CHAPTER SIX
Alex stared at the clearest, bluest, most beautiful eyes he'd ever seen in his life and didn't register anything else that was happening around him in the room. He was content to sit here like this, cradling the little bundle that held his son.
His son.
This impossibly small human was his. His to love, his to take care of, his to keep alive, even though there were days when Alex hardly did a good job of taking care of his own adult self.
The baby was also, as of an hour ago, completely his, legally speaking.
They'd discussed it, of course, many times. Tears had been shed, fights had, and the papers prepared, but they'd also decided that nothing would be signed before the birth, in case Em changed her mind.
She hadn't.
And a part of Alex was sad, but more for the baby than for himself. He was mostly relieved that it was done. It was final. There was no wondering, no talking, no waiting around.
He had a son now.
He was a single parent.
"We should put him into the incubator now," the older nurse told him gently. "You can sit by him, of course."
Alex looked up then, and saw Emily was sleeping and her mother was sitting with her, holding her hand.
"Okay," he whispered as he got up and followed the nurse to the adjoining room in the private suite. The incubator was there with the machinery next to it Alex preferred not to think about too much, but there was also a lounge chair on the other side.
"Here's the call button if you need anything.
We will of course monitor the situation throughout the night, but we don't expect any trouble, since his vitals are good.
He'll likely sleep for a few hours now, so you can rest, too.
" She reached out for the baby and smiled when Alex hesitated. "I know what I'm doing, I promise."
Good thing one of us does.
"Of course, sorry." He released his hold only when he was sure they weren't going to drop the baby. "This is all new. I thought I would have more time to prepare."
"Even with more time, no one is truly prepared for this moment, so don't beat yourself up over it. You're doing well."
"I was simply holding him."
"And falling in love along the way. That's the most important part."
Alex looked down at his son who right now seemed even smaller than before as he squirmed for a second before settling in the incubator.
The quiet click of the door closing made Alex realize the nurse left as he was staring, and he chuckled as he dropped onto the chair.
"I hope I'll get a handle of this staring thing or else we'll both get in trouble," he whispered. "I wouldn't want you to pick up my bad manners."
Still, he spent a few more minutes doing nothing but breathing and watching his son before pulling a phone from his pocket to take a few pictures.
He hadn't checked it in a few hours, but the number of notifications surprised him.
For a split second he was afraid the news broke, somehow, but then he remembered.
Sasha's concert and his surprise appearance. Of course.
There were a few texts from industry friends and his manager, but then he scrolled and saw he had a text from Ian, too.
He hardly remembered now what he'd written when he'd been on his way to the airport, freaking out and trying to hold it together, wishing things were different and yet knowing he had no choice but to go, as quickly as possible.
His heart plummeted as he saw Ian's reply.
Don't bother.
That's it. Nothing else but two words in reply to Alex's ramble of an apology.
Which was understandable, of course. He'd ghosted Ian last time and fumbled his second chance tonight. Ian had no reason to believe Alex would have called this time and… maybe he was right. Because what would Alex even say?
He just wished it didn't hurt so much.
Glancing up, he caught sight of the sleeping baby and released a shaky exhale.
"You and me, buddy," he whispered, leaning closer. "You and me."