by Kate Stacy
Leaning against him, I roll my hips, just enough to tease. “I’d apologize, but I wouldn’t mean it.”
Ryan groans into my neck, cursing under his breath.
“Y’all ready to do this?” Holden unknowingly interrupts our dirty little moment, then notices Ryan’s hands on my hips. “Hands off my sister, Officer. You can practice making more babies later. Let’s find out what these ones are gonna be first, yeah?”
He claps his hands, rubbing them together eagerly.
Holden might be a big, strong, alpha, but he’s cute as fuck when he’s excited about something.
Ryan and I make our way to the tree line, each taking a long, slender tube from Madalyn as we walk by. One for each baby. She’s the only one here today that already knows the sex of both babies. She used the knowledge for one purpose—to purchase these cannons. She may have told Jaxson, but I don’t care. All I know is that I’m more than ready to find out.
The crowd gathers around us as we take our place.
Madalyn takes a minute to ensure Tara has a spot at the front of the crowd.
Tara is married to Grayson, who is Hailee’s best friend (apart from Madalyn). I don’t know her well, but she seems sweet. She was kind enough to be our unofficial photographer for the day. She even did a maternity shoot before the party, free of charge. I tried to pay her, but she refused. I can’t wait to see those photos.
Together, we point the cannons to the sky, ready for the reveal.
Holden stands at the edge of the madness and counts it down for us.
“Three. Twoooooo. One!”
Two large plumes of smoke powder shoot into the air as glittering blue confetti rains down over us.
Blue!
It’s a beautiful display of blue for the two baby boys who are already so loved.
Dropping the cannon tube at my feet, I launch myself at Ryan. He catches me, smashing his lips against mine. We kiss as the crowd hoots and hollers. Loudly celebrating, sharing in our happiness and joy. We kiss passionately as the world around us fades, leaving only the two of us.
“I love you, Camille. Endlessly.” His lips part from mine, just enough to speak against my lips.
“I love you, too.”
Bright smiles take over our faces, happiness shining through.
“Baby brothers! I’m so freakin’ excited!”
Hannah’s voice breaks through the crowd, adding more joy to the moment. Ryan and I both reach out, pulling her into our embrace. This moment is just for us, for our little family.
It only lasts a moment.
One perfect moment that will become a memory for a lifetime.
Then the crowd converges, and we’re lost in a sea of congratulations and well-wishes. Hugs. Kisses. Handshakes and pats on the back. We’re truly blessed to be loved by so many, to have this amazing group to share in the happiness of this day.
Through it all, Ryan never strays far from me.
The love I feel is overwhelming.
Somehow, in the midst of everything, I manage to tune out the world around me. I watch as Ryan talks to Adam and Holden. I take a moment to be utterly grateful for the two most important men in my life. Holden pulled me aside earlier today and gave me his approval. It wasn’t needed—Ryan isn’t going anywhere—but it was appreciated all the same.
A sharp pain slices through my belly and I cry out, doubling over.
Ryan is at my side in an instant. “Camille, what’s the matter?”
“I don’t know.” I force the words out and suck in a sharp breath. “Something’s wrong.”
“Okay, baby. It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
He scoops me up, drawing everyone’s attention. If they hadn’t noticed my distress before, there’s no doubt they do now. And Hannah, poor Hannah. I only catch a glimpse of the absolute worry on her face before tucking mine into Ryan’s neck. I don’t want to see that same expression on anyone else’s face.
“Daddy, is she okay? What’s wrong? What’s happening?” Hannah follows behind, firing out questions as Ryan rushes me toward the front of the house.
I cry out a muffled sob as another pain wrenches my body.
“Hannah, I need you to...Adam!” he calls out. “Go with Adam, Hannah. I’m taking Camille to the hospital. Stay with your uncle and he’ll bring you there.”
I don’t hear her response, or anything else happening around us. I’m too consumed with what’s happening within my body. I feel a small pop, and a gush of liquid soaks my clothing.
“Ry!” I barely manage to gasp his name through pained breaths.
“I feel it, baby. I know. Just hang in there, we’re almost to the car.”
“It’s too soon.”
My words are whispered, laced with fear.
I’m not due for another ten weeks.
“I know baby, I know. It’s gonna be okay.”
Another voice joins the fray. Holden.
“Here, put her in the back and climb in. I’ll drive.”
“Breathe,” Ryan whispers against my ear. “Remember to breathe.”
I do. I try to block out the pain and concentrate on breathing. Inhale. Exhale. Repeat.
The next thing I know, I’m being pulled out of the car and rushed into the Emergency Room entrance. There’s a flurry of activity. Nurses. Doctors. Shouted orders I don’t understand. I only catch clips and phrases. Everything is muddled with fear and confusion. Voices blend, becoming muffled sounds and white noise.
I lose Ryan and Holden to the chaos.
Panic overwhelms me and I close my eyes.
Suddenly, I’m lost too.
I never knew silence could be so loud.
I lay motionless and listen to my surroundings. A quiet rustle of movement breaks the silence. Opening my eyes, I look toward the noise to see Ryan slouched in a chair that doesn’t look the least bit comfortable. I let my tired gaze drift over him and when it stops on the white paper bracelet around his wrist, everything comes rushing back. A flood of images and emotions flows through my mind.
My hand instinctively moves to my stomach causing a flash of pain that makes me gasp.
“No, baby. Don’t touch.” His gentle voice provides instant comfort, but his words bring confusion.
“What happened?”
My words come out raspy and low, my throat dry as a desert. Ryan brings a cup toward me, tapping the straw against my lips. I take a few sips, groaning at the relief the cool water provides. Another few sips and I shake my head, needing answers more than hydration.
“Where are the babies, Ryan?”
I have no memory of what happened after we got to the hospital, but I know my babies are no longer cocooned in the safety of my womb. Their absence is unmistakable. I feel the missing parts of me by not feeling anything at all. No kicks, no rolls, no movement. I’m numb.
“They’re okay, Camille. You’re all okay.” He’s so quiet, but I hear the wavering in his voice. “I was scared, baby. So fucking scared.”
I can’t tell you who starts crying first, but the overwhelming fear that had taken root in my chest comes spilling out of me in shaky breaths and quiet tears. He leans into me at my side, carefully pressing into me as much as he possibly can.
I soak in his comfort, momentarily content with the knowledge that my babies are alive.
The moment doesn’t last long. The need to know what happened overrides everything else.
“Tell me what happened, please.”
“They’re not sure what caused the initial pain you felt, but once we got here, they quickly realized the babies were in distress. Your blood pressure dropped to dangerous levels and you blacked out. They got you stabilized, but there was nothing they could do at that point to stop your labor.” He sucks in a deep breath before continuing. “They had no choice but to deliver the babies, but with your blood pressure as a big concern, Dr. Khaskia didn’t think your body could handle a natural delivery. She felt it was sa
fer to do an emergency c-section.”
My hand drifts toward my belly, but Ryan catches it before it drifts too low, bringing it to his mouth. He presses his lips to my palm and gently squeezes my hand.
The pain I felt upon waking now makes much more sense.
“But they’re okay?”
He gives me a gentle smile. “They will be. They’re so tiny, Camille. Barely three pounds each. So fragile, but I know they’re strong. They’re fighters—just like their mama.”
“You’ve seen them?” I ask hopefully, eyes filling with tears.
“They’re perfect. Tiny and perfect. You’ll be able to see them soon, I promise.”
Too choked up to speak, I nod my head as my tears spill over.
Ryan leans forward, pressing a kiss to my forehead before lowering his mouth to kiss away my tears.
“We have two beautiful baby boys, Camille. How about we give them some names?”
A small laugh breaks free through my tears.
A little light to overcome the darkness.
EPILOGUE
Camille
Everett Mitchell Alexander and Kaden Michael Alexander were born ten weeks early, on the sixteenth of June.
Impossibly tiny and incredibly strong.
From conception, our boys fought hard to come into this world.
Today, we finally brought them home.
Nine weeks of daily visits to the NICU. Nine weeks of sleepless nights. Nine weeks of constant worry, every minute of every single day. Nine weeks of physical healing and emotional breakdowns.
If not for Ryan...I would have never gotten through it in one piece.
It almost broke me the first time I saw my babies—so small and helpless—hooked up to machines, covered in tubes and wires. Ryan sat next to me, giving me his unwavering comfort and support, while I pulled myself together.
When the nurses placed Everett and Kaden on my bare chest, the world around me faded, the weight lifted from my shoulders, and everything clicked into place.
That was the moment when I knew with inexplicable certainty, that everything would be okay.
Those nine weeks weren’t easy, in fact, they were probably the most difficult weeks of my life. Ryan and I struggled, we stressed. Sometimes we let the reality of our situation bring us down. But at the end of every day, we came together. We leaned on each other for support, rallying together and relying on the other to pick us up when we were down.
The boys faced their own struggles.
Kaden had some breathing difficulties.
Everett had trouble feeding.
But it could have been so much worse.
Those nine weeks were a trying time for all of us.
Our little fighters made it through. They’re happy, healthy, and blessedly, show no signs of long-term health or developmental problems. And we owe it all to the incredible doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff that provided the best possible care for our little guys. They showed unbelievable levels of kindness, understanding, and patience as we all worked together for the well-being of two boys who came into this world much too soon.
I’ll always be grateful to those who took care of the twins in the NICU, but I hope I never have to step foot in that hospital again. It’s not realistic, but a girl can dream.
Today has been overwhelming in the best way.
We had a steady stream of visitors once we came home. Our house was full of family and close friends all day, everyone excited to finally get a peek at our adorable baby boys. It’s been a wonderful day, full of joy and love. It’s always good to be surrounded by family and friends, but I’m happy the madness is over. Everyone went home and everything settled down.
We enjoyed a few quiet hours together as a family.
Watching Ryan with our babies is as swoon-worthy as I knew it would be. Tell me you’ve seen something sexier than a shirtless, muscled, tattooed man with a tiny baby cuddled in each arm and I’ll call you a liar.
And Hannah. She’s so in love with her baby brothers. All day, she never strayed far from the boys, always eager and willing to jump in and help. It’s easy to see how proud she is to be a big sister. It really is an incredible thing to see.
I’m surrounded by so much love.
I’m blessed.
I remind myself of that fact often. Especially now, as I look down at Everett and Kaden as they sleep. Precious, innocent, and utterly adorable. I don’t know what I did right in life to deserve these two little miracles, but I’ll never take them for granted.
“Coming to bed, Gorgeous?”
My lips slowly curve to a smile as I tenderly brush my thumb across each boy’s cheek. Neither stir, neither make a sound. I know it’s only a matter of time before they’re awake again, but I won’t mind.
Until then, I accept Ryan’s invitation and crawl into bed, curling up beside him. He wraps himself around me, cocooning me in his love and warmth.
“Thank you, Camille.”
“For what?”
“Everything. Taking a chance. Putting your trust in me. Blessing me with two perfect sons. Accepting my daughter. Loving me.”
“Loving you is the easy part.”
I don’t see his smile, but I feel it.
I’ve never spoken truer words. Loving Ryan is the easiest thing in the world to do. It’s as natural as breathing. How could I not love a man who loves me in the all-consuming way that he does?
And to think, all of this because of a one-night stand.
That’s all it was supposed to be.
A single, reckless night of fun. No strings. No commitments.
One night is all it took to tip my world on its axis.
It changed my whole life and gave me everything I never knew I needed.
And now, my world revolves around them.
THANKS
Thanks for reading Singularity. I do hope you enjoyed Camille and Ryan finding their happily ever after as much as I enjoyed writing it. Before you go, it would mean so much to me if you would take a few minutes to write a review and share how you feel about my story so others may find my work. Reviews really do help readers find books. Please leave a review on your favorite book site.
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ALSO BY KATE STACY
Long Road Home
Long Road Home
Long Weekend Home
Stars Align Series
Supernova
Singularity
Scintillation (coming soon)
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thank you for reading Singularity! If not for incredible readers, my words wouldn’t be seen.
Authors. Bloggers. Everyone in between. A big thank you for all your help and support! A simple like and share make a big difference. Thank you for helping me spread the word about this book, and letting me share with your readers. You’re all rock stars!
Tracy Atencio. Your belief in me is indescribable. Thanks for sticking with me through yet another difficult-to-read story and getting lost in my words. Best. Editor. Ever!
Rosalee. Stephanie. Crystal. Sarah. My beta readers. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for taking the time to read my unedited work and point out all the shit I got wrong.
Ryan Alexander. You’ll never see this, I know. But thank you for your name. More than a year ago, while I was still writing my first book, I told you I was stealing your name and you didn’t seem to care. I fell in love with the syllables and knew it was perfect for a character I had in mind. I doubt I’ll ever meet you in person, but you have my gratitude.
Husband. No super mushy stuff this time around. I love your face! You know what’s stuck in my head? Granny’s got a gun…sing it…I dare you. You know the tune.
Heathens. Please continue to remain six feet away from me at all times. We’re
supposed to be social distancing! Also, thank you for not breaking my laptop during your remote learning. My old one never recovered. Y’all made it damn near impossible to finish this book, but somehow I managed! Maybe go a little easier on me for the next one, yeah?
Mama. I love you the most!
UP NEXT
Presley steps out of her comfort zone and into the spotlight in Scintillation.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kate lives in North Carolina with her husband, three children, and her extremely sassy cat. After nearly a decade of being a stay-at-home mama, Kate decided to use her southern roots and love of books to bring readers steamy, small-town romances. When she's not nose deep in her next manuscript, or spending time with her family, you can usually find her with her Kindle in hand.
Likes: Music, Mermaids, Tequila, Knee-high Socks
Hobbies: Baking, Cake Decorating, Photography
Kate stays up too late, swears too much, and loves hard.
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