24. Meadow
Meadow
M y mom texted me in the middle of the night that Lennon was in labor.
Rushing through the hospital halls, we finally find my parents who tell us Lennon just gave birth and they want a few moments alone.
My phone pings and I lift it to see that Blakely texted me even though she sits next to me in the waiting room.
Blakely
Would you come back?
Meadow
What do you mean?
I text her back and knit my eyebrows in question.
Blakely
Your next race is in a week and I will be in Vegas by then.
My crooked smile molds my cheeks. I drag my tongue over my bottom lip and bite it.
Meadow
Blakely.
I’ll be on my way to you for as long as we’re in this.
Blakely
Really?
I tilt my jaw up to meet her delicate features and that ‘I love you’ smile she flashes at me. I can’t help but widen my grin and silently laugh, letting my chest and shoulder shake in the process.
Meadow
Yes, you jerk.
Blakely
Right back at ya’, champ.
I’ll make us dinner and watch the dogs while you’re gone .
That sounds nice.
Meadow
Champ, huh?
I expected more from you, that’s not our style.
Blakely
Oh, I’m sorry cockpit, that it doesn’t meet your standards.
Cockpit. I’m dying not to burst out laughing.
Meadow
Are you getting soft on me, Wilder?
Blakely
Never.
She sends a cockroach emoji and a plane right after. I get the plane but… cockroach?
I give her the side eye.
Meadow
I bet you will… underneath me when I slam you to the mattress until it breaks.
AGAIN.
I smirk.
Blakely
Wouldn’t you like that?
I knew you were so proud of that moment.
Meadow
Very much and if you’re in a Grinch mode EVEN BETTER, I’ll shove my hard cock into that dirty mouth and rinse your body with my cum.
Blakely
You’re aware that my dad is sitting right next to you.
Meadow
Too busy chatting with my dad.
Cockroach?
It will drive me crazy until I know what it means.
Blakely
It’s an inside joke between me, myself, and I.
Jim taps on my knee to get my attention. “We thought it was time to tell you something.”
I glimpse at Blakely who looks at her dad and turn my head back to him.
“You two met before,” my mom continues, making her genuine grin so I know she’s not bluffing.
“I don’t remember.” I shake my head.
“Neither do I,” Blakely confirms too.
“You were little. Blakely was two, you were four. You always wanted to protect her from the other bikes and kids, you didn’t let her play with anyone until she bit you and you got angry. But you just watched her from afar. We thought it was adorable.” She tells us, reminiscing on the memories as her expressions change with each word.
“That definitely sounds like us.” Blakely comments.
It does.
Mom continues, “Your mother loved that necklace and she came up with the idea. Meadow’s middle name is Bow and we waited for you to come two years later to name you Arrow.”
“His other half,” Dad finishes. “We knew Meadow would be our only child but we didn’t know you would be too. You will always have each other.” Dad looks at me now as he says, “We wanted you to know that you belong to someone and that no one will abandon you. Ever. Everyone belongs to you too and we’re not going anywhere.”
I nod, my throat clogs with emotions.
“Yeah, that’s why Madeline, Blakely’s mom, instructed me to give you the necklace, she said both of you are her kids. She helped so much when Meadow was a baby and when she had Blakely she thought that you would grow up together.” Mom explains with a sad grin.
WHAT…?
The gap between my lips is so wide I could swallow a chain of flies.
Blakely’s fingers find their way to mine. “That’s the one she used to wear.” She says as if she already knew about this.
“It was time for you to meet him.” Jim declares. All cheery like a little boy.
“Dad!” Blakely whisper-shouts. “This was a setup?”
“What? I knew that you would be perfect together. I watched you two since you were born, and I knew you needed to be in each other’s lives.” Jim replies unapologetically and I can’t believe he tricked me again and said the final word. Same as always.
But I don’t care.
She’s mine.
I lift Blakely’s hand to my mouth and kiss her knuckles.
“That’s what your mother wanted,” he adds, staring into Blakely’s eyes.
After everyone gets a round with Dean and Lennon’s baby it’s finally my turn since we don’t want to overwhelm them. Dean puts his little girl into my waiting arms.
I stare at her.
My whole body relaxes like I’ve been recharged.
I’ve seen so much death in my life but this is the first time I’ve seen a life entering this world in the form of a little girl. Dean and Lennon’s baby girl. As I hold her, every treasured moment flashes before my eyes until I focus on her little button nose, swaying my body side to side in subtle movements while she is asleep.
She is so pretty.
And tiny.
I caress her chubby cheek with the pad of my thumb gently. Tears flood my eyes and I can’t stop them, I need them to escape.
As I exit the room back to the waiting area, I go straight to Blakely who leans against a wall and waits for me.
“I think I can answer your question.” I fix my body around her, caging her between my arms.
She tilts her chin upward. “What question?”
“The one you asked when you gave me my tattoo.” I kiss her cute nose. “If I’m happy.”
“And…?”
“I’m happy when I’m with you. You quiet everything else, and breathing is easier when you’re around. Even in my sad moments, I’m happy you’re there. I can leave without you—”
“So can I, champ.” She intervenes, tossing an annoyed remark.
“Let me finish.” I cover her lips with my finger. “But I don’t want to. I choose you, Blakely, and nothing on this goddamn planet will change that.” Clearing my throat, I continue, “I want to take you out on a date when we’re back in Vegas, I want to give us a shot. We deserve it. ”
“I want that too.” Her fingers twirl and play with my hair. “More than anything. I also want a dog.”
I chuckle, “Good thing I come with two.”
“But they are yours.”
“No.” I shake my head sideways. “They are ours.”
“I think I can answer your question too.” She notes, her eyes are toying with mine.
“Which one? I asked you a lot of those.”
“Who taught me how to wheelie?” That one.
I slightly cock my head to the side, waiting for her answer.
“You. I mean Bow Reyes.”
“I knew it.”
“I watched your videos for hours on end and practiced for days upon days until I got it right.”
I tuck her against me, “So you’re saying that I taught you something before I even met you.”
“I knew it was a terrible idea to tell you this.” She comments, blinking to emphasize her point.
“Nah, I’m flattered, and thank goodness it was me and not someone else.”
“What difference does it make?”
“I can use it,” I chuckle devilishly.
“You’re such a jerk.” She slaps me against the chest lovingly.
“A jerk who loves you and won’t ever let anyone hurt you.”
“You know,” she loops her hands around my neck and stands on the tip of her toes to get closer to my lips. “I won’t let anyone hurt you either. ”
I swallow all my fears down and inhale her. “I know.”
Later that day when we’re back in my room, we find Chaos and Arrow cuddling each other on my bed. “Think you can handle them?”
“I did all summer.” She grabs my waist and pulls me in for a ravenous kiss.
I pull back a little, “You know that you two share a name,” I point to Arrow who looks at me with her ‘come here and cuddle me’ face.
“Fits her better.” She crawls between them as they all snuggle in together.