Chapter 42 Anna
Anna
The door to Madeline’s hospital room is cracked open. Nick and I walk in as quietly as we can.
She’s on the bed, cuddling her sleeping baby in her arms. Ryker is sitting next to her, gazing at their baby girl, an adoring expression on his face. Like he’s in awe. Like he’s never seen anything more precious in his life.
He glances up and sees us.
“Hey, guys,” he says in a soft voice. He walks over to us and hugs us both.
“Congratulations,” I say to him. “I can’t believe you’re a dad.”
He grins. “I can’t either.”
Madeline smiles up at Nick and me. “Meet your niece. Willow Amelia St. George.”
I gasp. “Oh my gosh, I love her name.”
Nick and I step over to the edge of the bed.
“She’s beautiful,” I whisper as I stare at my baby niece, sleeping soundly in her mom’s arms.
“Still disappointed that you didn’t name her after me,” Nick jokes.
Ryker rolls his eyes. Madeline just chuckles.
“She looks just like you, Madeline,” I say.
“Lucky kid,” Ryker says, smiling down at his baby daughter.
“Do you want to hold her?” Madeline asks.
I nod yes, then grab hand sanitizer from my bag and put some on before sitting on the edge of the bed. Madeline carefully sets her in my arms. I hold my breath, hoping I don’t wake her.
Emotion lodges in my throat. I can’t believe I have an adorable, perfect baby niece. “She looks like a little angel,” I say.
“You should have heard her when she came out. She sounded more like a demon.” Madeline laughs.
Rykers nods along. “I’ve never heard a baby cry like that.”
Nick and I chuckle. Nick takes a picture of me, then I hand Willow over to him so he can hold her.
“What’s that?” Madeline asks, looking at the gift bags that Nick set on the chair next to the bed.
I grab them. “These are gifts for Willow. And this is a mommy goodie bag.” I pull out a small tray of sushi and an Italian sub wrapped in paper.
Madeline’s eyes bulge, and she gasps. I chuckle as she grabs the tray of sushi out of my hands and pops a piece of tuna maki in her mouth.
She closes her eyes and moans. “Oh my god, that’s so good,” she says around a mouthful.
I offer her a pair of chopsticks, but she shakes her head and keeps eating the sushi with her hands. She inhales a salmon roll and a spicy tuna roll in record time. Ryker grins and leans down to kiss his wife’s forehead.
“Best surprise ever, you two,” he says.
“Yes, thank you. This is amazing,” Madeline says as she finishes the sushi and digs into the Italian sub.
I set out the brie cheese and deli meats that we also brought for her, along with a small bottle of champagne.
“I know you’re not a big drinker, but we got this for you in case you wanted a little bubbly to celebrate Willow’s birthday. And to celebrate yourself too,” I say. “You did all the hard work bringing her into the world.”
Madeline’s smile is warm as she looks at Nick and me. “You guys are so thoughtful. Thank you.”
I look over at Ryker. “You’d better get your wife a really good push present.”
He and Madeline both chuckle. Nick cuddles baby Willow, and I snap a few photos of them.
I text Poppy the pictures. She’s been out of state for a week-long family reunion, then she’s traveling to Los Angeles right after that to attend a YouTube creator retreat for her channel, which means we haven’t been able to see each other much this summer.
Me: Look at your boyfriend cuddling our new baby niece!
Poppy: Oh my gosh!! Okay, this is the cutest picture EVER! I’m seriously swooning!
Me: So the saying is true? Seeing your boyfriend hold a baby gives you baby fever?
Poppy: Lol no way, I’m not even close to ready for babies. But there’s just something so damn cute when a man cuddles a baby.
Poppy: Your baby niece is freaking adorable, by the way *heart eyes* What did Ryker and Madeline name her?
Me: Willow Amelia St. George
Poppy: Oh, that’s such a pretty name!
Me: I thought so too :)
Poppy: So, how is your secret romance going with your hot hockey goalie boyfriend??
I grin down at my phone, but rein it in so no one notices. I don’t want Nick to wonder why I look so giddy. He’ll tease me and ask me questions, and I don’t want to have to keep lying to him, especially not here, when we’re in front of family, celebrating the birth of our niece.
Me: Really, really good. Like insanely good.
Poppy: Details please!!!
I almost tell her that I’ll text her later, but I look up and see that Ryker and Nick are busy talking about hockey. Madeline’s chowing down on the food and snacks we brought her. Everyone’s busy, so it’s probably okay if I spend a few minutes texting with my best friend.
Me: We’ve been spending all our free time together. We hang out at my place and watch Grey’s Anatomy. He came with me to volunteer at the animal shelter. He even took me to spend time with his mom.
Me: And he asked me to be his girlfriend…
Poppy: OMG seriously??? Ahhh this is amazing! You said yes, right?
Me: Yeah :)
Poppy: I knew it! I knew you two were going to get serious! So much for just having fun lol
Me: Okay, okay. You were right. No need to gloat
Poppy: Fine, no more gloating. But admit it—isn’t it the best feeling when you’re coupled up with an amazing guy?
Me: It really is. He’s so sweet and thoughtful. And romantic too. Every time we’re over at my place, he wants to cuddle. Can you believe it? The grumpiest guy I’ve ever met is into cuddling. How adorable is that?
Poppy: SO adorable! And honestly, I kind of get it. Some guys are like that. Grumpy on the outside with a hard exterior that’s tough to break into, but once you do, you see how soft he is on the inside.
Me: That’s exactly what he’s like. He’s different from the guys I’ve dated in the best way.
Poppy: I’m guessing he’s rocking your world in the bedroom too???
Me: *blushing emoji*
Poppy: I knew it!
I think about how, all these years, I had Travis all wrong. I thought he was a broody jerk who didn’t care about anyone other than himself.
But he’s not. He’s so different from what I thought he was. Kinder. More caring, more giving.
He drops everything to help the people he cares about. He’s done that for both his mom and me.
He’s protective. He’d do anything to keep me safe.
My tummy dips and my heart swells. I was so, so wrong about him.
Poppy: I can’t believe it! You and Travis are together! You’re boyfriend and girlfriend! This is SO freaking cute and perfect :)
She sends a string of celebration emojis, and I hold back a laugh.
Me: I should get back to my family. Thanks for the impromptu text catch-up. I miss you tons and tons!
Poppy: I miss you too! Can’t wait to come back to Denver and see you!
Me: Same!! Have fun at that YouTube creator convention! You’re going to do amazing! And thank you for being so cool about keeping things about Travis and me under wraps. I know I’m a jerk for asking you not to tell my brother about this when he’s your boyfriend…
Poppy: You’re not a jerk. I understand completely. You and Travis deserve privacy. And you deserve to tell your brother when you’re ready to, and not one moment before that.
Me: You’re the best. SERIOUSLY! I love you *heart hands*
Poppy: Love you!! *heart hands*
I put my phone back in my pocket. Nick is still holding Willow and talking to Ryker while Madeline finishes eating.
“I’ll go grab some ice so you can keep the champagne cold,” I say before heading out of the room.
I walk down the hall and turn the corner, nearly bumping into someone.
“Oh, shoot, sorry. I wasn’t…”
I trail off, stunned when I see the person I just bumped into.
It’s Melody, Colin’s fiancée.