Series Starter Firsts in Series Collection - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,22

back up and wheel him over there.” She points to the bed on wheels. I notice there’s a sign in blue that says ‘Baby Knox’ so the families can tell them apart. His wristband says the same. I feel a pang of sadness for Melissa that she’s missing this. This was her dream to be a mom—he is her dream.

“I’ll just carry him,” I tell her. She nods and steps back, allowing me to stand. I walk ever so slowly, never taking my eyes off him. A tapping sound on the window captures my attention. My family. Mom, Dad, Reagan, and the guys are watching me and my son intently. I smile at them and nod toward the sleeping baby in my arms. Mom and Reagan have tears in their eyes while Dad is grinning from ear to ear. The guys are all wearing looks of disbelief. I know how they feel; this entire situation has been surreal to me.

I stand there for I don’t even know how long, holding my son against my bare chest, letting my friends and family take him in. He’s so fucking tiny.

“Mr. Beckett, why don’t I take him so you can go and see your family,” the nurse suggests.

I want to argue with her—I’m not ready to put him down yet—but I know my family has questions. Hell, I have questions. Sure, her letter answered some of them, but really I just need her to wake up.

I nod and slowly transfer him into the nurse’s arms. “We’ll be right here. Why don’t you go talk to them and then maybe check in on Mom, see how’s she doing?” she says.

I grab my shirt and throw it on over my head. On last glance at my son back in his . . . hell, I don’t know what to call it—his bed, maybe? The sign above his head, ‘Baby Knox,’ lets me know that it is indeed him.

My son.

Chapter 7

As soon as I walk out of the nursery, Reagan runs to me and throws her arms around my waist. I hug her tight. I try not to let her see how fucking scared and overwhelmed I am, but this is my little sister. She knows me too well.

“You got this, Ridge. Whatever you need,” she says softly, for my ears only.

“How you holding up, son?” Dad asks, causing Reagan to release me from her grip.

I look up at my father and see the man who taught me how to throw a football, talked to me about girls, taught me how to build things, which led to my current career and taking over the family business. I vow to myself that I will be that kind of father.

“I-I don’t really know. I mean, this is just . . . It’s a lot to take in,” I say honestly.

He nods. “He looks like you,” he tells me.

I smile, because I see it too. “Yeah.”

“He’s perfect, Ridge,” Mom adds.

That’s the thing about my family—So much love and support. They don’t question if he’s really mine. They go with what I have told them, and they’re here for whatever I need.

“He looks tiny when you hold him,” Seth says from beside me.

I turn to look at him. “He is that tiny. It’s crazy, man. I feel like I’m going to break him or something.”

The guys laugh at that. “You need anything from us, brother?” Tyler asks. The others nod, letting me know they’re also here for me, for anything I might need.

“Hell if I know. The Allen job?” I ask them.

“All taken care of. We did the final walk-through, cleaned up the site, and have everything ready to go tomorrow with the Williams job,” Mark explains.

That’s when I notice they’re all wearing their work boots and Beckett Construction T-shirts. They must have come straight here from the job site.

“Thanks. I-I guess I need to go check on Melissa. She should be out of recovery now.”

“We brought you some food.” Mom steps in for a hug.

I wrap my arms around her and fight the emotion threatening to drown me. Once a momma’s boy, always a momma’s boy. Then I think about my son and Melissa. She has to wake up. He needs her. I need her. I can’t do this on my own. We might not be together, but who knows what the future holds?

Dad holds up a bag of food. I take it and nod my thanks.

“We’re going to stay here for a bit.” Mom looks over at my