Come on, baby, you can do it. Just one more push,” I encourage Fallon as she grunts. Her skin is red, streaks of sweat dripping down her cheeks. Puffs of air escape her lips while she puts all her might into delivering our son.
“One more time, Fallon.” The doctor reassures her. Fallon grits her teeth and a horrendous scream of pain and relief escapes her lips. It’s at that moment that I can’t contain my elation. I kiss her right on the lips as they pull our son out, wrapping him in a light blue blanket and laying him on her chest.
I can feel tears falling from my eyes as I take in his tiny little nose and the thick strands of dark hair covering his tiny head. He looks just like his mama, but I can see parts of me in him, too. His nose is the same shape as both of my brothers, his chin squarer, like my dad’s was.
God, I wish my father and mother were here to meet him.
When his eyes finally pop open, they’re the deepest blue I’ve ever seen. Almost the color of the sky before it storms.
I’m caught in a trance as I stare down at him. My heart beats wildly against my ribcage, and I already know I’ll never let this boy down. As long as I live he will never go a day without knowing how much his mother and I love him.
“We did it, Reed.” Fallon sounds about as exhausted as she looks and I pepper her face with kisses, knowing words could never do this moment justice.
“No, you did it, baby. You brought our little boy into the world.” I’m still in awe of Fallon and all she means to me. In less than a year we went from being friends, to lovers, to husband and wife. Our hearts now beat in sync.
“Our parents would’ve loved him,” she whispers, staring down at our newborn son.
“Have you decided on a name?” One of the nurses asks, as she checks him over in Fallon’s arms. I lift my eyes from my beautiful little family.
“We have… It’s Maverick Clark Winston. In honor of my father and hers.” I say the name with so much pride. We knew right away when my father passed a few months back that we wanted this baby to be named partially in honor of him since he brought Fallon and me together, and since Maverick’s conception was solely his fault.
“What a beautiful name…” The nurse smiles before continuing to check Maverick and Fallon’s vitals. Minutes tick by, and eventually the entire room clears out, leaving Fallon and I alone in the small birthing room. All I can do is stare at her and my son, the way she reacts to every little noise he makes, and the smile on my face widens.
She is already an excellent mother, and I know she always will be. Sadness creeps into my thoughts, as I wonder what Dad would think in this exact moment.
How happy would he and my mother have been if they could see their firstborn grandchild?
“Do you want to hold him?” Fallon asks, adjusting herself on the small bed.
My palms are sweaty and fear fills my belly because I’ve never held a baby before, but I nod my head. “Of course, baby…” I murmur. She slides his small body into my arms, and my hands cradle his head as he squirms against my chest. He yawns real big, and a rumble of laughter goes through me.
“I know, bud. I’m tired, too.” I take a seat on the small, uncomfortable couch and cradle him in my arms, watching as his eyes drift closed. I’ve never felt so much love for someone in my entire life.
Fallon’s voice startles me, and I look up at her. “He’s pretty amazing, isn’t he?” She’s admiring me from across the room. Her face is make-up free, and I swear she hasn’t ever looked more beautiful than she does right now.
“More than amazing. I can’t believe you gave me this. That we made this little guy together.” Fallon smiles, but I can tell she’s tired.
“Your father gave us this. We might have lost him, but he gave us Maverick as a reminder of our love for each other, and of him. So long as our son lives, a piece of your father will live on as well.” Her words are so heartfelt that when I look down at my son, I know what she’s telling me is true.
Because of my father’s crazy stipulation for me to have a child, he helped bring Fallon and me together, thus creating Maverick. It’s because of him that we know the meaning of love.
“I love you, Fallon. I always will.” I push up from the couch and cross the room with our son in my arms. Pressing my lips against hers, I seal my words with a kiss that isn’t nearly long enough. I’ll never get over her being mine because there is nothing like having your best friend as your lover. Fallon takes Maverick out of my arms and cuddles him close. He immediately starts rooting around like he’s trying to find food, and she laughs.
“Like father, like son,” she whispers softly.
I laugh as well, but before I can say anything else, the door to her room opens and Ryker and Remy come barreling in. We both look over at them, and I can’t help but laugh at what I’m seeing. Ryker’s arms are both full of stuffed animals that are bigger than the baby, and Remy’s carrying so many balloons I can barely see him.
They both ignore me completely, rushing Fallon and their nephew instead. They both kiss her cheeks and congratulate her before turning their full attention to . It’s like I don’t even exist to them, but I don’t care, not one bit. The love they already have for my son is obvious, and while they argue over which uncle will be his favorite, I look at the love of my life.
Fallon’s staring back at me, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “I love you,” she mouths, the joy she feels radiating from every pore on her body.
My life is full, complete because I have the love of the woman I’ve wanted as long as I can remember, brothers who annoy the shit out of me but are also my best friends, and now I have a son to teach all the things my father taught me.
I know he and my mom, along with Fallon’s parents, are smiling down on us. As crazy as my life has been this year, I can’t wait to see what happens next.
The Winston Brothers series continues with Ryker and Remy’s books. is available for preorder, just click the title.
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