Page 264 of Red Marked

Robyn is crying and laughing at the same time. She takes the coffees off me and puts them on the chair and gets both her arms around Magma.

Ridge waits his turn and then folds Magma into a hug that lifts him off his feet.

“Congratulations, brother,” he says.

“Thanks.” Magma is crying again. He doesn’t care who sees. “Thank you.”

Then he sees Star.

“Oh my god! He finally grew a brain.”

“Heeeeyyy!” I say, still grinning.

“I’m so glad to see you, Star.” Magma hugs her, and she hugs him back. “I told him for weeks, the idiot. I want you to know that.”

“He mentioned it,” Star says. She’s smiling. “Congratulations, Magma. Two boys. That’s wonderful.”

“I know.” He shakes his head like he can’t believe it either.

“How are they doing?” I ask. “They came so early.”

“Really well.” He pulls himself together. “They’re big. The doc says for this early, they’re big and strong, and everything is working the way it should. They’re in the neonatal unit to be safe, but she doesn’t think it will be for more than a week or two.” His face crumples. “A week or two and then we take them home. Fuck. Sorry. Fuck.”

“Don’t apologize,” Robyn says. “Cry all you want.”

“I need to get back to Carla. I told her I’d be two minutes.” He looks at the ward door, then back at us, and his whole face goes soft. “You should have seen her, guys. You should have seen her. She was so brave. She held my hand the whole time and told me everything was going to be fine, like I was the one who—” He stops and swallows. “I’ve never loved her more than I do right now. I didn’t know it was possible. I need to get to her so that we can go to them.”

Ridge grips his shoulder. “Of course.”

“How long are you here?” Magma asks me.

“Just the one night. I have to be back at the center.”

“One night?” He looks at Star. “He’s got you for one night, and he’s wasting it in a hospital?”

“We’re coming back,” I say. “Soon. I want to meet these boys of yours once they’re home. You won’t be able to get rid of us.”

“Good.” He’s backing toward the ward door. He points at Star one more time. “Don’t let him mess this up.”

“I won’t,” she says.

Then he’s gone.

We watch him leave. I didn’t know that Magma was such a big softy. I should have taken a picture to tease him later.

Dammit!

Robyn picks the coffees up off the chair and hands one to Ridge. She takes a sip of hers and closes her eyes, then breathes out.

“You two have to come for dinner,” she says. “Tonight. I’ll cook something. I would love to get to know you, Star.”

“That would be nice.” I look at Star. She’s already nodding.

She looks happy. “That would be awesome.”

“We need to go and see my dad first, though. I want to introduce Star to him,” I say.

Ridge lowers his cup. “Wow. So it must be serious, then.”