Page 125 of The Merger
I pull him into a hug.This thoughtful man is too much. “I love it, Gannon.”
“And I love you.”
Chapter Thirty
Carys
Dear Baby Brewer,
We heard your heartbeat today. It was nice and strong, and I sobbed the entire time. I’ve never seen your daddy smile so big. He’s so proud of you already and is dying to know whether you’re a girl or a boy. I think I know, but we’ll have to wait and see.
Look, if you could stop making me puke, I’d appreciate it.
Hi, sweet baby,
These last few weeks have been magical. Daddy and I haven’t told anyone about you yet. Uncle Tate can’t quite figure out why I haven’t been spending as much time with him, why I’ve been sick to my stomach for weeks, and why I never seem to be at my apartment. I don’t think he’s put things together yet, but the time is coming for us to tell everyone. We’re almost there and I can’t wait. They’re going to be so excited. We got to meet your cousin Emery last night. Auntie Bianca and Uncle Foxx brought her up to meet everyone. She looked at me like she knew I was hiding a secret.
Love,
Mommy
Today was a big day, Baby B! We know your gender. And we are so, so excited. I even have your little picture stuck to the refrigerator. I’m officially that mom.
And your dad is that dad.
I’m warning you—he’s going to be a helicopter parent. But it comes from a good place. The best place.
I’m also a crybaby now, so ignore the splashes of tears on this page. (And others.) I’m just so happy.
We’re telling everyone about you this weekend. I can’t wait to see their reactions!
Chapter Thirty-One
Carys
“He’s going to have a meltdown when he sees me here,” I say, giggling.
Gannon smirks.
“You’re enjoying this too much.”
He takes a drink of water. “He’s fucked with me since the day he was born. I haven’t bothered him as much because involvement in his games isn’t appealing. But this? This is going to be fun.”
It was impossible to get Gannon’s family together on the same day, let alone adding my mom into the mix. There are too many schedules, commitments, and appointments to manage. Gannon entertained the idea for about an hour but then saidfuck it. It was starting to stress me out and that’s not acceptable.
God, I love this man.
I smile, thinking about the moment he declared that we’d do what was best for the baby and me—and that was telling his family by group text. I tried to protest because it feels impersonal. But itwasgetting stressful. And I can’t deny that having Gannon take the pressure off me and shouldering the responsibility himself was a relief.
Gannon moves the ultrasound picture, the one without the gender, to the middle of the refrigerator so Tate can’t miss it.
He’s having way too much fun with this. And seeing him have fun and enjoying small things is a blessing. It’s yet another new layer to him.My complicated, amazing man.
The doorbell rings, and Tate’s voice follows it.
“Hey, Gan! Are you home?” he calls out.
Gannon grins like a cat that ate the canary. “In the kitchen.”
