Page 98 of High Velocity

Jackson sent pictures last night after he was born, and that little sweetie reminds me so much of his father when he was a baby, it made me cry. Or maybe that was because I so badly wanted to hold that little one, but my son and his wife had requested no visits in the hospital so they could have a chance to connect with their child before introducing him to everyone else.

So yeah, no one—not even Ama—is going to get in the way of my first meeting with my grandson.

I can’t believe I’m a grandmother, despite wearing a T-shirt identifying me as Nana with big letters on my chest. Jonas has one that says, Pops. I had to make him wear it, which he grudgingly did. Of course as soon as the guys got here, they’ve been teasing him, earning me his dirty glares.

I don’t care. Stephanie had those shirts made for us and I happen to think it’s cute, so Jonas will just have to get over his badass self.

When the truck pulls up right in front, the butterflies that have been dallying about in my stomach since I woke up this morning suddenly explode into a wild frenzy, making me mildly nauseated. I feel like a teenager on prom night, waiting for her date.

I watch as Jackson gets out, rounds the hood to the passenger side, and helps Stephanie out of the vehicle first. Then he ducks in to the back seat and reappears with a baby carrier in his hand. As they climb up the steps to the porch, Jackson glances up and catches sight of me, his face splitting into a wide grin.

My God, look at my boy. A father.

“I’ll leave you to it,” Ama graciously announces as she backs away from the door.

But she is quickly replaced by Jonas, who stands behind me and places a steadying hand on my shoulder as Jackson walks up.

“Let’s go into the office,” I hear my husband suggest behind me, but I hardly register it.

I’m too busy falling in love with the little sleeping face peeking out between the blanket and the knit beanie covering his head. I let myself get hustled into the old office at the front of the house, where Jackson is already unbuckling the baby with great care.

“Oh, give him to me, already,” I blurt out, wiggling my fingers impatiently.

The moment my son places that little bundle in my arms, my butterflies disappear and I feel something in my chest shift into place with a click. Like the final piece of a puzzle filling the last empty spot I didn’t realize was there.

I am whole.

Jonas

This place is a goddamn gong show.

There are bodies everywhere, kids running around, everyone talking and laughing, babies crying.

It’s mayhem, and I fucking love it.

My eyes find my wife, who is more beautiful today than I have ever seen her. Beaming with happiness, pure love shining from her eyes, she is stunning.

I found a quiet spot in the corner of the living room, from where I have a view of the entire open space. If this were summer, we’d all be outside for a cookout, but it’s cold and it’s snowing a little, so everyone is congregated in the house.

Everybody is here. Fletch and Nella dropped by with their son, Hunter, who is a solemn fourteen-year-old but already almost as tall as his father. Sully and Pippa showed up with Carmi, a rambunctious teenager who is currently chasing after Aspen, Dan and Sloane’s girl, while their boy, Sammy, is sitting in the high chair, being fed cake by Ama.

Lucy and Bo came to welcome the new addition as well. Bo is still looking pissed because Jackson made Lucy cry—which is a rarity— when he asked her to be the baby’s godmother. Appropriate, since Lucy is like a cross between a sister and an aunt to Jackson. Bo will get over it, Lucy will make sure of that.

Hayley, Wolff and Jillian’s twelve-year-old foster daughter, is sitting quietly on a stool in the kitchen, observing everything that goes on around her from under her eyelashes. She’ll get used to the boisterous crowd and her place in it, eventually. She doesn’t know yet her foster parents have put the wheels in motion to legally adopt her.

Of course, JD and Janey are here with their little girl, Sage, who is currently being burped by Grandpa James. God, the boys and I had some fun ribbing him about becoming a grandfather, right up until we found out I would be joining his ranks shortly after. Now the other guys tease us both.

Before today I’d snap at them, but now I just smile at their antics. Let them laugh, I don’t give a rat’s ass. Nothing they can say is going to put a damper on the high I’m on. I fucking love being Pops to this little nugget.

“How is he doing?”

Jackson comes over to check on his son. I look down at the tiny human in my arms.

“Yeah, he’s fine. Still sleeping. But I’m pretty sure he just shit his diaper.”

Jackson grins. “No time like the present to get your hands dirty, Pops,” he teases.

“Oh no,” I scoff, shaking my head. “You won’t get me changing diapers. That’s a parent’s job, he’s all yours.”

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