Page 105 of Tangled Desires

Harrison, who is now wrapped around me sitting on the edge of the bed, reaches out his hand. My dad shakes it firmly, nodding at him with a look that says everything he’s too moved to speak. I shift my gaze, meeting my son’s tiny, curious eyes. In them, I see a chance—a chance to be the mother I alwayswishedfor, to give him the security and love I oncelongedfor.

He will never know the ache of abandonment. Never.

I instinctively lean into Harrison’s frame beside me. His warmth surrounds me, grounding me. For the first time in my life, I feelwhole.

Wrapped in love, our little family is just beginning.

40

Heartbeat - James Arthur

Soft. Fragile. Pink.

So bloodysmall.

I cradle mysonin my arms, his tiny body bundled up, soft and light as air. So delicate. So fucking small. I’m terrified I’ll drop him, that even breathing too hard might shatter him. He’s pink, all swollen and scrunched up, eyes shut tight. I don’t even know what he’ll look like yet.

But his hair—it’s lighter, like his mum’s. My amazing, unstoppable firecracker of a woman.

I glance up at the nurse. “Why’s he so light? Shouldn’t he be heavier?”

She smiles. “He only weighs three-point-three kilograms. Perfectly normal.”

“Am I… holding him right?”

She gently lifts him, positioning him higher so his head rests snug in the nook of my elbow. “Just like that. You’re doing great, dad.” The nurses finish up with Imogen before saying they’ll give us some time alone. Her dad slips out, too, promising to visit us again soon.

It’s just us now, me and this tiny miracle. I can’t stop staring at him. In his face, I see myself, a little kid robbed of so many things. But I swear right now, he’s going to have everything I didn’t. The whole fucking world. And I’ll do it with a strong-as-hell woman by my side.

A tear escapes down my cheek. “Come sit,” Imogen says softly, patting the bed beside her. I wipe at my face and ease down, still holding my son.

“So much for that bet,” I grin. “I was right, and you already—”

“Who said I like you?” She fires back and my heart skips. “I believe the words I’ve said are, I love you,” she smirks, kissing me quickly.

“Fuck, you had me going.” I kiss her again. “I love you more, Immy.” She stares up at me, her eyes searching mine. She’s got that look, the one that gets right inside me, and I need to spill it, to get it all out before I burst.

“You know, when I look at you, Imogen, I seeeverything.A real life, a happy one, right here in front of me. The kind of life I never thought I’d get to live, let alone deserve. But it’s here, and it’s you.” Her eyes glisten, a tear slipping free.

I swallow, my voice dropping lower. “I never thought a woman like you would take a chance on someone like me.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Come on, Imogen. You’re perfect. All this time I was chasing you, I never thought I’d actuallygetyou.”

“Please. It was inevitable,” she says with a roll of her eyes and I can’t help but chuckle, shaking my head.

“Too right, sugar. And I wouldn’t have stopped.”

I stare down at my son, this tiny little boy who’s got a whole different life ahead of him—one nothing like mine. He’ll never flinch at the sound of dishes breaking. Never have to hold his breath, waiting to see what mood I’m in. May he never, ever,fearme, like I once did my own.

No—he’ll know me as the dad who’s here. Always. The one who stays close. The one who’ll pick him up every time he cries, who’ll stick around through every single fucking thing life throws his way. I pass him to Imogen, then, with a smirk, I pull out my phone.

“What are you doing?”

“Texting in the group.”Wattle Creeks Finest.

Me:It’s a …

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