Page 85 of The Hook Up
Ellie stared at the artwork, trying to make sense of it. The skin around it was tender and red, but the image was clear.
Batman.
“I found the best cover-up artist in the city,” he said. “I’m amazed he managed to do it. If you look right here, you can still see the tip of Johnny’s finger behind the edge of the mask.”
Ellie stared at it, dumbfounded. “You got a Batman tattoo,” she said softly. “For Henry.”
“And for me,” he murmured, sliding his shirt back into place. “I decided it was time to send the Man in Black packing. To become the Dark Knight instead.”
Ellie looked up, tears brimming in her eyes. One spilled down her cheek, and she reached up to link her arms around his neck. “You’re already my knight,” she said. “My knight in shining armor.”
Ty laughed and slid his arms around her waist, pulling her close. Ellie tipped her head back as his lips found hers, certain she’d never been this happy in her life.
EPILOGUE
Ty stepped into the waiting room of the hospital birthing center and looked around for a familiar face.
There were quite a few.
But the palest one at the moment belonged to Jason, so Ty made a beeline for Ellie’s brother and put a hand on his shoulder.
“Dude, you look like you’re going to throw up,” he said. “Everything okay?”
Jason shook his head and stood up, looking shaky. “Me? Are you kidding? It’sherI’m worried about. And the baby.”
Ty tried to offer an encouraging smile, but his own nerves and lack of sleep probably made him look like a serial killer.
Miriam stood up and grabbed him by the arm, her one-year-old son propped on one hip. “Come on, Ty! Don’t keep us in suspense.” She bounced the baby a few times, earning an appreciative glance from Jason, whose eyes dropped quickly to her cleavage.
“Focus,” Miriam said, grabbing his chin to direct his attention back to Ty. “Is Ellie okay? And is it a boy or a girl?”
Ty grinned as Henry jumped up on the seat beside them, his head sandwiched between his aunt and uncle’s shoulders. He kissed his baby cousin on his downy head, earning a happy gurgle from the baby.
“Am I a brother or a sister?” Henry demanded. “When can I see Mommy?”
“You are definitely a brother,” Ty told him. “And if you’re ready to meet your baby sister, we can go back there right now. Would you like that?”
Henry beamed and nodded, while a collective wave of relief washed over the whole room. “You go first, buddy,” Jason said. “We don’t want to freak her out with all of us storming in there like demons.”
“Good call.” Miriam bounced the baby again, then bent to plant a kiss on his dimpled cheek. “I remember how overwhelming those first few hours felt.”
“Hours?” Jason laughed. “Try months.”
The waiting room doors swished open, and Holly Colvin rushed in, smiling at everyone. Miriam and Ty’s business partner hustled over to them and pressed a gift bag into his hands. “I hope I’m not too late,” she said. “Sorry I can’t stay. Ben’s at home on potty-training duty with Evan, but I wanted to congratulate you and see how everything turned out.”
“We had a little girl,” Ty said, his chest swelling at the words. “A daughter. She’s beautiful, just like her mom.”
Holly beamed and squeezed Ty’s hand. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you.” Ty clutched the gift bag to his chest as a wave of gratitude washed through him. “Maybe when we’re home later this week we can have you over for dinner.”
Holly and Miriam exchanged a glance then burst into laughter. Jason reached out and clapped him on the shoulder.
“Buddy,” he said. “You’ve got a lot to learn.”
Miriam grinned and bounced the baby some more. “Spoken like a man who’s never eaten uncooked ramen noodles straight from the pouch after six sleepless nights of midnight feedings.”
“Or gone to work with spit-up on his shirt,” Jason added.
