Page 85 of Blissful Devotion

“I just hope that any girl we have looks just like you. It would be a shame to have more of us running around when you're so beautiful.”

Her eyes go wide, and her cheeks turn red before my eyes.

Perfect.

Niccolò begins to squirm, and Kat reaches for him. I give him up because I don’t have what he wants, and I know she thinks she avoided the question, but I, unlike our son, wasn’t born yesterday.

I watch as she takes a minute to get him situated, and he calms the second he’s latched.

“Don’t think I forgot, Cherry. I asked you a question.”

Kat licks her lips, and I know she just had a baby, but damn it if I track the movement. We haven’t been able to do too much, worried about her overdoing it when we weren’t sure about the side effects of the scopolamine, and I won’t lie, I've missed her and that damn mouth.

“It wasn’t as bad, just some memories that are still holding on.” She shakes her head as if she can physically shake the memories away.

I wish it were that easy.

“Do you need someone else to talk to?” I ask, leaning in to cup her cheek and turn her gaze back up to me.

I don’t like it when she hides from me, especially when she does it in shame.

She has nothing to be ashamed of and never with me.

“Katherine.” My voice is stern but not mean.

“No, honestly, it’s been good. I like Hazel, and I feel like she understands. Plus Jade checks in often. I think it was just stress and everything happening, but really, I’m good.” I hold her gaze for a moment to check for any tell—Kat is a terrible liar—before nodding, satisfied with her answer.

“Good, you shouldn’t hold it all in. That’s not healthy.” I chuckle, but it’s humorless. “Trust me, I know.”

“How are you doing? No more drinking? Any urges?” The concern in her voice feels like it’s physically gripping my heart.

I’d hoped the guys wouldn’t tell her, but I can’t say I don’t understand why they did. Thankfully, it doesn’t seem like they gave her every terrible detail, just that I found comfort in a bottle while she was missing.

I’m not proud of it, but I can’t change it. I can, however, make sure she never has to worry about me like that again.

“I’m better than good, love. I’m happier than I’ve ever been.” I reach out and brush a strand of her beautiful red hair behind her ear, and she smiles. “No urges. I’ve got everything I need now.”

I press a kiss on Niccolò's head and smile at his little sleeping angel face.

“Why don’t you get some sleep? I’ve got him.”

We both turn to find Nathan sitting on the pull-out bed watching us, and maybe I should feel embarrassed, but I don’t. Nathan has been there for me since we were kids. He knows all my skeletons and has always believed in me, regardless.

Which makes this next conversation even harder.

Nathan takes Niccolò, who stays asleep, milk drunk as Desmond calls it, and moves to the rocking chair. He turns it away from the window to face the room, and I’m a little annoyed I didn’t think of that.

I would have much rather looked at Kat than the stars that she puts to shame.

Pressing another kiss to her head, I tuck her in and move to take Nathan’s spot on the pull-out.

It’s not the most comfortable bed in the world, but it’s pretty damn good for a hospital. Although, with the price of the wing, I would hope so.

I wait, letting the gentle sound of the rocking chair fill the room; it’s calm and so peaceful that I almost fall asleep.

But I have something to do, so I fight it.

“You can’t have her,” I say when I’m sure she’s asleep, and the rocking stops.