Page 137 of Love You Like That (Excess All Areas 4)

He kissed her softly. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

The door to the room they’d been sitting in opened, and Luke walked in, bleary eyes, red-rimmed. “He’s here,” he said, his voice choked with emotion. “Zale Andrew Bryson, eight pounds three ounces. Looks a bit like one of those Sphynx cats that have no hair but is absolutely fucking perfect. Look at him…” Luke held out his phone where there was a photograph of a little baby in a cream hat.

Matt was the first to reach him and hugged him tightly. Alex watched, tears stinging his own eyes as Luke openly cried on Matt’s shoulder. A huge leap for the raging addict of a year ago.

Jase took Luke’s phone out of his hand and looked at the picture. “How did an ugly fuck like you make such a cute baby?”

“Jase,” Cerys said, pulling the phone out of his hand before he dropped it.

Luke smiled through the tears. “Willow’s genes.”

“How’s Willow doing?” Alex asked when he reached Luke, placing a hand on his back.

“You know, people always talk about the miracle of childbirth, but the horror of it is still too real. I’m in awe of her. She was incredible.” He wiped his tears on the sleeve of his hoodie.

“When can we meet him?” Ben asked, hugging Luke.

“They’re just getting Willow and Zale settled now, and they’re suggesting sleep for everyone so we’re going to try and grab as much sleep as Zale will let us.”

“Chaya said she’d swing by when her shift was done,” Ben said. “Although, I bet her head is raging after all that champagne.”

“And we can pick Nan up and bring her with us later,” Izabel added.

“We can bring you both some decent food,” Zoe offered.

“That would be amazing. I feel like I made it through the night on granola bars.”

“I’ll go grab you some decent food before you settle down,” Ben said, slapping his back. “I’ll be back in half an hour. I’ll pop out to Pret.”

Alex watched his brother go. “The rest of us should head out. Get some sleep.”

They said their goodbyes to Luke, sent their love to Willow and Zale, arranged for cars to pick them up, and walked out of the hospital. For the end of October, it was a brilliantly sunny, crisp day.

Alex cupped her cheeks. “It’s amazing, isn’t it. To the rest of the world, it’s just an ordinary Saturday. But to us, a miracle just happened, and a new life is in the world.”

Zoe wrapped her hands around his waist and shivered against the cool air. “Was just thinking the same thing.”

“Do you know what else I was thinking?” Alex said.

“That we should have brought jackets out with us last night?”

“Always practical with the dressing. But, no. We had plans for wild sex last night and we never got around to it.”

Zoe looked up at him and smiled. “We did.”

Softly, he pressed his lips to hers. “I’m not feeling that now.”

“No.”

“No. I’m feeling going home. Showering and crawling into bed for a few hours’ sleep with you in my arms. And then before the sun goes down, making love to you, Zoe. Intense, slow, sweet, soul-deep love.”

Zoe yawned and he smiled. “That sounds absolutely perfect.”

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