Chapter 99: Bryn

“Ow.” This is the first word that comes out of my mouth when I finally start to move.

My head still feels foggy and my mind is confused about what’s going on around me and the fact that my belly is suddenly small again.

“Bryn. Thank fuck.” Sawyer says, grabbing my hand and kissing the back of it.

“You scared the shit out of us Angel,” Jaxon says and I realize he’s holding my other hand.

My eyes scan my closest surroundings and a well of emotion runs through me when I see all the guys standing around me with relieved smiles on their faces. I think a couple of them have tears in their eyes too but it could be my own getting in the way.

“Sorry,” I say and my voice sounds like I’ve been smoking a pack a day since I was a kid or something.

“Don’t you dare apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong. We were just so goddamn worried.” Jaxon says squeezing my hand tighter and lifting it to his mouth to kiss the top of it as well.

“We were so scared sweetheart,” Maddox says and Nolan nods.

My stoic handsome teacher aid looks like he’s a second away from breaking down. I’ve never seen him like this.

I extract my hand from Jaxon and hold it out to him. “Come here.”

Jaxon pushes the chair he was sitting on back to make room and Nolan rushes over to take my hand. As soon as we touch he breaks and his body shakes as tears pour down his cheeks. My own start to fall as I see him let every feeling he’s probably been bottling up go. I turn my hand slowly so that I can cup the side of his face and he moves closer to me.

“I’m sorry Nolan,” I whisper to him and he shakes his head.

“Don’t. I’m a mess.” He says with a chuckle and I shake my head.

“No more than the rest of us,” Sawyer says. “This shit has cut years off my life. Can we all promise not to end up back here for a long time? It’s bad luck.”

That makes us all laugh, but the sound is cut short by a small whine and then a cry.

I gasp and my hands fly to my mouth when Maddox turns sideways to reveal a clear plastic baby crib on top of a wooden thing with drawers. My tears are really going now.

Maddox slowly tucks his large hands under the baby’s tiny body making the little thing cry more, and moves to my side where Sawyer had been a second ago. He smiles down at the baby before carefully placing it in my arms. The sweet thing slowly starts to calm and turns its head in my direction with its eyes still closed.

“Meet…our son,” Sawyer says and my head snaps up so fast I get a tinge of pain in my neck.

“What?” I stammer the words out making clear my shock.

He chuckles. “Yeah, I guess the ultrasound tech made a mistake. We have a son.”

I watch him puff up with pride. He’s over the moon about this. I guess he should be since it’s exactly what he wanted.

A small hand grasps my top and I look back down at the small bundle in my arms. “He’s so beautiful,” I whisper. “I can’t believe he’s ours.”

Of course, I knew that one day the baby would come but now that it’s happened it’s almost surreal. The small thing that had been growing in my belly all this time is now in my arms. I grew this tiny human inside me! How trippy is that? And he is so beautiful.

“He is,” Sawyer says before clearing his throat.

I look at him and smile. He’s trying not to cry but I bet he already has…more than once. My husband acts playful and easygoing but he feels things deeply and it’s obvious now as he looks at our son.

“You guys are all such softies,” I say teasingly making them all laugh. “I can’t believe we’re parents.”

I say to Sawyer. Truthfully now that the baby is here, and things are getting real, I’m not sure the other guys will want to stick around. I know that they care about me and said they would want to stay, but that was before. That was in a world where it’s easy to make promises because you aren’t in the situation yet. Soon we’ll take the baby home and then there will be late nights, dirty diapers, lots of crying and I’m not sure they’ll enjoy it all that much.

“We are, and the doctor says you will heal enough to have more children, and if they come out looking that cute I hope you’re ready for more in a year or two. My mom is already asking about when you’ll have more. Of course, I told her that you would not be rushed if you wanted anymore in the first place, but she’s excited so it’s hard to talk her down when she’s like that.” Jaxon says.

I’m not surprised about his mom, but is he serious?

“You want to have a baby…with me?” I ask cautiously.

He gives me a confused look and then shakes his head. “You’re impossible. I’m in this for the long haul. I’d marry you if Sawyer hadn’t beat me to it.”

“Not if I married her first. You’re the new guy remember?” Maddox says with a scoff.

“I’m the one with a promise of ten-year which means a far more stable job, which makes me better husband material,” Nolan adds.

“I’m a cop!” Jaxon says taking offense.

“Yeah with horrible pay and a measly pension when you get too old to chase bad guys. I have an NHL contract for far more than either of you will ever make, so am the right husband.” Sawyer adds.

“And yet they haven’t invited you to Strat yet. Maybe they’ll get cold feet.” Jaxon says with a smirk.

“Shut the fuck up. I sign a contract.” Sawyer says flipping Jaxon off but there’s no heat in his words.

I watch baffled by their openness to fight over who would be a better husband for me. In my opinion, they would all be amazing husbands and fathers, but I can only be married once, so this fighting is pointless. Still, its a nice ego boost so I let them battle it out while I admire the amazing human sleeping in my arms. How he’s able to sleep through any of this is beyond me, but this isn’t the first time the guys have gone off like this.

They say babies can hear things in the womb so he’s been there for all their fights, and is clearly used to it.

“Will all of you shut up? You’re going to wake my nephew!” I smile wide at the sound of Poppy’s voice and emotion builds in me again when I see her. “Aw, look at him. He looks just like us!”

That makes me laugh. Some people say we look like we could be twins but I could never see it. Poppy loved the idea of us being a matching pair and has run with it since we were kids.

“Oh my gosh sis, he’s so handsome.” She whispers as she moves closer and brushes the small tuff of his dark hair.

He stirs slightly but doesn’t wake up, not even when I pass him over to her.

“Is mom and dad here?” I quickly ask.

I could use a good hug from them.

“They’re in the waiting room with Jaxon’s parents and Sawyers's mom. The nurse wouldn’t let anyone else in thanks to this lot. Why don’t you guys go grab some food and let the rest of us have some time.” She tilts her head in the direction of the door with a stern look.

The guys look like they’re about to argue but Sawyer stops them. “No use in fighting her boys, she’s fucking terrifying when she’s pissed.”

“Okay, but I don’t want to be away too long. I should call my sister anyway.” Nolan says before leaning down to kiss me on the cheek.

He heads for the door with his phone to his ear while the other guys say a quick goodbye.

“See you in a little bit, baby. Call us if you need anything.” Sawyer says giving me a quick kiss on the lips.

I wrap a hand around his neck and drag out the kiss a little longer. He smiles against my lips and indulges me until my sister clears her throat. I’m not the least bit embarrassed, it’s not like she’s any better. I haven’t released Sawyer yet.

“I need a cupcake,” I say to him and give him a pointed look.

He smiles and kisses me quickly before pulling away. “You got it, baby.”