He doesn’t look back at her. “You can, if you want. He’s probably hungry.”
I look back at Roman, unable to resist rubbing his little cheek again. “I bet you are. Being born is a big job, huh?” I cradle him closer and step around Mateo, walking over to Meg’s bedside. “Momma, look who I have here.”
Meg appears to have fused with the bed. She’s so exhausted she doesn’t even look legitimately excited that I’m bringing Roman over. It takes her a minute to lift herself up and hold her arms out to take him. He starts to cry as I hand him over, not a big fan of being shuffled around and handed off like a hot potato, apparently.
“Hey, little guy,” she says, smiling faintly as she settles him into her arm. He’s still screaming at her, but she settles him against her chest and places kisses on his forehead. Begrudgingly, he starts to calm down.
“He’s so cute,” I gush.
She smiles a little bigger now, rolling her eyes. “Of course he is.”
“I want to snuggle him forever,” I state, barely resisting the urge to reach out and touch him again.
“I’m sure you’ll get to,” she says, evenly enough, all things considered.
I dim a bit, even in the glow of the new baby. “I didn’t mean it that way.”
“I know you didn’t,” she assures me, nodding dismissively. “Can you get me… something? I don’t know; I’m hungry, I’m thirsty, everything hurts, and I feel like I just emptied out everything that was inside my body. I sort of feel like death.”
“Yeah, of course. You want a sandwich? I’ll go make you something.”
Before anyone can tell me not to, I run downstairs and throw together a turkey sandwich for Meg. I scoop out some of the macaroni salad Maria made, then scoop out a side of mixed fruit until it’s a suitable post-labor feast. I grab bottles of water and orange juice and head back upstairs.
Roman is still eating, but when Meg sees all the food I’ve brought her, she coaxes him off. He lets out a new round of screams to announce his displeasure, but Meg settles him in her lap and takes the food, happily trading.
“Oh my god, thank you. You’re an angel.”
My gaze drifts to Roman. “Can I take the baby back?”
She nods absently, her gaze on the sandwich. “Come to me, my love.”
I smile faintly and pick up the baby, snuggling my own little love against my chest. He’s still really pissed. Now that he’s against my chest, he seems to think he can get the same all-you-can-eat buffet from my breasts and starts rooting around, trying to eat me.
I wander back to the guys. Mateo is perched against the dresser, arms crossed, eyes on Adrian as they chat. His gaze flickers to me when he sees me coming, then drifts to Roman.
“He’s trying to eat me,” I inform him. “I think he’s still hungry.”
“That’s all right. We’ll give him a bottle in a little bit.”
I lightly tap the blanket cushion around Roman. “Hey, you hear that? I’m sorry to disappoint you, but there’s no milk coming out of these just yet. You’re going to eat more soon.”
He ignores me, working his little arm out of the blanket, then working harder to get at my boob. I raise an eyebrow at Mateo. “He’s an aggressive little guy.”
Mateo smirks. “Are you surprised?”
I shake my head, peering down at him. “Like father, like son.”
Chapter Fourteen
Mia
“Ouch!”
Mateo leans across the bed, slinging one arm over my waist and peeking at the baby on my chest. “Is he trying to eat you again?”
I blink, looking at the angry red spot on my skin. “Your son just gave me a hickey.”
Grimacing, Mateo rests his head on my tummy and reaches out to catch Roman’s tiny hand. “That’s one of the last things I ever wanted to hear my wife say.”
I roll my eyes, lightly shoving his arm. “Don’t be gross. Baby hickeys are fine.”
Roman’s little hand closes around Mateo’s finger and he does his best to lift it to his face so he can eat that, too. “He’s an insatiable little monster, isn’t he?” Mateo remarks.
I lift an eyebrow at him. “We’ve already covered that he’s a mini-Mateo.”
“God, I hope not,” he replies.
Even though he’s at least partially joking, he’s partially not, too. That pinches my heart.
I run my hand down his bare side until I hit sweatpants. Ordinarily, we don’t bother wearing clothing to bed, but since we have a little guest tonight, I’m in my satin robe and Mateo threw on sweats. The newest Morelli is in a super adorable wrap-front bodysuit. Even in the smallest size, his tiny body is swimming in the soft, striped material. His little legs are on the skinny side, and don’t get me started on the adorable wonder of his tiny feet and toes. I just want to snuggle and kiss him forever.