Chapter 015 Levi
The kid is goddamn gorgeous. Just beautiful. Perfect skin, red-gold hair, and the way she stares at me, it’s like she’s sending subliminal messages from whatever angel world she just dropped out of. I can’t stop looking at her. It’s like looking into the eyes of a cherub, only this one isn’t screaming, puking, or shitting. Not yet, anyway. I know the gross part is coming—I’ve been around enough livestock to know nothing stays clean forever—but right now, she’s peaceful.
I walk over to Lennie and stand next to her, nudging her arm gently so she looks at me. "Gosh, she’s perfect."
"She is," Lennie agrees, her eyes soft.
"Why don't y'all sit there and I can put her in your lap?"
Lennie hesitates, that little crease forming between her brows. "Okay. I can try that."
She sits in the bedside chair, stiff as a board, and I carefully lift the bundle from the bassinet. I place the baby in her lap, adjusting the blanket so the little head is supported. Lennie’s hands come up, hovering for a second before settling.
"There," I say. "That's not so bad, now, is it?"
"No. Not at all." Her shoulders drop an inch.
I kneel next to the chair, getting on her level so she can enjoy the baby without having to constantly check the room for moving lips. I want her to just be in the moment, not working to keep up.
"Uh oh," Nash says from the doorway.
I don't look up. I can tell by the tone of his voice he’s got nothing constructive to say, and I’m not about to break Lennie’s focus. She goes by my cues sometimes, waiting for me to react before she shifts her attention.
"I thought y'all didn't want anything to do with babies," Nash says, stepping into the room.
"That was just when I thought I was having one with the devil," I shoot back.
"Ah. Okay, who's next to pop out a kid?" Nash teases, looking around the room.
"Sure as hell ain't going to be me," Crystal states from the bed. She looks like she went ten rounds with a prizefighter and won, but just barely. "I've paid my dues. Someone else can go next."
"I am good," Piper says with a scoff, lifting her brows.
"Same," Jade adds, lifting a finger.
"What about Braylynn?" Crystal asks, eyeing Nash.
"No idea there. We haven't discussed anything like that. We've got her nephew, anyway, for now." Nash walks over to us, looming over the chair. "Okay, you twisted my arm. Let me hold her."
Lennie lifts her head, catching the movement, and realizes her time is up. I help her transfer the baby to Nash’s waiting arms. She smiles, watching him cradle the infant like a football he doesn’t want to fumble.
"We should go and let Crystal rest," Lennie says.
"Yeah. I've got a shit ton of work to do for school, too," I add.
Lennie stands and goes to the bed, leaning in to give Crystal a gentle hug. "Congratulations. We'll come by later with a gift for you and the baby."
"Trust me, darlin', I am not sitting my ass in here any longer than I have to," Crystal grumbles, shifting gingerly on the sheets. "As far as I'm concerned, I'm going home as soon as that doctor comes in and gives me the okay that my innards aren't going to fall out or anything."
Lennie snuffles a laugh. "We'll see you later."
Cassidy tosses a set of keys across the room. Billy snatches them out of the air. "Let me give you a ride back to the ranch," Billy says.
The ride back is quick. The adrenaline of the birth is wearing off, leaving a quiet hum in the cab of the truck. We mostly talk about the baby, and how having a kid around is going to change the dynamic at the ranch. Positive changes, mostly. Billy doesn’t even kill the engine when we pull up to the house; he just nods as we hop out.
I grab Lennie’s camera bag from the bed of the truck while she heads for the porch. Inside, the house is quiet. It feels different now—settled. I help her set up at the kitchen table, and she pulls out her memory card, sliding it into the laptop.
I grab us a couple of sodas from the fridge and sit next to her. I watch her work, scrolling through the shots she took earlier. She pauses on one, her fingers dancing over the trackpad to shade an area that’s too bright.
I can't stop looking at her. The way the screen light hits her face, the concentration in her eyes—she’s the most beautiful woman in the world. Living with her has been easy in a way I didn't expect. She’s kind, generous, flexible. She hasn't yelled at me once for making a mess, though I don’t give her much reason to. I was raised in a strict household—military precision. You keep the toilet seat down, the lid closed, and your shoes never make it past the front mat. You won't find a scrap of my dirty clothing anywhere except the hamper. But with Lennie, I don't feel like I'm walking on eggshells. I just feel home.
"So, what's your next photo session, Lennie?" I ask, tapping the table to get her attention.
She looks up from the screen. "I don't know, actually. I haven't done a photo session in a while. This was just a favor."
"Well, you're very good at it."
"Thank you."
"Have you ever photographed weddings before?"
She nods. "Yes. When I was in high school. And I've done a few as favors since then."
"Did you ever meet any good wedding photographers while you were doing them?"
She tilts her head, evaluating me. "I met a couple, yes. Why do you ask? Is there a wedding coming up?"
My fingers are itching. My heart kicks against my ribs, hard and fast. I lean back, shifting my weight to pull the velvet box out of my back pocket.
"Yeah," I say, my voice thick. "Ours, if you say yes."
My eyes are dancing. Hers bulge. She stares at the box in my hand, then up at my face, her mouth parting slightly.
"I asked your mama and daddy first," I tell her quickly, "so it's okay if you say yes."
A smile breaks across her face, wide and brilliant. She nods, frantic. "Yes." She cups her hands over her mouth, her eyes shining. "Yes."
"Well, you ought to give your wedding photographer a call then, seeing as you can't photograph your own wedding."
She lowers her hands, her gaze locking onto mine. "It would be a lot of selfies."
I chuckle, sliding the ring onto her finger. It fits perfectly. "And a really long selfie stick."
I lean in, pressing my forehead against hers. The world narrows down to just this—her breath, my pulse, the ring on her hand. "I love you with all my heart, Lennie."
"My heart belongs to you, Levi."
I kiss her, long and hard, thanking God for this. She might not hear the words, but she doesn't need to. I’ll make sure she feels it, every single day. Just like she’s always made sure I feel hers.