Page 141 of Playboy

“How arewe ever going to put him in his crib?” Hannah says as the two of us lie in bed. We’ve been home for one night, and she’s currently got Mav on her breast, nursing. Every moment for the last two days has been like this. Perfect. Quiet. Sure, Mav gets fussy, but the moment he latches, he’s content for at least another hour, sometimes two. I get it. That’s my favorite place to be as well.

Our whole crew came to the hospital in shifts. Mav has a ridiculous number of honorary aunts and uncles. At three a.m., when I finally made my way to the waiting area, my dad had made it in from Bristol. He and Millie were the first to meet our guy. The rest of our friends and family visited the next day, bringing breakfast and lunch for the staff and making us the most liked and well taken care of guests in the hospital. Then Lake showed up, and from what I heard, more than one nurse had a panic attack. Hannah cackled when she pointed out that Lake is Mav’s grandmother. Mills chimed in with “That’s what happens when you marry an old man.”

Hannah was in great spirits, even if her mother didn’t show. Noah’s father brought Oliver up to meet his cousin, and her other dads checked in via FaceTime throughout the day. Herbrothers too. Even now, we still haven’t heard a word from her mother.

“I’ll never understand how my mother could miss this,” she whispers, almost like she’s reading my thoughts, her blue eyes filled with emotion. “I love Mav so much, and I’ve only just met him. How could she not care?”

I press a kiss to her bare shoulder and brush a finger down Mav’s cheek. “You’re nothing like your mother, Han.”

Her responding nod is resolute, like she’s finally coming to terms with that truth. I think parenthood does that. Puts things into perspective. We only have so much energy, and using it on a person who isn’t putting any energy back into a relationship is a waste. “I know,” she says quietly.

“I’m going to refill your water. Want a snack too?”

Without taking her eyes off Mav, she mutters, “I want a slice of chocolate cream pie.”

I chuckle as I press a kiss to Mav’s forehead. As I pull back, he scrunches up like an angry old man, probably worried I’m going to interrupt his feeding. “Okay, dream girl.” I brush my lips over hers. “I’ll be back with your pie.”

She’s too enamored with our son to pay me any mind.

Taking advantage of her distraction, I collect all the supplies, along with my letter and my surprise. When I return, our little guy is on her shoulder, being burped. “Here, baby. Let me take him.”

I pace the room, patting his back, giving her time to use the bathroom and eat her pie.

“What do you think, Mav? Can you give Mama and me a few minutes so I can ask her an important question?”

Mav nuzzles into my chest like he thinks he’s getting more milk.

I’ll take that as a yes. “Awesome.” I press a kiss to his soft head and inhale deeply, soaking in his sweet scent. Swaying, Iwalk out of the room. I don’t stop moving until he’s fast asleep. Then I do the unthinkable and put him in his crib. When he doesn’t stir, I smile. It’s like he’s giving us his blessing.

When I return, Hannah is holding up the letter, and her pie plate is empty. “What is this?” she whispers.

I smirk. “Read it.”

She bows her head over it, sniffling.

“Out loud.”

Hannah bites back a smile. “Fine.” She shakes the paper dramatically and clears her throat. “Dream girl,” she says in an absurdly deep voice.

“That’s not how I sound. If you’re going to tease me, then you can read it silently.” I lean over her shoulder so I can follow along.

Dream girl,

ME. I’m not saying I’m perfect. Hell, I’m miles from it. And I’m not saying that I’ll always do everything right. We both know that isn’t true. Half the time I can’t speak properly because you’re in the room. The mere thought of you has my stomach in knots. I’m not settling down, because lord knows being with you doesn’t settle me. You’ve got me so wound up I have to work to be my impressive self.

But I will do all of that, every day, for the rest of my life, if you’ll just say…YES.

Hannah straightens and turns, studying me. “What is this?”

“Put the letters together.” I hand her the letters I’ve written over the last month.

Brow creased, she frowns down at them.

“Now look at the first word of each one,” I instruct.

“Will.”

With a thick swallow, she looks up at me.

---