Players, Bumps and Cocktail Sausages (Silence #3)(76)

“No.” Yes! “I’m not leaving you. Wanna crush my hand while they’re doing it?”

Annette laughed. “The injection might sting a little, but after that she’ll be fine.”

“Yeah, see. Why don’t you stay so I can crush your hand while they do this delivering thing and inject me then go out for a few minutes and call everyone? They’re going to want to know she’s here already.”

I grabbed her hand, kissing her knuckles. “Okay, if you want.”

Holly squeezed my hand, and flinching as they injected her. She didn’t take her eyes off me as if I was somehow helping just by being there.

I love her.

I didn’t just have feelings for her – I was fucking in love with her!

“All done. We’ll give you a second and then see if we’re ready to stitch.”

Holly pulled a disgusted face.

“Don’t worry, you’ve not torn too badly, it shouldn’t take many.”

She grimaced. “Please don’t tell me. I’d rather not know.”

Jen smiled and took Sophia back from the trainee.

“Five pounds and two ounces,” the trainee announced.

I grinned like a fool. I thought I’d lost everything when Abby cheated, and I thought I’d never want to put myself in that position again, but suddenly now I did. I wanted everything, and I wanted it with Holly. But what did she want?

“Jasper, you can go now!” she said.

“Are you embarrassed?” Her cheeks turned pink. “Holly, I’ve just seen you shove a person through there, and you’re embarrassed about me seeing you get a few stitches!”

“My dignity left when the contractions really kicked in. No contractions mean you need to leave. Please.”

“This should only take ten minutes. We’ll get Sophia to the breast and do the stitches. Why don’t you call your loved ones and announce this little one’s arrival and by the time you’re done we will be too.”

Jen stroked Sophia’s cheek and handed her to me.

I’d held a baby before, but suddenly I was petrified. Everleigh I could hand back, but Sophia was all mine and Holly’s responsibility. I looked down at my daughter, and she stared right back, even though I probably just looked like a hazy blob to her. She was perfect.

“Hi, sweetheart. I’m your daddy,” I said. My voice was thick with emotion. “I promise I’ll protect you. I love you, little girl”

I kissed her forehead and reluctantly gave her to Holly.

“I’ll be outside. Call if you need anything.”

“I will. Thanks, Jasper.”

“Thank you,” I said, bending over to kiss Sophia again. As I went to stand back up, Holly caught her breath. We were inches apart. I wanted nothing more than to kiss her, and she seemed to want it too.

I pressed my lips to hers briefly, not wanting to push my luck.

Mum rushed through the door, carrying the biggest bunch of pink balloons I’d ever seen. I’d hoped we’d have a few minutes alone. Holly’s mum and dad had just left to get a coffee and give us some time to ourselves, but it seemed that we weren’t going to get any.

“Where’s my little girl,” she said, making a dash for Sophia. Holly smiled and handed her over.

“Well done, Holly, she’s beautiful.”

Now I knew she was saying well done for giving birth, but Sophia was half my genes, she couldn’t have included me in the compliment?

“Congratulations,” Oakley and Cole said simultaneously as they followed Mum, holding a balloon, a bunch of flowers and a pink gift bag they must have picked up in the hospital store since this had all happened so early.

I hugged my sister because my mum had bypassed me completely. Looks like I’d just been knocked down her list of favourites! Oakley’s baby bump kicked me, and I grinned. Soon it would be them doing this.

“No Everleigh?” I asked.

She pulled away and shook her head.

“She’s with Cole’s parents. We thought it’d be better if we waited until you’re home. Holly’s just given birth, the last thing she needs is a four-year-old bounding around the room.”

“Oakley, Cole, have a quick hold now because I’m not giving this angel back until the end of visiting.” Mum handed Sophia to Oakley, who stared down at her niece with a tear in her eye. “Miles will be here soon, he’s just parking the car.”

“Yeah, we would have parked and all come up together, but Sarah shouted. A lot,” Cole said, leaning over Oakley’s shoulder to see his niece.

“Hey, it’s not every day you get another granddaughter!” She turned away and sat on the bed, facing Holly. “How’re you feeling?”

“I’m fine, considering, but it wasn’t long ago that I had some pain killers.”

“Keep taking them, even if you think you’re feeling better. I made the mistake of stopping on the third day after I had Jasper; I soon picked them up again,” Mum said.



I watched my mum, stepdad, sister and brother-in-law coo over Sophia and Holly, and I realised that without even knowing it, Holly was well and truly part of our family. Now all I had to do was grow a pair and tell her how I felt.





Chapter Thirty-four