Page 58 of The Forever Game

“I’m not sure about that yet, but we’ll monitor you carefully and do everything we possibly can to make sure you’re all safe and well.” Jotting down something on his iPad, he gives us one more smile. “I’ll be back shortly to check on your progress. Try to relax as much as you can, and try not to worry. Focus on the fact that you’ll get to hold your daughter soon.”

The words settle into my chest, and my lips start to twitch. “Did you hear that, baby?” I turn to smile at her. “We’re gonna get to meet our daughter today.”

She sniffs and lets out a blubbering laugh. “We don’t even have a name for her yet.”

“That’s okay.” I kiss her forehead, then crouch down and brush my nose across her belly. “As soon as we see her, we’ll know. Won’t we, sweetheart?” I whisper against her bump, talking to our baby. “Can’t wait to hold you, precious girl.” Kissing Caroline’s stomach, I then move up to her lips, cupping her cheeks and brushing my mouth against hers.

Her lips are wet and pliable, and I sweep my tongue against hers, kissing her deep for a brief moment before pulling back and gazing into her eyes.

“I love you. Having sex with you at that party and getting you accidentally pregnant was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

She lets out a soft laugh and shakes her head.

“Falling in love with you was a no-brainer, and growing a family with you makes me so fucking happy.”

Her blue eyes beam bright as she brushes her teeth across her bottom lip. “I love you too.” She kisses me again and probably would have stayed against me if it weren’t for another contraction.

“You know what I think it is?” I hold her hand and rub her shoulder as she battles a wave of pain. “She knows how awesome we are and just can’t wait to meet us.”

“Great,” Caroline squeaks. “So she’s as impatient as you and Billy are, then.”

I laugh. “Probably.”

She lets out a cry that turns into a watery laugh as she squeezes my hand and once again blows my mind with how amazing she is. The way she loves our boys… the way she’s gonna love our little girl.

Damn, she’s the best woman in the world… and I’m so fucking grateful that she’s mine.

CHAPTER21

BAXTER

Tammy’s wedding dress billows out as she spins and starts pacing back toward me. Her heels click on the hard hospital floor, and I bounce Nova on my knee, trying to entertain her. She giggles, her curls bobbing while Kai starts playing peekaboo behind my shoulder. We’ve been in the waiting room for nearly two hours. Tammy’s parents arrived with the kids forty minutes ago. Nova wouldn’t nap and was turning into a “demon” child, according to Tammy’s mother.

“She just wants her daddy.” Mrs. Tan plopped her onto my lap with a small huff, then went to check on Tammy.

I couldn’t hear their entire conversation, but the snippets I caught involved “wedding,” “ruined,” and “can’t believe this is happening again!”

Her mother probably asked her if she’s sure we’re really meant to be together. In fact, I’m certain she did, because one: she asks that shit a lot, and two: Tammy’s face went red, her nostrils flaring slightly as she hissed, “Of course it’s meant to be. I’ve loved him most of my life, and he is going to be my husband! If it’s not today, then it’ll be another day!” Her hands flicked up, and everyone in the waiting room turned to look at her.

She caught my eye and I winked, my smile hopefully telling her how much I adore her. She grinned back, and then her mother huffed and sat down… and the pacing began.

I glance at Ethan and Mikayla. She’s on her phone, tapping furiously while Ethan sits there with a mildly dark frown. Asher and Lani are whispering to each other, their fingers interlaced. He whispers something in her ear, and she giggles, nestling her forehead against his cheek and saying something back. Those two are seriously loved up at the moment. It makes me wonder what’s going on with them. Is she pregnant or something?

“Again, Dada! Again!”

My thoughts are pulled back to Nova, and I grasp her little hands, neighing like a horse and giving her a bumpy ride on my knees before parting my legs and letting her flop into the space. She giggles like it’s the funniest thing in the world, and I can’t get enough of her dimples and her little teeth.

“Did we miss it? Is she okay?” Caroline’s mother comes bursting through the door, Troy on her hip and Billy racing in behind them. Her husband follows with a stroller ladened with an overflowing diaper bag.

Nova jumps off my knee with an excited gasp. “Billy!”

She runs over to hug him, and they melt hearts before pulling apart and jumping around the waiting room together.

I go to stand, but Liam shakes his head at me and mouths, “I got this.”

Moving closer to the toddlers, he stands watch, ready to jump in before they wreak too much havoc in this place.

“It’s all good, Michelle.” Asher stands, giving her a quick hug before kissing Troy’s cheek, then wincing and wiping his mouth.

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