Page 135 of Healed Hearts

He’s starting to worry me. Like actually, truthfully, starting to freak me the fuck out. “You’re freaking me out, darlin’.”

He takes another shuddering breath. “Wren called me Daddy,” he says, and then dissolves into almost hysterical sobbing. Relief washes over me. My beautiful, tender-hearted man. God, I fucking love him.

I scoop him up and sit down on the love seat behind me, holding him against my chest, while he holds Wren against his. “I’m assuming these are good tears, then?” I ask, pressing my lips to his hair.

He lets out another hiccuping sob and nods. “Uh-huh.”

I smile to myself as I hold my entire world on my lap.

Finally, after what feels like forever, Holden’s crying calms, and he wipes at his face. “Doing better, darlin’?” I ask, squeezing him a little tighter to me.

He releases a shaky breath and nods. “Yeah, I’m not sure why that made me cry so much, but it so did.”

I chuckle and he giggles. “I can tell.”

He sighs. “Yeah, I’m a hot mess.”

I don’t get a chance to answer because there’s a knock on the door and then Beck and Roman are walking in. “Hey, guys,” Roman says, then stops short when he sees that Holden has been crying.

But it’s not Roman who asks what’s wrong. It’s Beck. I don’t even know if he realizes he’s become the protector of their little group, but he definitely has. “What’s going on, Hold?”

Holden lets out a manic-sounding laugh, then taps me. “Can’t say it. Will cry. You,” he chokes out.

I bite my lip to stifle my laugh. He is too damn sweet. “Wren called Holden Daddy, and he’s feeling very emotional about it.”

Beck and Roman share a look, then both of them laugh. “Well,” Beck says. “It’s probably bad timing on our part, then. But we’re here to relieve you of your duties for the night.”

Holden makes a low, growly sound that should not turn me on, but kind of does. “I’m not going anywhere. She just called me—” His voice cuts off abruptly, and he takes a deep breath. “Anyway, I’m not leaving.”

Roman sighs, but he’s not deterred. “Hold, you guys have been here day in, day out, for three weeks. Go home. Spend the night with Julian. Come back in the morning. Beck and I will stay here. Seriously. You all need it. Please?”

Holden stubbornly shakes his head. “Hey, darlin’,” I murmur, and he looks up at me. “I’d really enjoy a night alone with you. And the two uncles are here, offering. If there’s anything you need to learn about being a parent, it’s that when someone trusted is offering you a kid-free night, you take it.” I wink at him, so he knows I’m not being mean.

His bottom lip juts out in a pout. “You want to just leave her?”

“Well, no. I don’t want to just leave her, and I wouldn’t be. She’d be with Beck and Roman. Yeah?” I lower my voice, leaning in a bit to whisper in his ear. “Don’t you want to spend the night…cuddlingwith me?” I add a little pause and emphasis on cuddling so he hopefully picks up what I’m putting down.

He nibbles on his bottom lip, then looks at Roman and Beck. “Ugh. Fine. But I’m not happy about it. Let me tell you two about her recovery care.”

Beck’s eyebrows shoot to his hairline. “Woah. First off. She’s got a medical staff here, and second. I’m a PA, CT. She’ll be fine. Iknowher recovery care.” He’s looking at Holden like he’s daring him to argue.

I glance at Holden, damn near holding my breath to see if he’s going to pick up the gauntlet that Beck just threw down.

He glares at him for a moment and the second he opens his mouth, I know, justknow, something sarcastic is about to come out. “Yeah, but you’re not a—” To my absolute surprise, he stops mid-sentence and takes a breath. His expression softens and he nods slightly. “Yeah, actually. Yes. You’re right. If there’s anyone I’d trust to watch out for her, it’s you. And Ro. But you, for sure.”

I dart my eyes back to Beck. Jesus, this is better than a reality show. Beck swallows hard and nods. “Thank you, Hold. That… that really means a lot to me.”

Roman claps. “Okay, now you two get out of here before we all dissolve into tears again.”

Holden drags in a shaky breath that sounds like he might not be far off from that, and Beck is still staring at Holden, his eyes a little wet.

Roman nudges Beck’s side. “Go snatch Wren from Daddy Hold. I know you’re dying to.”

Beck doesn’t hesitate to step forward and hold his arms out in front of him. Holden climbs off my lap carefully and transfers Wren’s sleeping body into Beck’s arms before leaning forward and kissing her forehead.

“Okay, so we’ll just… go?” he asks, sounding a little lost as he turns to me.

I smile at him before standing. “Yep. We just go. Well, after I give her a kiss too.” I lean over and kiss her cheek.

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