"I know." I laugh. "I mean, it's not like I'm qualified. I don't know that much. But I'm down with what you've got there. It's not militant and weird like you said some of the other ones are."
"Some of the churches?" He's grinning, looking amused and maybe smug or something.
"Right. Some of the other sectors. The denominations," I correct. "I see what you do, hear what you've been saying. Everything you said, like, I agree with that stuff. I think the organization is honestly pretty fucking cool. I want to help if I can."
He smiles, chiller this time but I can still see the glow.
"You are qualified," he says quickly. "And Rayne?"
I widen my eyes in answer, and he steps to me, wrapping me in a tight bear hug. "I love you."
16
Luke
"You're sure?" I've got my eyes locked on Rayne's tired, happy face, searching his features for a flicker of discomfort or indecision.
He laughs. "Sky, I'm not someone who changes my mind a lot."
"I know. But it's a baby."
"Not a hamster." Vance lifts a brow.
"Not a puppy," I say, hitting the ball back.
"Not a kitten." He smirks.
"You wanna get a baby? That's not yours?” I ask him. “That might have a lying mom?"
"A desperate genius mom," he says, and that's the Vance I love so much.
"You're being pretty generous. Tomorrow every news outlet might be all over this, depending on whether it gets leaked."
Vance shrugs. "They can blow me."
"I don't think so. That's my job."
"You think we can do this?" Rayne asks with a nervous look.
"Take the baby?"
He nods.
I laugh. "I don't know. I hope so." I edit my answer. "I think we can. But we might never sleep again, at least not for a long time."
"If the mom decides to take her back, you think that'll be a big problem?" Vanny’s ocean-colored eyes are solemn as he looks into mine. I can feel his worry for me. Which is how I know what the question’s answer is for him.
"I think it would probably be hard on us both,” I offer.
"So that's the price we're paying,” he says. “A potential price, anyway. That's the risk."
I nod once. "That's the risk."
"If we lose this one, we can get another one," he puts forth.
I snicker. "Thought we said it's not a hamster."
He shrugs. "You're a rich, hot Hollywood type. Someone else will offer their spawn. Or we can get a woman to get hooked up with someone’s sperm. One of ours."
I can’t help a snicker at the sound of that.
Rayne chuckles. Then the smile falls off his face, and his eyes widen. "You want to go out now?” he asks me softly.
“Yes.” I take his hand.
He brings our joined hands to his mouth and kisses mine. “Wanna have a baby on our wedding night, Sky?”
“Let’s give it a try.”
It goes fine with Carrie. She knows me. She can see from Vance’s face that he’s not guilty. She tells us she thinks if we take baby, the mom may be happy and just go away. I tell her to let the woman know that she’ll be dialoguing with my lawyers or it’s no dice. “Don’t give her my number. Not that you would.”
“I would never.” She smiles. “Wouldn’t sell my guy out.”
“I know. Thank you, Carrie. For everything.”
The baby cries as soon as the conversation is over, and Vance and I look at each other.
"Do it," he says softly. And I know he's giving me a gift. I can tell from the set of his soft lips that he'd like to pick her up, but he's letting me. I lean down and get her out of the baby carrier, and Vance smiles as I smile down at her. I can see him in my periphery.
"Just in case this works out..." Carrie snaps our picture, and my throat tightens as she says, "I'll text this to you."
My eyes meet Rayne’s, and we exchange a quick grin. Then he's got the carrier and a generic-looking diaper bag. I've got her—our maybe baby. I laugh at that, and he asks why, and I tell him.
We're both laughing as we walk inside.
"I can be zen about it," he says. "What do you think?"
I give him a funny grin with my brows lifted, and he laughs at me. Rayne knows the limits of my zen-like capabilities. I'm type A to the core. I can do the trusting God thing, maybe even better than most, but I'm impatient and it pains me.
"We should have a strong clue in the next few days,” I tell V. “If my lawyers do things right. And they will," I add with faux menace.
He shakes his head slowly. "You Hollywood types."
I snicker, and the baby starts to fuss.
"Don't worry baby." I bounce her a little as we move into the living room, and I notice Vance is watching me. "The nursery caretakers at the church say they like to be bounced. And have their back patted." I do that, and V's face softens. "Such a narrow little back.”