Page 112 of Pretty Little Scars

“Come on,” Tucker says, my hand still in his. “You’re coming with me.”

I lead Tucker down the hall to Harper’s room, and when we step inside, we find Harper sitting on the bed, her tiny bundle in her arms, and she’s smiling so serenely, you’d never know there was an emergency in here less than an hour ago.

“You’re here,” she says and reaches her hand out for Tucker.

He gives me a squeeze, and then lets go to take his sister’s hand. He kisses it, his green eyes full of so much emotion, it makes my heart lurch.

He loves her so much.

“You know that there isn’t anywhere else that I’d be, Harps.”

“This is your niece, Belle.” Harper smiles up at Tuck, who’s staring down at the tiny pink bundle with so much awe, I can’t help but chuckle. “We stuck with the B-name tradition in Blake’s family. You can hold her.”

“No way, she’s too small. I don’t want to hurt her.”

“You won’t hurt her,” Harper says, and gently lays the baby in his big arms.

“There’s nothing here,” he says softly. “Are you sure there’s a baby in this blanket?”

Harper chuckles and then winces as she tries to adjust herself in the bed. “Trust me, she’s in there.”

“How are you, friend?” I ask her, coming to her side as Tucker coos at the baby.

“Already sore, and I’m supposedly still numb.” She sighs and looks over to where Tucker is swaying back and forth. “But she’s worth it. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. But maybe not so dramatically.”

I smile at her and then over at my man, andholy shit. I can see this. I can see him pacing with a baby of our own, so gentlyand sweetly. I can see his face soften like this as he stares down at our little baby.

My ovaries are tingling.

“She’s precious,” I tell Harper.

“I know that Ava wanted to see her first, but Tucker, you’re my biggest brother. You’re my ... my Tucker. And I didn’t get to see you earlier, and you always calm me down.”

Tuck returns to us and frowns down at his sister.

“Do you need me to calm you down, Harps?”

“You being here does that,” she says. “And you know, love and blah, blah.”

Tucker’s smile spreads over his face, and he leans in to press his lips to Harper’s forehead.

“I love you to the moon and back, little sister.”

Harper swallows hard and her eyes fill, and Blake walks in and scowls.

“Why are you making my wife cry?”

“Good tears,” Harper says. “Likely from hormones. But look how cute my brother is with our daughter.”

“Adorable,” Blake says with a smirk and kisses Harper on the head before he comes to me and does the same. “How are you doing, gorgeous?”

Blake flirts with literally everyone in our family. We’re all ‘gorgeous’to him.

“Hey, one of my besties had a baby today. I’m fantastic. And you’re adaddy.” I can’t help it, I have to hug him. How many times did this man hold me when we were kids to console me, to help me feel better? More than I can count. “Blake, I’m so happy for you.”

“It’s pretty fucking great,” he whispers in my ear. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“Me too.”