“My house is not cramped,” Sin states.
Laurel sighs, but offers more of an explanation. “We were up all night with a newborn, Rafe. We’re sleepy.”
“I tried to help,” Carly volunteers. “But it turns out he only wanted me for my boobs, and as soon as he realized he wasn’t getting any milk out of them, it was all over with.”
“Why don’t you take a nap after breakfast?” I suggest. “Rafe and I can watch Nicky for a little while so you can get some sleep. I feel bad that you’re hosting Christmas so soon after having a baby, anyway.”
“The problem is I can’t pump yet. I tried, and I couldn’t even get a whole ounce out. I don’t want him to be hungry.”
“Well, pump that ounce, we’ll throw it in the fridge, and you and Sin can take a nap for a couple of hours. Let us help you. That’s literally what I’m here for,” I remind her.
“Me too,” Carly agrees.
“You have to help tonight,” I tell her. “If you guys are tired, you should take a nap, too. I’ve babysat Skylar before, so I can handle her and a newborn. Since I didn’t get anyone a present, it’s the least I can do.”
“Are you sure?” Laurel asks skeptically. Nodding her head at Rafe, she says, “He’s not much help with a baby.”
I offer her a smile. “I can handle it myself.”
“If you’re sure you don’t mind,” Laurel says. “I am really tired.”
“It’s settled,” I tell her, setting my present aside. “I’ll go make breakfast now so we can get all of you to bed.”
“Wait, aren’t you going to open your gift?” Rafe asks.
“I’ll do it afterward,” I tell him, meeting his gaze. “When it’s just us.”
16
Rafe
I check my watch and glance toward the kitchen, watching for Virginia. She took Nicky for a walk through the house when he got fussy, but that felt like ages ago. She’s still missing, Vince and Carly took Skylar to nap with them so I can’t even play with the baby that actually does some stuff, and I’m getting bored.
I pull out my phone and screw around on that for a while, but she finally comes back, so I put it away. Virginia looks serene as she rocks Nicky, peering down at him, then up at me, her brown eyes full of softness.
“He’s asleep,” she says softly, before sinking into the spot next to me on the couch.
Reaching an arm around behind her, I pull her close and glance down at him. “It’s a Christmas miracle.”
“He’s a great baby,” she says, looking up at me. “He’s barely been alive for three days and already he had to deal with a mini family reunion.”
“Poor little guy.”
“Already working on that badass card, aren’t you?” she says, brushing his soft cheek with her thumb. Glancing over at me, she asks, “Do you want to hold him?”
“You seem to have it under control. I’ll let you keep him, unless of course you’d like to open your presents.”
“I think I’ll hold this little present for another minute first,” she says lightly. “I am excited to see what you picked out for me,” she assures me. “It’s just… you know, there’s an adorable sl
eeping baby that I can cuddle, and I don’t get to do that every day.”
I nod my understanding, searching her face for signs of longing. It’s hard to tell why she likes Nicky so much—if her own biological clock is ticking, or she just likes babies. Might as well ask, I suppose.
“Do you want kids?”
My question startles her, but she keeps her gaze on Nicky for a moment rather than looking up at me. When she begins answering, she hems and hauls in a way that makes me wonder at the accuracy of her response. “I…” She trails off and leaves that there for a long time. Really, a long time.
My lips curve faintly. “So, yes?”