Page 30 of Slow Burn
9
LEVI
I don't know what I did to get a second chance. But I'm taking it and holding on as tight as I can. Brynn is it for me, and this time I don't need to put a ring on her finger to know it. Although, putting a ring on her finger and maybe, someday soon, a baby in her belly, are all too appealing ideas.
Ones that I think about all the time, in fact. When we're making dinner together and she looks at me, those emerald eyes sparkling. When we lie in bed talking about our day, how Amelia is growing, about everything. Every single time I see her holding my daughter. How she looks at Amelia and she looks at Brynn; I want to give her a dozen more babies.
“Pretty sure I am hours away from being a dad.” Hunter's booming southern drawl breaks into my own thoughts about fatherhood.
“You ready Byrne?” I ask with a quirked brow, although I have no doubt he is.
Hunter is the oldest of the four of us who have become family here at Ladder 71. Really, we're all family; we used to hang out at the bars and chase women—really there was little chase involved—but a lot of us have grown up. Gotten married. Settled down. Truth be told, we all figured Hunter might be the last man standing.
Took five-foot-five inches of Lola Von to change that. I am almost as excited as he is about the child he has coming. They decided against learning the gender. I'm voting for girl. Hunter has been snarly for weeks, and I know Lola's due date was a week ago. Lola has been in constant contact with Brynn since the day came and went with no baby.
“Past ready, bro. Lola and Brynn finished the gender neutral,” He says this term with a roll of his eyes and air quotes, “nursery two nights ago. It’s a boy, I just know it.” His mocking tone turns softer as he says this and suddenly, I no longer wish a girl on him.
“Just keep that little Byrne away from my little Holt, then. I'm excited for you though. You got to be there for the whole deal, will get to be there for delivery. You nervous about all those firsts?” I realize how bitter those words taste when I think about all I missed with Amelia.
Because of Isabel being so Goddamn selfish, I never got to feel my baby kick, or hear her heartbeat for the first time. Never got one of those alien looking ultrasounds that Hunter has pinned up proudly all over his office. Instead, I was filling my loneliness with a handful of loose women while my daughter was growing with someone who didn't give two shits.
Won't happen again. When Brynn and I have kids, I will be at every single ultrasound, every lame Lamaze class, whatever they need. I will gladly run out to get her pickles and ice cream at two in the morning if that's what she wants. Anything for my girls.
“No way! I mean the idea of the birth is freaking me the fuck out, not going to lie. Lola is so damn tiny. I worry about her.” He's not wrong, Lola looks unchanged from her tiny pixie figure, other than the medium melon her belly grew into.
“Lola might be the strongest chick I ever met. Besides Gigi, who is like, Wonder Woman strong. Just consider the beast she tamed.” Hunter glances past his office door towards the common room where six-foot seven mountain man Finn is chugging a beer we both know will have zero effect on him.
“I mean right now, I believe my woman can do anything. Get me in the birth room, I might be the one to bitch out, who knows. I am worried about after, though. I won't lie. Worried about what parts of me my son my end up with. They're not all good, after all. Lola, I hope evens out however my genes might fuck it up, though. My woman doesn't have any bad parts.” I am about to bust his balls about his bad parts, namely his bald head and southern boy twang when his phone goes off.
“Oh, shit it's the baby phone!” Cage calls from behind me; I turn to see both he and Finn standing anxiously in the doorway.
All eyes turn to Hunter. Our fearless leader, both on the job and off. He looks absolutely terrified. I cover my laugh with a fist when he glares at me. Suddenly, his office is a flurry of movement as he snatches the phone up, shouting into it as he rushes out.
“Don't worry chief, we got you covered!” Cage calls after him.
“I'm on my way Darlin. Don't you have my boy without me! Levi let's roll!” I leap to my feet to rush after him, forgetting for a moment I am part of their birth plan.
A really, very small part, I am an official part of it nonetheless. For the past two weeks, I have been watching that phone too, though far less anxiously than Hunter. He and I even made some practice runs between here and the condo, and then the hospital. Timed that shit and everything. Basically, I am their baby chauffeur.
And of course, my girl needs to be there for Lola.
Brynn has Gwen lined up to come for Amelia once we got the call. Since neither Cage nor Finn have given her babies yet—although I have caught Cage and Charli twice in the act of doing their damned best—I am officially her favorite fireman. Brynn has yet to allow Gwen, or anyone really, take Amelia for more than a quick visit. The Cooper women get their time in with her though, make no mistake about that.
“Good luck, Hunter. Coopers will be there as soon as we can.” Finn shouted after us as we rush down the stairs and out to Hunter's truck.
Hunter waves a hand, but his attention is on his wife. I smile a little, because its surreal to see us all act so adult and sensitive. A year ago, we were shouting obscenities at each other and fucking women in bars. Like, literally in the bar a few times. I don't miss that shit one bit.
Going to weddings, being there for the births of their kids, housewarming parties, that shit is way better. A few of us took our time getting here, and a few of us—myself included—didn't make the right choice the first time. Arriving at the condo, seeing the love on Hunter's face when he sees his wife, I'm positive they got it right.
Seeing my girl waiting for us to share this with them, I know I got it right this time, too.
Getting to the hospital, Lola to a delivery room and the show on the road was a blur. Before I knew it, Brynn and I were both in head to toe blue crepe like scrubs, following a chattering nurse down a wood paneled hallway. Brynn managed to make those scrubs look hot as fuck.
“I'm fucking you in those scrubs.” I warned her as we followed behind the nurse,
“Behave.” Brynn's creamy skin flushed though, freckles dotting her nose and I knew she didn't mean it.
Besides, the sway she put in her hips told me certainly did not want me to behave. We followed the nurse past the windows protecting a handful of newborns and I paused. Brynn went a few steps without me before turning back. I didn't have to say the words, somehow, she just knew.
