Nine
Nine
CHRISTMAS DAY
Wes looked around the room as he settled on Noah’s couch next to Hailey. He’d just passed out identically wrapped gifts to everyone. Nerves, excitement, happiness, and love swelled inside of him.
“What are you doing, man? We already did presents,” Noah said, leaning back on the other couch beside Grace. Everly and Chris were sitting on large ottomans in front of the fireplace. It was too warm to have it on but that didn’t take away from the holiday vibe of the room. Nothing could, not with a ten-foot tree standing in the corner, along with the rest of the festive decorations throughout the house.
Hailey looked at him, adoration shimmering in her gaze. How was it possible to feel so much for one person?
“I’m okay with extra presents,” Chris said, grinning. The look he gave Everly caused a soft blush to spread over her cheeks. Chris laughed and kissed her.
Hailey took Wes’s hand, squeezed it. He nodded. She sat up a little straighter. “We wanted to let you all know that we’ve decided to postpone the wedding.”
Everyone responded at once; Grace and Noah with a simultaneous “What!”, Chris chimed in with “Why?”, and Everly leaned forward, concern etched in her features.
Wes linked his fingers with Hailey’s. His whole world was in this room. Minus his sister and his mom, who’d FaceTimed earlier. But almost everyone he loved without question was in this room.
He lifted a hand, stopping their questions. “Open your gifts.”
“Wes, Hailey, what’s going on?” Noah, usually so jovial, looked truly worried.
Grace and Everly shared a glance, both looking happily perplexed. Grace tore into hers, prompting the others to do the same.
“Holy shit,” Noah said, looking toward Hailey and Wes.
“Oh my God. I wondered when you were so freaked out the other day. You looked like you were doing complicated math in your head.” Grace jumped up as all of them laughed.
Chris beamed at Wes, then Hailey. “This is incredible.”
“I’m so happy for you guys,” Everly said. They all came forward, holding their gifts—custom-made T-shirts that read AUNTIE or UNCLE .
Hailey and Wes stood up, accepting the hugs and laughter, well-wishes and love. Their kid would have all of that, Wes thought, as he hugged both of his brothers hard.
“How are you feeling, Hailey?” Chris asked after giving her a hug.
“I feel good. Tired and nauseous but I’m so excited, it doesn’t even matter.”
Wes slid his arm around her. “It matters. She’s going to need to learn to slow down a bit.”
Grace made a dismissive noise. “As if. Like growing a human is going to slow this one down.”
They all laughed and talked over each other, excitement popping like champagne bubbles.
They resettled in their seats. Hailey snuggled into Wes’s side. “Hailey is due this summer so we’d like to postpone the wedding by one year.”
“That’s a wonderful idea. We can help you rearrange everything,” Everly said.
Wes thought about how much he liked to be in control of everything. It was part of why he’d resisted falling for Hailey, why he’d told himself for most of his life that he wouldn’t get tangled up in emotions and feelings. But looking around the room, being with his brothers and their spouses and the woman who would be the mother of his child and his wife, he realized, he’d just been scared. Scared to let go of that control because if he fell, if he let others in, even his brothers to a small extent, he’d only have himself to blame if he ended up alone.
Loving Hailey had changed him. And he realized, probably before this moment, but particularly right this second, that letting others help, sharing the weight, didn’t make him weak or any less in control. It gave him strength. The strength to be a savvy businessman, a great brother and brother-in-law, a good friend. And most importantly to always be the man Hailey and their child deserved.
That would always be his number-one priority.
“You okay?” Hailey whispered while the others chatted.
He looked into her eyes. “I am. And with you beside me, I always will be.”
Her smile was brighter than the lights on the tree. “I love you. Merry Christmas.”
Wes pressed his lips to hers in a gentle kiss. “Merry Christmas. I love you.” His hand moved over her still mostly flat stomach. “Both of you. Forever and always.”
It didn’t feel like long enough, but it would have to do.