Angel by the Wings // Thirty-Seven
If you saw me update 36 instead of this chapter, no u didn't. Huge thanks to the sweet nonny who pointed out and did it in such a polite way alskjdlfkasjdf I love you!!!
Chapter Warnings: reader worries about the baby as per usual but all is well
Series Masterlist (Mobile Masterlist)
He was late.
You shifted your weight from foot to foot and checked your phone again. Nothing. Your appointment didn’t start for another twenty minutes, but you liked to get there early in case you needed to update any paperwork. Bradley had promised he would be there and Jake…
You had no idea. You hadn’t heard from him in days. You didn’t even know if he got your note.
Pushing a breath out of your lungs, you squinted against the glare of the sun and looked for the familiar Bronco in the parking lot. Nothing.
Your stomach turned with what you hoped was nerves and you settled a hand over the small swell of your bump. Eleven, almost twelve weeks. Fuck, things were moving quickly.
“It’s sunny. You should be inside.”
Your head raised at the familiar voice and you met the blue eyed gaze of Jake Seresin. He was still in his olive green flight suit and he removed his baseball cap when you turned to face him. Your heart seized for a moment and it was like you forgot how handsome he was.
“I’m fine.” You raised your huge reusable water bottle. “Not like I can avoid the sun in San Diego.”
He stopped just a few feet from you, his eyes never leaving yours. You swallowed past the lump in your throat.
“I’m sorry,” he said. The two words made your heart lurch and you bit your lip. Before you could say anything, he continued. “I’m sorry for being the biggest piece of shit.” A startled laugh escaped you and a small smile flickered across his lips.
“I’m sorry for what I said.”
Jake stepped closer, one of his hands hovering just above your bicep. You nodded and he let his palm settle against your skin. Sparks erupted at his touch and you let your eyes slide shut.
“You left me,” you whispered. “You left us.”
“I know. I wish I hadn’t.” He sighed and leaned forward, pressing his forehead against yours. “I’ve got some screws loose up here, darlin’.” He tapped his temple. “But I’m gonna get some help to figure out what I need to make sure I can be a good man for you three.”
Your hand fisted in the collar of his suit. “You are a good man, Jake. You’re the only one who can’t see that.”
He chuckled and then laid a kiss in between your brows. You sank into his touch and felt moisture build on your lashes. His hand slid from your arm to cradle the back of your neck. “I’m going to therapy, once every two weeks. My mom encouraged it. She wants to meet you properly.”
“Jake, I didn’t mean what I said. I-”
“Hey, hey, hey.” He laid a kiss to your left eyelid and then the right. “It’s in the past. I want this. I want you and Roo and god, I want this baby. I want it so bad.”
“And you won’t leave again? Because I won’t let my kid grow up with that threat over their head. That’s not fair to me and not fair to them. So either you stay or you make your mind up now and leave.”
He shook his head. “I’m all in. Diaper changes, blowouts, tantrums. From Roo and the baby. I want it all. I want this family.”
You inhaled a stuttered breath. “I won’t survive if you leave again.”
Guilt nearly drowned him as he remembered Rooster’s words about your mother and he curled his body around yours, protecting and hiding you from the world. He settled his cap to rest on the back of his head and then cradled your face so he could draw your lips against his. You let all the worries and fears that plagued your mind fall silent as he slid his tongue against yours and easily took control. That was something that always drew you to Jake from that very first kiss. In fact, their ability to make you feel so incredibly safe was probably the main reason you gravitated towards your men.
“I’m not leaving, darlin’. If you want me, you’ll have me, in any way you want.
“Sorry to interrupt, but we need to get inside.”
You pulled back from Jake as heat rushed to your cheeks and sent a half-hearted glare at Bradley. He was also in his flight suit and you were suddenly hot all over for a different reason. The brunet leaned down to steal a quick kiss from you and he hummed in pleasure at the lingering taste of Jake mingled with you.
“I’m sorry,” Jake told Bradley.
“Do it again and I’ll kick your ass. And then I’ll let Nat and Sofia after you.”
Jake paled slightly but didn’t argue. Instead, he settled one hand on your waist and extended his other arm for Bradley. The brunet glanced at you and you nodded in reassurance. He sidled up against Jake and you watched with rapt attention as they kissed, soft and sweet, a startling contrast to their imposing figures.
“You’re right, by the way,” Bradley said once they pulled away. Jake settled his lips against the crown of your hair and inhaled you deeply, as if he could commit the smell of your shampoo to memory. He hummed in confirmation that he heard Bradley and the brunet slid his hand around the back of Jake’s neck and gave him a quick squeeze.
“I was looking at houses. Mav helped me. A house for the four of us. A nursery for the baby, an office you and I can share, and a front porch so Angel can sit out there in the mornings. I think I found the perfect place, but then…”
Jake inhaled sharply at the realization and he shut his eyes, his hand fisting in the rough Nomex material of Bradley’s flight suit. Bradley merely kissed his temple and then swatted you both on the hip.
“No, seriously, we’re going to be late.”
The nerves lurched back into your stomach and rose into your throat. You gripped the closest hand to you as the elevator crept up to your OB’s office. You really didn’t give a shit about the gender, but every visit worried you that something was wrong or you were doing something wrong or-
A hand settled on the back of your neck and you glanced up at Jake. His blue eyes were lined with exhaustion and he seemed older than he should be, but his face was softer than the night of the fight. You didn’t know how they did it, but both boys had some keen ability to read what you were thinking.
“If it’s a boy, Javy is going to beg us to name it after him,” he said. You snorted at the thought and shook your head. Names hadn’t even crossed your mind at this point. Your focus was locked into taking one step at a time and breathing deeply until the nurse called you back. Rooster squeezed his hand on your hip when the three of you stood and you held out your hand. He took it in his own and offered you an easy grin.
“Alright, we’re at fourteen weeks,” Dr. Greenberg announced when she entered the exam room. You were already lying on the table, your shirt pulled up and ultrasound tech searching for the little blob on the screen. As if on cue, the second she entered brought the now-familiar whoosh of the baby’s heartbeat into the room. You relaxed finally, your muscles easing from the tight pull you had them locked in, and Jake settled his hand on your head. His thumb drew circles against your temple and you smiled up at him in thanks.
“Your labs are looking good, you’re looking good. Baby is looking excellent. You’re into the second trimester, so how are you feeling? Nausea gone?”
“Yeah, it’s been nice not puking my guts up. Now I’m hungry all the time. I had to go up a cup in bra size,” you explained. “Still fit into my shorts though so that’s nice.”
Dr. Greenberg chuckled and moved to stand by the tech, her eyes studying the screen. Her smile grew and she glanced at the three of you out of the corner of her eye.
“You want to find out the gender today, correct? Baby is in the perfect position to tell,” she said. You lit up and nodded.
“There’s a few bets going,” Bradley added. “All of it’s going to the college fund, but I know some folks are going to be sore losers.”
“Well, you can tell them that it’s a-”
Jake marveled at the way your bump had grown in just the short time since he had seen you. It no longer looked like it could be just some bloating, but was forming into a defined curve. He hadn’t really looked earlier, being so focused on just talking to you and then on the screen in the exam room, but now he took in the sight of you.
Bradley showed you around the craftsman he had found. You had lit up at the sight of the long porch and swing couch and it just kept getting better. The house had been updated, but touches of its original history still remained in stained glass windows and pocket sliding doors. The living room bled into the kitchen and Jake paused at the island, gazing into the adjoining room that Bradley explained would be a great office space for the three of you to share. He turned to look at the breakfast nook tucked against the kitchen that led to a back porch with a sizable backyard. Jake could picture it now; he would make dinner as Bradley chased your child around the backyard, laughter filling the air. You would come home from work, stomach rounded with another child and he didn’t give a shit whose it was. He could taste the joy. He wanted this.
“Coming?” Bradley waited at the bottom of the steps for Jake to join them. They climbed up to the second floor and looked at the main bedroom and bathroom before moving onto the two smaller rooms. You stepped into the sunlit room and spun around to take in the full space.
“It’s perfect,” you breathed. A light had returned to your eyes and Bradley felt settled for the first time in a long time. Jake ran his hand along the wall and grinned.
“Grey and green are good for the paint?” He pointed to the far corner. “Crib there, rocking chair. What theme did you say you wanted again?”
“Animals.” Your hand came down to rest on your bump. “I think it’d be cute.”
Bradley leaned against the doorframe and watched his lovers plan out the nursery. It was a good thing he already told the realtor they would take it. He knew the second he pulled the Bronco into the driveway and saw the look on your faces.
“What do you think?” he finally asked.
“I love it, bear. Seriously. But I’m surprised it hasn’t sold yet.”
He pushed away from the wall to join you two, one hand sliding to rest in Jake’s back pocket and the other tugging you close. “Mav is a friend of the realtor. He’s been doing me a favor by keeping it off the market for a bit. Do you want it?”
You hesitated, your eyes darting to Jake’s. The blond touched your cheek and smiled. “Yeah, darlin’, we want it.”
“Are you sure?” Everything was moving so fast that sometimes you could hardly believe it was real.
“Yeah,” Bradley assured you. “We’d do anything for our girls.”
