Total pages in book: 189
Estimated words: 181808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 909(@200wpm)___ 727(@250wpm)___ 606(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 181808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 909(@200wpm)___ 727(@250wpm)___ 606(@300wpm)
“Can’t blame you there.” Shade went to the fridge to take out the regular juice.
“Don’t bother. There’s no sugar in it, either.”
Shade raised his eyebrows. “It says—”
“Trust me; it’s the same.”
“How about I just make us some coffee?”
“I’d appreciate it.”
Moon lost track of time as they sat in the dining room. And as the afternoon progressed, he grew sicker.
“As soon as the baby is born, I need you to drive me to the hospital.” Holding his cup with a shaking hand, he confessed to Shade how much pain he was in. “I think my appendix has ruptured.”
Shade’s deadpan stare didn’t expose what he was thinking. “I’ll take you whenever you’re ready.”
“Thank you, brother. I can always count on you.” Fighting back unmanly tears, he was about to ask Shade for some paper towels when Priss came running to the end of the hallway.
“Moon, come on. It’s time.”
Using all of his strength, he ran into the bedroom and found Larissa on the bed with her legs opened wide. As he stepped further into the room, he was able to witness the head coming out.
Looking up from the sight, he met Larissa’s eyes.
“Can you see?” she asked him excitably.
Moon opened his mouth to answer, only to find himself falling into a bottomless void.
CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE
“Isee you’re feeling better.” It was everything she could do to keep the amusement out of her voice as she watched Moon hold their baby to his bare chest.
“Please don’t remind me of how much of a jackass I made of myself. I’m never going to live it down.”
Larissa smiled at him tenderly, lowering her guard with Moon’s full attention centered on the baby. “No one will know. Mom, Lana, and Priss all have promised not to say a word.”
“Shade promise?”
“Not exactly.” Ruefully, she patted the arm close to her. “But I’m hoping he won’t.”
“Even if he doesn’t, it’ll get out. I already got two texts asking if everything was okay. They saw the ambulance I called parked outside.”
Larissa couldn’t help it; she gurgled with laughter, remembering when her mother had looked out the window when Moon was delegated to the living room to see the ambulance outside.
When her mother had gone outside to tell the drivers they weren’t needed, they told her Moon had called the ambulance to take Larissa to the hospital and they were only waiting for the go-ahead from Moon before coming inside. She had sent them inside to check on Moon instead before returning to the bedroom to tell her about his shenanigans.
“Did you really think you’d be able to convince me to go to the hospital?”
“If you were feeling half the pain I was, I don’t know how you didn’t want to. At one point, I think I cried out for my makuwahine.”
Larissa had to wipe away her tears of laughter. It took several minutes to get herself back under control. The memory of Moon passing out at the foot of the bed when she was giving birth wasn’t something she would forget anytime soon.
“Have you called your mother to tell her she’s a grandmother?”
“No, I’ll call her later.”
Larissa frowned. She had broached the subject of his mother several times, and each time, he had given her guarded responses, which left her in the dark as to what their relationship was like.
She was about to question him again when Priss returned to the room, taking the baby from Moon to give to her.
Climbing in the bed with her, Moon watched as she attempted to feed the baby for the first time.
She was beginning to become anxious when the little mouth didn’t latch on, but when he did, she gave a startled jump. Moon’s low laughter at her reaction overflowed her heart with contentment.
God, please let this feeling last.
“Smile.”
Priss’ request made them both raise their heads to smile as she took a picture of them.
She set the phone down and finished taking down the birthing pool, which after all the hiccups it had put them through hadn’t been used.
As far as births went, she couldn’t complain. Moon had definitely been the one who took that bullet where that was concerned. She had expected much worse. Overall, she found it a beautiful experience. The best part was, with Moon by her side, she felt like they were truly a family. “Are you still okay naming him Jace?”
Moon nodded, watching as the baby curled tiny little fingers around his forefinger.
“Jace Eric. Sounds like a winner to me.”
“Me, too,” she agreed softly, meeting Moon’s gaze.
Priss interrupted the special moment by clearing her throat. “I’m going to take off, unless you need anything else?”
“No, thanks. I really appreciate your help today.”
“Anytime, sis. Mom is taking a nap. If you need anything, just let me know. Lana gets off at seven, so if you need anything from the store, just text her, and she can pick it up on the way home.”