“Where’s my nephew?” Nik demanded, handing the flowers to me. He wrapped his arms around me, and Theo rescued the flowers before we crushed them. “Amy is working, but she’s coming as soon as she can.”
“That’s fine! Mom and Mara have him,” I said, grinning at the sight of our families cooing over our son.
Everyone took turns holding Romeo, my eyes following him every step of the way.
“Are you okay, baby?” Theo asked, offering me iced water.
“I’m tired but exhilarated.” I grinned, pushing myself up to drink. “I still can’t believe he’s here, and he’s okay.”
“I can, you’ve been brilliant,” Theo said, kissing my forehead again.
“Romeo, where did that come from?” I asked, sipping the water gratefully.
“You always used to call me Casanova...so I figured why not give him a cool name like that?”
“If he’s like you, Theo, we’re going to have our hands full.”
I laughed as Mara, Ryan, and Nik went to get coffees.
Laura and Alonzo were sitting on the plastic chairs, whispering excitedly over Romeo.
“I want to eat him; he’s so perfect.” Laura sighed.
The door opened, and my heart jumped in my mouth when I saw my eldest brother stood there, a stunned look on his face.
“Zane?”
I choked out the word as he nodded, sending an awkward smile to Theo.
“Am I okay to come in?” Zane asked, holding a gift bag in a vice-like grip.
“Of course,” I said without a second thought. “Thank you for coming.”
Zane crossed over to me, and as he swept me into his arms, he mumbled in my ear.
“I’m so sorry. I love you so much.”
I gripped my brother by the shoulders, nodding as tears soaked his jacket.
“Me too,” I whispered. “But you’re here, and that means so much.”
Zane pulled back, and I clocked his wet eyes and clenched jaw.
He is trying.
“Ready to meet your nephew?” I asked as Zane licked his lips, turning to Theo.
Theo glared at him, but I knew that nothing could anger Theo today.
“I’m sorry, Theodore.”
Zane bowed his head and offered his hand out to Theo.
Theo moved his eyes to mine, and I pleaded with him to be okay with him.
Zane had his issues, and although he’d not behaved well throughout the beginning of the pregnancy, he’d just stepped back for the rest of it.
What mattered to me, though, was that he was here.
