Page 116 of The Final Faceoff
“Couldn’t sleep?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “Too much on my mind.”
I pull back just enough to tip her chin up, catching every flicker of emotion in her expression. “Tell me.”
She bites her lip, hesitating for half a second before murmuring, “For starters, she still doesn’t have a name.”
I chuckle, thumb sweeping over her cheek. “I know.”
She huffs, frustrated. “Leif, we have everything. The nursery, the clothes, the car seat, the stupid nipple cream everyone says I’ll need?—”
I grin. “You mean the nipple cream I had to get in two separate orders because you panicked over which brand was best?”
Her eyes narrow. “That’s not the point.”
I laugh, then press a soft kiss to her lips. She tastes like peppermint tea and something sweet—something just Hailey.
“We’ll figure it out,” I promise, brushing my lips over hers again, slower this time. “She’ll have the perfect name.”
She exhales against my mouth, a breath that feels like surrender, like she’s finally letting go of everything that’s been pressing down on her.
I guide her gently toward the rocking chair, settling her down before kneeling in front of her. My hands smooth over her thighs, up to her belly, spreading wide as I rest my forehead against her.
“She’s moving,” Hailey whispers, fingers threading through my hair.
I hum, feeling the gentle shift under my palms. “Hey, sweetie. I’m ready to meet you. Today would be a good time—I can even take a few days off just to be with you and Mom.” She kicks back again.
I press a kiss to Hailey’s belly, my voice barely above a whisper. “Hey, baby girl. You comfy in there?”
Hailey laughs, soft and warm. “I doubt it. There’s not much room left. And if you want her out today, we should find a name soon.”
I smirk, dragging my hands up to her hips. “Well, we’d better pick a name before she gets here and starts complaining.”
She tilts her head, thinking. “Okay. Let’s go through our list again.”
I groan, dropping my head into her lap. “We’ve been through the list a hundred times.”
She grins, scratching her nails lightly against my scalp. “Then maybe this time, we’ll actually agree.”
I drag my fingers down her thighs, teasing. “What if we name her after you?”
She snorts. “You want to name her Hailey Jr.?”
I smirk against her skin. “Could call her H.J. for short.”
She laughs, the sound sending something warm and golden through my chest.
“Okay, serious suggestion,” I say, sitting back on my heels. “What about Celeste?”
Her expression softens. “Celeste,” she repeats, testing it.
I nod, running my hand up and down her thigh. “It fits the whole moon and stars theme. And it means ‘heavenly.’”
She goes quiet, like she’s rolling it around in her heart, feeling it settle in.
“I like it,” she finally murmurs. “But . . .”
I raise a brow. “But?”
