Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 41634 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 208(@200wpm)___ 167(@250wpm)___ 139(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41634 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 208(@200wpm)___ 167(@250wpm)___ 139(@300wpm)
I’m watching her face, seeing the transformation from pain to a raw, primal determination that shatters the last of my defenses. She isn't just my wife or the mother of my child; she's the person who taught me that life isn't lived behind a mask. She’s the one who turned my empty penthouse into a home, who replaced my cold silence with the noise of love.
“One more push and we’ll meet your little one.” The doctor looks up from her spot at the base of the bed.
“I want a whole box of blueberry scones and a gallon of espresso when this is over,” Harper hisses as she bears down one more time.
Then there’s a cry—a thin, wavering wail that cuts through the clinical hum of the monitors and the heavy pounding inside my skull. It’s the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard.
The doctor moves with a practiced grace, and suddenly, there’s a tiny, squirming weight wrapped in a striped blanket. When they place her in Harper’s arms, I feel my knees go weak, a sensation of vertigo that has nothing to do with exhaustion and everything to do with the realization that my world has just recalibrated its center.
"Sophia," Harper whispers, her voice a fragile thread of wonder. "Look at her, Jax. She has your chin. Poor girl."
I let out a shaky laugh, reaching out to touch a hand that is no bigger than the tip of my thumb. The skin is impossibly soft, a velvety texture that makes my calloused fingers feel like sandpaper. Sophia Thorne. She’s tiny, vulnerable, and completely, irrevocably mine. In this moment, every shutout I’ve ever recorded, every trophy gathering dust in my office, and every roar of the crowd feels like a hollow echo compared to the solid reality of this child.
I lean over and kiss my wife’s sweaty forehead. “I love you.”
Her answering smile is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. She’s glowing. Fucking radiant. My heartbeat goes wild in my ears.
“I love you, too,” she whispers, her voice wobbling. “But next time, take the time to grab the second shoe.”
That earns a laugh out of me. Can’t help it. I’m gone for this woman. I kiss her again, softer this time, careful not to crush the tiny, wiggly baby sandwiched between us. Sophia is still making those little newborn snuffling noises, her hands balled into angry fists.
“Hi, beautiful,” I mutter, reaching out to stroke her cheek. I can’t get over how small she is. My pinky’s bigger than her nose. “You’re the most perfect thing I’ve ever seen. Sorry about the chin. Maybe you’ll grow out of it.”
Harper snorts. “She’s got your hair, too. Look at that cowlick.”
Our daughter’s hair is sticking up in about six different directions, complete with a little spit-curl on her forehead. It’s the cutest shit I’ve ever witnessed. My chest feels too tight for breathing.
Harper cradles the baby close, her arms trembling from exhaustion, but she’s got that stubborn look I know better than anyone. She kisses Sophia’s head, then turns to me. “You want to hold her?”
Two seconds later, my giant hands are fumbling with the baby, and my heart is hammering so loud I can barely hear the nurse giving instructions. I’m cool and collected, but this tiny, breakable creature is enough to rattle me to the core.
Holy shit. I’m holding my daughter. There’s nothing like this. Not a damn thing. I can’t stop staring at her. She’s wrinkly and kind of pissed off, and honestly? The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, next to her mother.
“Hey, kiddo.” My voice comes out husky. “You wanna come home with us? It’s gonna be loud and weird, and you’ll have to deal with your Uncle Ryan sometimes. Sorry in advance.”
My wife snorts, her smile turning wobbly again. “She’s going to be the most loved baby in the history of Seattle.”
I glance over at Harper. Even after giving birth, she somehow manages to look like the sexiest woman alive. “You’re a goddamn legend, firecracker.”
Harper leans her head against my shoulder. “A legend who needs her sugar and caffeine fix. Nine months without caffeine sucked.”
“I’ve got you covered,” I tell my wife as I pull out my phone and flip to the DoorDash app. There’s no way I’m leaving my girls right now. After finishing the order, I sit next to Harper and pull her close to my side. I stare down at the newborn in my arms, watching her chest rise and fall in a steady, perfect rhythm, and I realize that the man who once lived in a cold, empty penthouse finally has a home that is overflowing with warmth, noise, and love that no rivalry could ever break.
I didn't just make the ultimate save. I finally learned what was worth saving.
THE END