Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 99967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
“Birdie’s great, and she can’t wait to meet her baby brother,” I reply with a grin. “I FaceTimed them right after the birth and showed Bryce off.”
“Good.” Dani grins and relaxes a bit. “I don’t like being away from her, either.”
“You’re such an amazing mama,” Bridger tells her.
Dani isn’t Birdie’s biological mom, but she’s become a mother to that little girl in every way, and they share a special bond.
“I have to go,” I inform them, but then Dr. Lachlan comes back in with a smile.
“The good news is, the CBC didn’t show any infection in his little body. We’re growing some cultures to make sure. However, the X-ray does show a little fluid in there.”
She opens her laptop, brings up the images, and shows them to us.
Sure enough, left superior lobe. Damn.
“Harper is suctioning him now. Don’t worry, it’s annoying but not painful for him at all, and it’s probably all done by now. I do want to start an antibiotic to prevent any infection and get him started off on the right foot.”
“Can he stay in here with me?” Dani asks.
“Absolutely,” Dr. Lachlan says. “But we’ll watch him and keep an oxygen monitor on his toe. If he doesn’t want to eat because he’s gasping, please don’t panic. We can feed him today until his lungs calm down, and then he can start feeding regularly once his breathing evens out.”
Dani sniffs, and her doctor rubs her hand up Dani’s arm. “I know this isn’t what you expected today, Mom, but this is minor in the grand scheme of things. Bryce is healthy, and his coloring is good. He’s just breathing like he went for a jog.”
“Well, if he takes after me,” Dani says, wiping at her eyes, “he hates that because I don’t run.”
That makes us chuckle. The doctor finishes, answers questions, and promises to check on Bryce before she sends him back here.
“This sucks,” Dani says as she leans against Bridger, who’s just climbed on the bed with her and wrapped her in his arms.
He looks ridiculous. He’s huge and half of his ass is hanging off the side.
“I’m going to head out,” I inform them. “I have to get to the clinic, but I’ll check in with you guys between patients. Try to get some rest, you two.”
“Thanks, Blake,” Dani says, reaching for my hand and giving it a squeeze. “You’re the best brother-in-law ever. Don’t tell the others.”
I smirk, kiss her hand, and pat Bridger on the shoulder before I walk out of their room.
I want to go upstairs to the NICU to peek in on Bryce.
Okay, that’s not entirely true. Yes, I want to see my nephew, but I’d also like to see his gorgeous nurse and explain to her that I am absolutely, without question, not that baby’s dad.
And I’m not married.
And I’m not a fucking liar.
Rather than wait for the elevator, I take the stairs up one flight and walk down the hallway, but before I can reach the NICU, Harper herself comes walking through the doors, wheeling baby Bryce. He really is the sweetest little guy.
And I can see he’s not panting nearly as much as he was earlier.
“I’m not married,” I say in greeting, and Harper scowls.
“Okay,” she replies, not meeting my gaze, “then I won’t say anything to your girlfriend/life partner/fiancée/whatever the hell.”
“I don’t have any of that either.”
She scowls at me, finally looking me in the eyes.
“Bryce is gorgeous, and I love him, but he’s not mine.”
Her shoulders fall just a bit, and I realize she’s relieved.
Not because she was jealous but because she felt guilty.
Shit.
“He’s Birdie’s baby brother. The other guy who was in that room with us? That’s my brother Bridger. And Dani, although yes, she’s beautiful and sweet, is Bridger’s wife, and I’m one hundred percent sure he’d break my arms off if he thought I even considered laying a hand on her. Which I never would.”
Harper frowns, swallows hard, and sighs.
“I’m no psychiatrist, but I assume that was a trigger for you.”
Now those gray eyes—not behind glasses today—blow wide, and she stares up at me.
“Uh. Yeah. And I apologize.”
I nod, and I want to touch her so fucking badly. But this is where we work, and there’s more to say at another time and place.
“Apology accepted. Take care of my nephew for me.”
“Of course. He’s doing better already.”
With a smile, I brush my fingertip down his head, over all that thick dark hair, then nod at Harper and walk away.
It feels wrong to walk away from her, and I hardly know her.
Hell, aside from knowing how she sounds when she comes, what she likes to eat, and the fact that she enjoys the same music as I do, I don’t really know her.
But I’m going to.
It’s been a fucking week.
An entire week of time at the clinic, the ER, getting Bryce home, and trying to fit in time with my family.