Infinite (2 page)

“Down speaking with the cops. They followed us the whole way—presumably because we were doing a hundred miles an hour—but Caleb wasn’t about to pull over.”

“And you left him to handle that alone?” Julia threw her arms out to the sides. “What if they haul him to jail?”

“Hardly seems relevant,” he quipped back in the most condescendingly placid tone possible before catching me in his gaze and holding out his hand. “Come here.”

“Seriously? No, don’t bother worrying about it or anything, I’ll go check on him!” I barely registered Julia griping before she stomped off, my focus on the solace Logan was offering.

I fell into his arms, needing the strength only he could give me.

“You okay, sweetheart?” he whispered into the crook of my neck, wrapping me in his arms.

“No,” I said, tears beginning to fall. “Just hold me.”

“You never have to ask.”

The morning sun was shining through the windows when I heard a commotion in the hall.

I sat up, my hand still entwined with my man’s. “Is that—”

“I believe it is.” Logan let out a relieved sigh. “Let’s go.”

He helped pull me up. My muscles were stiff from sitting in the unforgiving metal chair for hours, but that didn’t stop me from hurrying.

Caleb looked exhausted, following a nurse pushing a rolling bassinet with what appeared to be a beautiful, but tiny, baby inside in the opposite direction of us. As anxious as I was to see the new addition to our extended family, it’d been far too long with no news about my best friend.

“Caleb!” I yelled at his back as we made our way down the hall. He turned. “How’s everyone? Hilary?”

He ran a hand over his face and released a long-held breath. “Good. She’s good. All healthy.” He smiled tightly. “Little early, but we’re gonna be okay. I’m sticking with my lil’ boy here. Why don’t you go back and say hi to Hil?”

Little boy.
Tears of joy stung my eyes despite my being caught completely off guard.

“Thought they saw a girl on the ultrasound?” I asked, even though it didn’t matter. I was truly happy for them.

He shrugged a shoulder. “Obviously, they were wrong. Never mattered to me anyway. Just wanted a healthy baby, and here he is.”

I wanted more than anything to catch up to them and see the little bundle, but Caleb was walking faster and farther away. The nurse was insistent that they get going, and I wasn’t about to stand in the way.

I nodded, pivoting on my heel to check on the new mom when Caleb’s voice stopped me.

“And Cassandra?” I turned back to meet his eyes. “I’m sorry about before. Thank you for being with her—taking care of her.”

“No need to apologize. It’s a given.” I tilted my head, offering him a warm smile of understanding.

Caleb nodded once before running after his new baby boy, who was being rolled into another room.

“Are you coming?” I asked Logan.

He curled his arm around my waist, placing a gentle kiss to my temple as he tucked me against his side. “I think I’ll stay by Caleb for now. Go see your girl, sweetheart.”

“Love you,” I whispered, and with a swift kiss over my words, he replied, “Always.”

I watched him disappear into the same room as Caleb before taking a deep breath and heading toward Hilary.

“Come in,” she called out in a scratchy voice when I knocked.

Any apprehension I had was washed away when I entered and saw her lying there, looking tired but healthy. “Hey, Mama, how’re you feeling?” I dropped my bag on the counter.

“Great,” she lied, her watery eyes darting away from mine. “Did you see him?”

“Only briefly as they rolled him by, but long enough to know he’s beautiful, Hil. Did you guys decide on a name now that Lily’s obviously not an option?” I moved closer to her bedside.

“Quinn. Quinn Alexander Townsend.”

“I love it.”

“Yeah? Me too.” Her teeth caught her shaky bottom lip as the first tear fell. “They’ll probably want to keep him here awhile to monitor him. Too early.” Her voice broke, head shaking. “He’s so tiny. I’m so sorry. This…this is all my fault.”

“Hey, don’t say that.” I quickly pulled up a chair and sat as close to her as possible, taking her clammy hand in both of mine. “Babies come early all the time, it happens. I only saw him for a brief second, but he seemed new baby tiny not anything wrong tiny. Everything will be fine.”

“I’ll never forgive myself if I hurt him...if he’s not okay.”

“Hilary.” I hardened my voice, alarmed by the increased beeping sounds coming from her monitor. “Stop this. He’s fine. Caleb said so in the hall.”

“But he doesn’t know. He’s so confident, but I know better. Nothing ever turns out the way I dream. It’s going to fall apart, I know it. What if I already screwed up my little boy?”

“Listen to me right now!” When her reddened eyes connected with mine, I didn’t hold back. “You’ve made some bad calls, but that’s in the past. And who hasn’t? You always dreamed of a life with Caleb, right? Well, now it’s happening. Doesn’t matter how hard the road was to get here. You made it. You have a strong, healthy boy together, and you’ll be married soon. Please enjoy it, because you sure as hell deserve it.”

“But what if—”

“No!” I interrupted. “You have it now—everything you ever wanted. And Quinn is going to be just fine.”

She didn’t reply. No words were needed as her silent fears mingled with my desperate prayers. And together, we waited.

Chapter 3

“Quinn’s perfect, buttercup. All washed up, weighed, and measured. Five pounds, six ounces, and eighteen inches long. Our lil’ boy may be small, but he’s a hell of a screamer.”

“R-really?” Hilary’s voice cracked in disbelief. “He’s healthy?”

“Yes, baby, he’s perfect,” Caleb reassured her. “Just a little too eager to come out and play, that’s all.”

“Told ya,” I chimed in, squeezing her hand one final time before moving out of their way to stand beside Logan. His hand snaked around my waist, gripping my hip as he congratulated my best friend.

Hilary sat up, her legs flying over the side of the bed. “I want to see him!”

“I know, baby. And you will, in a few.” Caleb lifted her legs back onto the bed. “Nurses said they’d be down within the hour to take you.”

“An
hour
?” She looked appalled, trying again to stand despite Caleb blocking her every attempt. With a huff, she squinted her eyes at him. “He’s my son. I want to see him
now
!”

I couldn’t argue with that.

“I’m lovin’ the mama-bear vibe, but I’m not letting you out of this bed till the nurses are ready. Got me?” Caleb was all smiles as he gently urged her to lie back down.

“No, I don’t
got
you.”

“We’ll go check on him,” I offered, breaking into their standoff.

“Not necessary, but thank you. I have it handled,” Caleb said, his eyes never leaving Hilary. He brushed his hand across her cheek and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, speaking softly to her. “Rest for me—for him—and then we’ll go together.”

Hilary relaxed visibly. “I don’t want him to be alone.”

“He’s not,” Logan cut in. “Julia and Luke are in with him.”

“See? Now sleep. You need it,” Caleb pressed. This time, Hilary nodded, allowing him to bring the blanket up to her chest.

In a low murmur close to my ear, Logan asked, “Ready to go?”

Honestly, I was exhausted as well after a long, worrisome night that, granted, did turn into a happy morning. Part of me wanted to crash right on the chair beside Hilary, to be there if she needed me, but she wouldn’t. Her boys were with her now.

Hilary must’ve read my mind like only a best friend can, because when she looked my way and smiled, I knew she saw my inner battle. Still, she reaffirmed my thoughts. “He’s got me.”

And he did. Caleb climbed in right beside her, pulling her against his chest.

“Yeah.” I nodded, smiling at them, then up to Logan. “Call for any reason—anything at all. And please tell me I can go see my godson before I leave.”

“Logan knows where to find him,” Caleb said, his face turned away, lost in the woman he loved.

My spirits lifted seeing them so closely bonded. With relief heavy in my mood, Logan led me to the nursery to meet Quinn.

Julia was holding baby Quinn when we arrived, doting on his every wiggle. Luke was looking on with an easy smile.

“You’re going to have to pry him from my arms, you know that right?” Julia said, not even looking up when we entered.

“Totally worth it,” I replied, walking to the sink to wash my hands.

“He’s precious,” she cooed. “Oliver’s gonna love the hell out of him.”

“Yeah, but no telling him yet,” Logan said, making the demand clear while handing me a paper towel. “He’ll be looking forward to meeting him.”

“I bet. He’ll be thrilled to find out she’s a he,” I said with a smile, already standing in front of Julia. My hands were out, itchy with impatience. Reluctantly, she placed Quinn in my arms.

Luke was beside her a moment later. “We’re going to Caleb’s to let the painters know the pink nursery now needs to be a sky blue, apparently.”

“Luckily, all the décor and most of the clothes can be exchanged,” Julia added. “I told Hilary I’d take care of it. One less thing for her to stress over.”

Logan scoffed. “And what did
that
cost her?”

Julia’s eyes slanted into an appalled glare. “You don’t think I’d just do it because we’re friends? Or because I’m, I don’t know, a nice person?”

Logan shook his head slowly, crossing his arms over his broad chest. “No, I don’t.”

“Logan!” I couldn’t believe he’d just said that aloud.

Luke’s snickering caught our attention. “Oh, come on, admit it baby. You made her promise to owe you one when the time came. Own it—no shame.”

We all laughed, despite Julia’s huffing. “Whatever. I’ve done a lot for her, and she knows it.”

“All right, we’re outta here. Don’t plan to be at Caleb’s long—tired and want to get home,” Luke said, starting toward the door.

“When you say ‘home,’ you do mean you’ll be dropping my sister at her place then returning to yours, right Luke?” The thinly veiled sternness of Logan’s instruction couldn’t be missed.

Luke stopped short and replied instantly over his shoulder, offering a weak smile. “Exactly like that.”

My chuckle slipped out, earning an exasperated gasp from Julia. “Night, Cassandra,” Julia said, shaking her head as they left the room. “Night, Quinn.”

“No goodnight for your big brother?” Logan’s signature smirk widened when all Julia threw back was her middle finger.

“They really do love each other,” I said quietly to Quinn.

“Sit, sweetheart.” Logan stood next to a rocking chair.

“Can we stay a while?”

“As long as you like.”

I sat back, rocking a sleepy Quinn, content to never move again. Logan took a rocker across the room from us.

Logan spoke after a long, peaceful silence. “You look beautiful holding him.”

I glanced up, raising a brow. “That mean I don’t look beautiful any other time?”

Logan’s lips parted with a smile. “You know you do, sweetheart. Just like seeing you with a baby. Making you think about having one of your own?”

Quinn was fast asleep in my arms, his delicate features so innocent, when I answered, “Maybe someday.” A nervous knot wedged in my throat as I looked across to Logan and was met with his soulful eyes.

He nodded slowly. “Someday sounds good. Lots of time to practice from now till then.”

“Yeah, there is.”

We sat for a while longer, never leaving Quinn alone until the nurse came in with Hilary and Caleb.

“You’re still here?” Caleb asked, wasting no time leaning down and claiming his boy from my hold.

“Promised to always look out for him when I signed on to be his godmother, remember?” I stood, stretching the stiffness from my back.

Caleb held Quinn close to his chest and looked at me. “Yeah, I guess you did.” His voice was full of appreciation and knowledge that I’d always love their son like my own. “You’re off to a very good start.”

Hilary sat in the rocker I’d vacated, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as Caleb placed her little boy in her arms.