Page 31 of The Break Out

“Hey,” I greet, trying not to show how out of breath I am from how quickly I rushed up here.

“Hey.” Audrey gets up to give me a hug. “They won’t let anyone else in the room. Matt had to throw quite the bitch fit for them to allow all three of them.”

“Ah, that must explain the look the receptionist gave me.” I nod in understanding, sitting in an empty chair across from them.

Audrey laughs. “Yeah, it was pretty funny, I’m glad I got tosee it. Sorry, everyone was trying to get ahold of you, but you must sleep like the dead.”

“I guess so, my phone volume wasn’t on because I thought we had more time before this happened.”

“I think everyone did. She’s two weeks early but look at her dads. I’m sure she’s run out of room in there.”

I nod with a light chuckle. “Good point.”

The three of us wait in the cold lobby for any update. I regret not grabbing a thicker jacket, but I wasn’t thinking much beyond getting here. I haven’t had much one-on-one time with Audrey before. I’ve always liked her, she’s confident and spunky which doesn’t seem to change even in the middle of the night.

Charlie doesn’t say much, but he looks at Audrey while she talks like she hangs the sun, moon, and the stars. That damn pang in my chest hits when I see it. The love in his eyes would scream if it had a voice.

The sun is starting to peak out when Brent walks into the family waiting area. We all stand, immediately anxious to see what he says because his face gives nothing away.

“Who wants to meet Evie?” His mouth turns up in a small smile when he says his new daughter’s name.

“Me!” Audrey and I yell at the same time.

“It can only be one at a time, we’ve already pissed off the nurses enough with our situation,” he tells us.

My shoulders drop because Audrey is Chandler’s best friend, so I’m sure she’s going to go first. It’s fine though, I understand.

“Go ahead, Brynn, she’s your niece,” Audrey encourages.

“Really?”

“Of course.”

I follow Brent back to the room, and as soon as we enter my eyes find Chandler lying on the hospital bed with a bundle wrapped in her arms. Vince and Matt are hovering close by, but I don’t pay much attention to them, all my focus is on my brand-new niece.

“Hi Aunty Brynn,” Chandler says.

Tears already start to well in my eyes as I approach and see the little girl that has just joined our family.

“She’s so tiny,” I say, trying to joke so the tears don’t fall.

“Didn’t feel so tiny to me,” Chandler jokes back. “Want to hold her?”

I don’t know why the simple question has me panicking. I’ve never held a baby before; she looks so delicate I don’t want to accidentally hurt her.

“Are you sure?” I ask softly.

“Of course,” Chandler smiles, lifting her slightly so I can get my arms underneath hers and we don’t disturb her sleeping form.

I faintly notice Vince and Matt shift more in my direction,like they need to be within reach of Evie at all times. I don’t think I’ve ever seen those two not bickering over something and it’s all because of this little baby in my arms. Brent goes to Chandler, and I see him press a kiss to the top of her head while whispering something in her ear I can’t hear.

All my focus is on Evie anyway. She’s sleeping and her face is so perfect with chubby cheeks and dark hair. Her lips are slightly pursed like she’s pouting already. I’m so happy for her and the family she has been born into. There won’t ever be a shortage of love in her life. She’ll be shown it every single day by so many people.

Love surrounds her and always will.

She’s the luckiest little girl in the world.

“I already love you so much,” I whisper to her while silently making a vow that she’ll never ever experience any pain. Which might be a ridiculous thing to promise, but I don’t care. She’s perfect and deserves to have the perfect life.

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