The Right Kind of Wrong: A Brother's Best Friend Romance by Fabiola Francisco (open ebook .TXT) 📗

imagined spending the first few weeks with my newborn, but I’m grateful that his health is okay, and so is mine. Every worst-case-scenario raced through my mind, but we’re doing well now and on the road to recovery.

My family and friends have visited, all of them offering support, for which I’ll forever be grateful. They’ve bought preemie clothes and diapers that we were unprepared for. Berkeley and Noel even bought Walker a small onesie that says, Small but Mighty.

“Hey.” I turn to when I hear Faith whisper. She and Easton flew down to support us and help us get Camden’s apartment ready for a newborn. Until Walker is one-hundred-and-ten percent healthy, we won’t be moving to Everton.

“Hi,” I whisper back, keeping my arms around my son.

“How is he?” She smiles kindly, lowering her head to see his sleeping face.

“He’s better. Day by day, right?” I give her a closed-lip smile.

“Yeah, Ally. Things will only get better.” Faith rubs my back in encouragement.

“Thanks. Did Camden come with you?”

“Yeah, he’s outside talking to a nurse. He’ll be right in.” I nod and look at Walker. I still don’t know who he looks like, but I don’t even care. I’m just glad he’s breathing with minimal support.

He’s been incubated for three weeks, with another four weeks to go. However, the doctor told us that if he continues to improve at the rate he has, we may be able to leave earlier, especially if he can begin breastfeeding this week.

Faith strokes Walker’s back. “I’m so glad he’s okay. How are you?” Her eyes meet mine as the weight of her question settles between us.

I shrug, swallowing back my emotions, but that doesn’t stop the tears from welling my eyes. “I’m okay. I have my moments, but I’m pushing through them for him.” I gaze down at my baby boy, innocent and perfect. I won’t let him down.

“You’ve gone through a lot of changes—hormonal, physical, and emotional—it’s only normal. Add in the scare of premature birth. You look good, though.” My sister-in-law smiles.

“Thanks.” Changing subjects, I ask, “Any new houses in Everton pop up?” I lift my eyebrows.

“I may have found a few,” she winks. “I’ll show you tonight.”

The one thing I hate is leaving Walker here at night and going home without him. Camden usually finds me crying in the bathroom, and he tries his best to support and hold me, and I love him even more for that.

Faith leaves us in the NICU when Camden walks in so he can have his bonding time with Walker. We sit quietly for a bit once Walker is in the incubator again. Our thighs graze, and his hand searches for mine. I lean my head on his shoulder and my other hand sneaks into the opening in the incubator so I can touch Walker.

“I love you.” Camden pushes my hair aside and kisses the top of my head.

“Love you, too.” I lift my head to look him in the eye. “So much. Thank you for being my rock during this time. I don’t think you know how much it means to me.” I inch closer to kiss him.

“More like you’ve been my rock.” His hand cups my cheek. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.” He swallows thickly, his throat clogging with emotions. “The thought that I could’ve lost you, both of you.” His eyes move to our son. “I couldn’t have handled it.” His rough thumb brushes my cheek. I turn my head and drop a kiss on his palm.

“We’re here with you.”

“I know,” he murmurs, dropping his forehead against mine.

“I’m glad this happened when I was here and not alone in Madrid,” I confess. The thought of going through this alone is a million times scarier than it already was.

“Me, too. I’d never forgive myself for not being there for you.”

I look at him, my eyebrows pulling together. “None of this was your fault, nor would it have been.”

“I just wish—”

“No,” I interrupt him. “This isn’t your fault,” I repeat sternly. “Don’t think that for one second.”

“You either,” he counters. I nod, bringing his face to mine and kissing him.

We get updates as the nurse does her check-up on Walker as he gets fed, and I get to hold him a little longer before saying goodnight to our son and heading home.

Exhausted, I hold Camden’s hand as we head up to his apartment. I stop in my tracks when I see a dresser and changing table set up in the bedroom and a small bassinet next to the bed that were not there this morning. My eyes fill with tears as I look around.

“Thank you,” I tell Easton when I see him in the living room. My brother wraps me in a comforting hug, running a soothing hand down my back.

“You’re welcome, Ally. We’re here for you.”

I nod against his chest, squeezing my eyes shut to trap the tears. I’m tired of crying.

“How about we order pizza and hang?” He looks down at me with a small smile.

“Yeah,” I nod. Faith and Camden are talking in the kitchen area, discussing which pizza topping is the best.

Having Easton and Faith here for the past week has made me more excited and confident that moving to Everton is the right choice. It’s also brought Easton and Camden closer together again after the tension between them when Easton found out about Camden and my relationship.

“Ally, tell her pineapple is a pizza topping.” Camden looks at me for support.

I giggle and shake my head. “You’re on your own on this one. You know I don’t like pineapples on pizza.”

“You ate it last time we had pizza.” He crosses his arms and arches a brow.

“Pregnancy cravings make me eat weird shit.” I shrug.

Faith laughs and high-fives me. “No pineapples.”

“Sellout,” Camden says playfully.

“I still love you.” I lean in for a kiss, which causes Easton to groan. “Get over it.” I look at my brother over my shoulder.

For the first time in weeks, I feel like myself, and I