweet, and I just want to love and protect him forever,” I sob.

“Jesus. Are you crying?” Austin asks, her eyes widened with panic.

I just sniffle and Miles comes beside me. “You and your cute baby made my girlfriend cry. Awesome,” he deadpans, and everyone laughs.

Miles looks down at me and I try to stop myself from crying again, but there’s no use. I have the strongest urge to let him put a baby inside me. I want it to be all him. All his good parts, all his bad parts. Because I’m convinced this man is the most perfect person on the planet. “I really want a baby,” I wail, sounding and feeling ridiculous. “Can we have one?”

“In a couple years, sure. We can have as many kids as you want,” he says. I watch the look my sister gives him, and he clears his throat. He kneels to my height and whispers, “But right now, I kinda want you all to myself.”

I sniffle again. “Yeah?”

He grins. “Yeah. Just me and you, sweet girl.”

I like the sound of that.

I like the idea that my sister gets a fresh start with her new family even more. And the fact thatmyfamily are all in this hospital right now makes me feel a thousand times better. These people are all I’m going to need forever.

46

MILES / WREN

THE ALCHEMY

MILES

There’snothing like the atmosphere in the locker room before a big game.

The anticipation of the upcoming game mingles with the nerves churning in my stomach. Lacing up my skates, I run through the mental checklist of everything that needs to fall into place for tonight’s match against Carlton. It's not just about winning the championship; it's about proving myself on the ice, especially with my parents in the stands for the first time in what feels like ages.

Coach paces back and forth, delivering a fiery pep talk to the team. I listen intently, my focus sharpening with each word.

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