Page 91 of All For You
“But anyway, I would appreciate your help. It might be nice to have some sort of social life. I’m sure Jenna wouldreallylove it.” My best friend had a massive crush on Andrew when she was younger and made sure he knew about it back then. Thankfully she was very happy with her new beau, Derek.
Back in the waiting area, we handed off the extra drinks to our thankful parents just as the nurse popped her head in and told me we were nearing the end. It seemed a little bit of drugs relaxed my sister enough that the baby was making its entrance into the world.
At 1:30 a.m. my nephew, Elijah Henry Crawford, was born. He was the most precious baby boy I’d ever seen, and I wasn’t just thinking that because I was destined to be his favorite aunt, but because he truly was. Even the nurses were talking about how cute he was while gossiping in the hallway. Thankfully, security for Colton had arrived a few hours before the birth to keep the tabloid photographers at bay, but that didn’t mean a couple of shots hadn’t been taken of us all waiting inside the hospital.
As my siblings returned and took their turns holding the precious baby, I nestled onto the bed next to my sister, who was a rockstar by all accounts.
“How are you holding up?” I asked her. She had this glow about her, even with the tired eyes and sweat-drenched hair. Autumn had never looked more beautiful.
“I’m good. Really good.”
“I’m happy for you, Fall.”
“Thanks, Winter.” We smiled, using our childhood nicknames for each other.
Colton strolled over with the tiny bundle in his arms. He was a massive man who usually had to bend a bit to enter doorways, and with Elijah, it looked like he was holding a small melon or something.
“Ready for your turn, Aunt Aspen?”
“Really? You want me to hold him? What if I drop him? I’ve never held a baby,” I asked as I stood and put my arms into a certain position I thought would help.
“You won’t,” he assured me as he placed the small human in my arms.
“Oh my gosh, he’s so precious,” I murmured through my tears. It was one thing to look at him in my sister’s arms, but it was an entirely other thing to hold him close to my heart.
“Quick, take a picture,” I gestured to Rory, who was closest, poking out my hip for her to snag my phone from my back pocket. As she positioned the camera, I smiled down at my nephew, and a deep yearning built in my chest. It was a feeling I never imagined having, and suddenly I knew it was something I wanted for myself one day.
“Here,” Rory said, and I took the phone from her.
It was late, and I was sure Owen was asleep, but I maneuvered my thumb over the screen and tapped his number without waking the baby. I was a pro already.
I was surprised when he answered the video call. The dim light on his nightstand cast glorious shadows across his bare chest as I held the screen up.
“Wowza,” Autumn cooed from her bed, ignoring Colton’s eye roll.
“Sorry to wake you,” I said, “but I wanted to introduce you to my nephew, Elijah. Eli for short.”
I held the phone just far enough away so that Eli and I were on the screen together and you could make out his chubby cheeks and button nose.
“He’s beautiful. Congratulations, Autumn and Colton. I can’t wait to meet him in person.”
“Hold on,” I said to Owen as I carefully handed Eli to my sister. I stepped toward the door of the room while the rest of the family continued their excited chatter.
“Sorry, I know it’s late, but I had to call.”
Owen stretched his long limbs, and I found myself hoping the sheet around his waist would fall just a few inches lower. Since he’d taken my virginity and the couple of weeks I got to enjoy afterward, I’d been missing our intimate moments together. I’d made good friends with the vibrator he purchased for me a week after he left. The only stipulation was that I could only use it if I filmed it for him or while we video-chatted. Those were some of my favorite nights, but it still wasn’t the same as having him with me.
“I’m glad you called, cricket. I’m always happy when I can talk to you.”
“How’s training going?” His coach had asked him to host a workshop for a few of the new players, and Owen seemed to be excited about it. The first sessions started yesterday. It wasn’t just about how to play the game but how to present yourself to the public amidst the fame and fortune. He’d also brought in a financial advisor to set the new guys up with a team, so they didn’t spend their million-dollar contracts right away.
“It’s good. We have some real potential this year to make it to the championships again, and the guys are really open to listening to my advice. For whatever reason.”
“Because you’re their idol, baseball star.”
We laughed together, and then a comfortable silence blossomed.
“I miss you.”
