Page 88 of Why Not Forever?

“I asked what kinds of things you would do with them,” I tell him, taking one of the bracelets out of the box and tying it around his wrist. “The girls all talked about the things you would make and how much they loved making things with you. I wanted to be part of that, but so many of them are all grown up now. So I thought I’d do a little bit of it on my own. And I made all of this.” I gesture to the items in the box.

He grins at me. “So I can’t throw it away.”

“That’s right.”

He cups my face. “Victoria Marcus. Has some of my craziness rubbed off on you?”

I wrinkle my nose. “Maybe just a little.”

“Good.” He kisses me in front of his whole family, and I don’t ever want him to stop.

The week after Christmas is quiet. We don’t have much scheduled at Blue Vista, and Tanner took the time off from Sterling. He deserves it, considering how much my father has asked him to work over the last few months.

The New Year’s Eve party is tonight, but Spencer and Lis opted not to go since she’s officially on maternity leave and getting tired earlier. Adalie and Nate also decided to stay home since he has his daughter, Dani, tonight. Derek and Ava went, because one of the owners should be there, and Tanner asked if we could stay home, saying he was tired as well.

So we ring in the new year and curl up in bed together, falling asleep only half an hour after midnight.

Then my phone rings, yanking me from sleep. My heart is racing as I snatch it up. The person calling has to have called twice in a row since I have do not disturb on. Tanner sits up blearily, reaching for his glasses as I check the screen, seeing Spencer’s name, and my heart rate speeds a little more.

“Spencer?” I say. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he says, and his voice is soft. “Absolutely nothing is wrong.”

I blink in confusion and look over at Tanner, who is watching me with concern.

“Then why are you calling me at…” I check the time, “2am?”

“Because we played rock, paper, scissors, and I won. I’m going to switch to video. Are you guys decent?”

My brain is struggling to catch up to what he’s saying, and Tanner says, “Decent enough.”

Then my phone buzzes and I accept the video call. There, on the screen, are Spencer and Lis, and a tiny bundle wrapped in a green blanket with a little blue hat.

“I wanted you to be the first to meet Westley Cole,” Spencer says.

“I wanted Daze to be first,” Lis says. “But Spencer won.”

My eyes immediately fill with tears at the absolute perfection of the image I’m seeing. My best friend, the love of his life, and the product of that love.

“Oh my god. Let me see his face.”

Spencer moves the phone so I can see the little nose and the tiny lips and the closed eyes as he sleeps in his mother’s arms.

“He’s perfect,” I say, wiping the tears away. “Isn’t he perfect, Tanner?”

Tanner nods seriously. “I have seen many perfect babies, and Westley is definitely one of them.”

“I need to come to the hospital. I need to meet him.” I’m already moving before Tanner grabs me to hold me still.

Spencer laughs. “You can wait until morning.”

“I didn’t even know you were in labour,” I say.

“No one did,” Lis says, and Spencer adjusts the phone again so I can see everyone. “I didn’t want to tell anyone until it was over.”

“When did it start?” I ask.

“Last night,” she says, then shakes her head. “No. It’s tomorrow now. The night before. I called the doctor in the morning.”

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