Page 30 of If You Were Mine
“Is Greer okay?” I asked, my heart racing.
“Greer is just fine,” Blakely said with a bright smile. “There was a family emergency with Noah, everyone’s okay, but they couldn’t make it tonight. And they wanted to make sure that we knew about the pregnancy, because the Montgomerys just found out, as well as Greer’s brothers.”
“The Montgomerys keep beating us, and I don’t think I like it,” I said, trying to infuse the humor that I usually brought to an occasion. But from the worried looks on my siblings’ faces it wasn’t really getting there.
“I think I hear a baby’s cry,” Sophia said before she rushed off. I gave Cale a look.
“I don’t know how she does it either. But now I hear it,” Cale said as he followed her. I couldn’t help but do the same as I gave my beer back to Hudson.
I hadn’t been the greatest brother in the past year, and I knew it. Between pain, dealing with Mom, and just well, everything, I was an asshole. But Sophia’s twins? I loved them more than anything.
And when Ford’s kid came into the world? I couldn’t help but be their favorite uncle. I might as well have one title like that.
I heard the others behind me cheering on Ford and his family, and I would text him later, but for now, I needed to check on the girls.
“They’re just wanting to be picked up, everything’s okay, Dorian,” Sophia said softly as she held one of them close to her chest. Cale held the other, and I couldn’t help but go over to the man and hold out my arms.
“You’re lucky I like you,” Cale mumbled as he put a small bundle into my hands.
“She’s so tiny,” I whispered. Her bright baby blue eyes stared up at me as she reached for my finger. “Strong grip.”
“I swear you Cages melt so quickly as soon as you have one of the girls in your arms.”
“I can’t help it. She’s beautiful. Are you sure they’re okay coming up to this altitude?” I asked as I tore my gaze from the baby and to Sophia. Cale hugged her close from behind, so he was holding both Sophia and the baby. If I didn’t have such precious cargo, I’d take a photo of the family. Hell, sometimes these kids were the only things that made me smile these days. That and Harper, but I wasn’t going to think about that.
“Yes. We’re doing well. And you have Violet by the way.”
“Well say hello to Hazel for me and tell her I have dibs next.”
“You may be getting favorite uncle status, but you might be going lower on the rungs of favorite brother status if you’re not careful,” Sophia said with a laugh.
“I’ll fight my way through the family later. I can’t help it. I love these kids.”
“Oh, am I interrupting?” a familiar soft voice said, and I turned, forcing myself not to whirl since I had the baby in my arms, and blinked at Harper.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice coming out far gruffer than I wanted it to.
“You invited me? Remember? I’m sorry I’m late, I had to drop Lucky off at Ivy’s, so he wasn’t alone tonight. And I wasn’t sure if he could deal with so many strangers. I can go.”
“Stay,” Sophia said as she moved forward. Cale glared at me, and I pretty much earned it. “Harper, you are always welcome.”
“Thank you,” she said softly as Sophia gave me a look.
“Sorry, I forgot. I got distracted by this one.” I lifted Violet up a bit, and Harper couldn’t help but melt.
“They’re adorable. Seriously. You guys did good.”
Cale puffed up, and Sophia just smiled. “I think I’m going to feed them real quick right before we go eat our big person dinner. And thank you. I love them with all my heart.”
“Seriously. I didn’t know how I was going to be being a girl dad. But I can’t wait to see them grow up. They’re the best things to happen to me—other than Sophia of course.” Cale leaned forward and kissed Sophia softly on the mouth, and I cleared my throat.
“There are virgin eyes in this room, be careful with all that kissing.”
I had been talking about the babies, but with the way Harper blushed, I couldn’t help it when my mind wandered.
No, I was not going to think about that. Not at all.
“So proper,” Sophia said with a laugh. “Give the baby to Cale, and tell the others we’ll be down in a minute?”
