Auggie leads me back to the car and drives the short distance to Billie’s condo. We take the elevator up, and Auggie unlocks the door.
“Wow, this is super cute!” Billie’s condo has two bedrooms facing the ocean. The living room has a structured but comfortable-looking sofa with bold pillows and a cabled throw blanket. The kitchen is modern with stainless appliances and granite countertops. There’s a balcony with a couch and coffee table. I step outside and inhale the salty air. The view is killer. Even though I can hear the early tourists on the street below, the sound of the waves crashing is soothing. I imagine it’s amazing at sunrise.
“Cuore mio, please tell me what’s on your mind?” Auggie slides his arms around me from behind. I feel instantly better with his arms around me.
“I’m worried about Margaux. Will she show up here?”
“I don’t know. She has before. Do you want me to call Jacob? I’m sure someone is nearby for Kelly.” Kelly Barnett, a good friend of ours, has had security since she learned she had a stalker and her marriage to Hollywood heartthrob, Ellis Barnett. They have a home in Aspen and one here, which is two doors down from Cash and Noelle.
“No, I don’t want her to ruin today for your brother and Noelle.”
“If it comes to it, we’ll make sure she doesn’t.”
“Okay. Any update?”
“Let me check.” He releases me and finds his phone. After checking, he indicates Billie should be here in the next twenty minutes to whisk us off to meet our nieces.
“I’ll freshen up before we need to leave.”
He nods. “Are you sure that’s all?”
“Of course.” I’m not sure he believes me. Hell, I’m not sure I believe myself. Margaux showing up at Pinecrest truly messed with my head. I’ve been close with Auggie for years. Then less than two weeks after I agree to date him, she starts making demands of me. I shove those thoughts away and move into the powder room. After throwing some cool water on my face, I step into the living room as Billie is entering her condo.
“Let’s go, my nieces are waiting to be snuggled and ogled,” Billie shouts.
We laugh and follow her to the car. The ride to York Memorial is about fifteen minutes. We take the back seat. I slide to the middle seat and snuggle against Auggie. His hands drop to my thigh palm up. I slide my fingers between his. I’m still reveling in how good it feels to be able to touch him as I wish.
Hand in hand, we follow Billie to the maternity ward. When we arrive, Sam and Savannah, with Emme in her arms, stand.
“I’m so happy you could come on short notice.” Savannah reaches out to hug me, but Emme launches toward me instead. I settle Emme on my hip and then hug Savannah with one arm.
Then Sam hugs me. “Is he treating you right?”
“Really, Sam? I’m right here,” Auggie responds, incredulous.
I laugh. “You know he is, Sam. He had a few good role models.”
Auggie slides his arm around my waist and tugs me closer, placing a kiss on my temple.
The door opens and a cute blonde nurse enters the room. “The Morgan family I presume?”
“Yes,” we reply at once.
“You can go back and visit now. Unfortunately, this gorgeous girl isn’t allowed in the birthing center.” The nurse is referring to my niece, Emme.
“I’ll watch her while you meet the babies. We can go in after you,” I suggest to Sam and Savannah.
“Are you sure?” Sam asks.
“She’s an angel. We’ll be here when you’re done.”
Sam drops a kiss to Emme’s forehead and leads Savannah out the door. Billie and Peter are already down the hall.
“Waiting was really nice of you. I know how excited you are to meet them.” Auggie states.
I shrug. “I think of your family as if they’re my family.”
“They are.”
I would give anything to be able to read his mind right now. Reading Auggie my best friend is a piece of cake. Trying to read him as my newly minted boyfriend is something else. Emme grabs a healthy chunk of my hair and yanks on it. I wrap my hand around hers and distract her by nuzzling her nose until she releases it. The look on Auggie’s face screams he’s ready for a little person of our own. Baby steps, Auggie. There are a few key things we need to address before I’m holding a child half me and half you.
I grab a blanket from Emme’s bag, spread it on the floor, sprinkle a few toys and join her on the blanket. She looks exactly like Sam with dark hair and hazel eyes. I may have met her mother once or twice over the years. Emme’s mother is Maria-Luisa’s daughter who acted as the Morgan’s nanny for most of their lives. Maria died in an accident while pregnant with Emme. She was born early, and after a DNA test, Sam learned he was her father rather than Maria’s husband. Savannah and Sam were barely starting out when it happened. Not only did she fall for Sam, but she fell head over heels for Emme as well, so much so she requested to adopt her as soon as possible.
Billie and Peter rejoin us in the waiting room and order us to go meet our nieces. I hurry down the hall, dragging Auggie with me.
“A tad excited?” He smirks.
“Yes.” We round the corner, and I stop at the threshold. Cash and Noelle each cradle a pink bundle of joy. The only other time I saw so much joy on Cash’s face was when he slid his ring on Noelle’s finger.
“Come in,” Noelle says from the chair.
I step into the room in awe. These girls are some of the most gorgeous newborns I’ve ever seen. I’m sure my own will eclipse them someday, but for now, these two are tops.
“This is Josie and that’s Julianna.” Noelle gestures toward Cash.
He’s literally beaming. Cash simply can’t contain himself. “Thank you so much for coming.”
“We wouldn’t miss this for anything. They’re beautiful.”
“Thank you,” Noelle graciously replies.
“Can I hold her?”
Cash rises, offering me his seat before placing Julianna in my arms. I gaze down at her and take in her tiny features. Before now, having a child in the future was an abstract idea. Knowing we’re a couple now makes it more likely, more real. I lift my gaze to Auggie who is now holding Josie. The look on his face, I fall deeper in love with Auggie seeing the awe in his eyes, and she’s his niece not his daughter. He looks up at me. I see similar emotions staring back at me. The flutters in my stomach get stronger the more time I spend as his girlfriend. Being best friends for most of our lives has given us a solid foundation for our relationship.
We chat with them for nearly twenty minutes while fawning over these beautiful girls.
Julianna starts whining in my arms.
“Is it time for her to eat?” I ask Noelle.
“Yes. I’m breastfeeding, so if you want to leave or turn around until I get situated, Auggie, now is the time.”
“We’ll take our leave now and come back tomorrow at some point.” Auggie shakes Cash’s hand. “Congrats, bro!”
I set Julianna in Noelle’s arms and hug her lightly.
“I’m so happy for the two of you. I’m glad he finally saw you as more than his friend,” Noelle whispers so only I can hear her.
“Me too,” I reply quietly. I cross the room and hug Cash.
“Let me know if he steps out of line.” Cash winks at me.
“I will.”
Auggie simply shakes his head before intertwining his fingers with mine. As we walk down the hall, Auggie keeps glancing to either side of the hallway. He leads me into a room with a sign reading “Meeting Room.” The moment the door closes, he kisses me long and deeply. The heat from this kiss is even more than our first one. Seeing his siblings with me beside him as his significant other has churned something up for Auggie.
Once we’re breathless from sharing our kiss, we separate a bit. He eyes still convey the same emotions from before.
“Let’s have Billie bring us back to the condo,” I suggest.
“Sounds good.”
“Is there somewhere nearby we can order dinner from? I’m starving.”
“The inn has great food, and it’s right downstairs from Billie’s.”
“Perfect.”
We join Billie and Peter in the lobby before the ride to her condo.
“What are your plans for tomorrow?” Peter asks.
“Other than sleeping in a bit and coming back to see the twins, haven’t really thought about it,” Auggie replies.
“Fair enough. Can we meet for breakfast on Sunday before you head home?” Billie inquires.
“We would love too,” I respond for the two of us.
Peter drops us off in front of the inn. We place our order, cross the street, and enjoy the soothing ocean sounds until our food is ready. I have no idea how many times I’ve sat at the beach enjoying the calming energy. With Auggie holding me close, it’s a completely different experience.