Chapter 15

The sun sinks low in the sky through the window of my empty house. I sigh, feeling the weight of my loneliness pressing down on me. I can"t stop thinking about Presley and Sawyer. Their absence leaves an ache in my chest that won"t go away. The excitement from last night"s game has long faded, replaced by the bitter realization that no victory could ever fill the void they"ve left behind.

"Ugh, I miss them so much," I mutter to myself, running my fingers through my hair. "I just want them here with me."

My phone buzzes on the coffee table, and I see my brothers" names flash across the screen. Picking up the call, their lively voices burst through, temporarily lifting my spirits.

"Hey, bro! How"s it going?" asks Cole.

"Man, I"m struggling," I admit, sinking into the couch. "I miss Presley and Sawyer like crazy. Then, I think about what life would be like if we were a family."

"Any word on when you"ll get the test results?" quizzes Bennett, his tone more serious than usual.

"Presley said it should be any day now," I reply, tapping my fingers anxiously against my thigh. "We opted for a blood test because it"s supposed to be more accurate. I"m just hoping for a positive outcome. More than anything, I want to be there for both of them."

"Look, man, try not to stress too much, okay? You"ll know soon enough," Cole assures me.

"Thanks," I say. "I just... I need them to be a part of my life, you know?"

"Yeah, man. We get it," Bennett chimes in. "Just hang in there."

Their words of encouragement help, but the gnawing ache persists, threatening to consume me.

"Hey, Weston," Cole says, trying to lighten the mood. "Just imagine the first time you see them again. It"s gonna be awesome, right?"

"Absolutely," I agree, a small smile finally breaking through. "I can"t wait to wrap Presley in my arms and hold Sawyer close. I"ve missed them so much, it"s like there"s this void inside me that only they can fill."

"Then focus on that moment, man," Bennett suggests. "It"ll help keep your mind off the nerves."

"Thanks, guys," I say, genuinely grateful for their support. "I"ll be sure to let you know as soon as I hear anything."

"Sounds good, bro," Cole replies.

"Catch you later," Bennett adds, just as the doorbell rings. I furrow my brow in curiosity.

"Hey, I gotta go, someone"s at the door," I tell them. "I"ll keep you updated."

"Sure thing, man," Cole says. "Take it easy, and good luck."

"Thanks," I reply, ending the call and quickly making my way to the front door. I don't remember ordering anything for a package to be delivered, nor am I expecting someone to come over.

As I swing the door open, I"m greeted by the sight of Presley, her brown hair framing her face, holding Sawyer in an infant seat. My breath catches in my throat, and I"m rendered speechless. Shock and joy wash over me, making it difficult to find the right words.

"Pres... what are you doing here?" I finally manage to stammer out, my eyes glued to her and the precious bundle she carries. She offers me a tentative smile, her brown eyes searching mine for any sign of disapproval.

"Weston, I... I couldn"t wait any longer. I wanted us to open the test results envelope together, regardless of the outcome," she explains, her voice strong yet a little unsteady. "I hope that"s okay."

"Okay?" I exclaim. "It"s more than okay, Presley. It"s... amazing."

I step aside, gesturing for her to come in. She hesitates a second before stepping over the threshold, her gaze never leaving mine. As soon as she"s inside, I close the door behind us and pull her into a tight hug, careful not to jostle Sawyer.

"God, I"ve missed you," I whisper into her hair, breathing in the rich vanilla scent of her shampoo. "And you too, little guy," I add softly, glancing down at Sawyer, who seems content in his infant seat.

"Same here, Weston," Presley murmurs, her arms wrapping around me just as tightly. "It feels like it"s been so long."

We stand there lost in each other"s presence, our hearts beating in sync.

As we finally break apart, I lift Sawyer"s infant seat from Presley"s grasp, setting it gently on the living room floor. Then, I take her hand, leading her to the couch where we can sit.

"Pres, I want you to know that it doesn't matter what happens with the test results, I"m committed to being here for both of you," I tell her earnestly, my eyes locked onto hers. "You and Sawyer mean the world to me."

"Thank you, Weston," she replies softly, squeezing my hand.

I smile at her response, my heart swelling with love for this incredible woman and our potential son. I reach down and gently unbuckle Sawyer from the infant seat, cradling him carefully in my arms. He looks up at me with curious eyes.

"Hey there, little man," I whisper, my voice cracking with emotion. "No matter blood or not, I am your daddy. Nothing is going to change that."

As I bring him closer to my face, I press a gentle kiss to his forehead, cherishing the moment and feeling a deep sense of connection and love. Presley watches us, her own eyes shining with unshed tears.

"Seeing you two like this… it"s amazing," she says softly, reaching out to stroke Sawyer"s cheek. "It just feels right, you know?"

I nod, unable to tear my gaze away from my son. "Yeah, it certainly does."

Wearing an impish grin, Sawyer reaches out with his tiny hands and grasps my finger. The contact sends a jolt of pure love through me, filling the void that has been consuming me during our time apart. Looking up into Presley"s beautiful brown eyes, I can see she feels it too.

"Pres," I start, my voice thick with emotion, "I can"t even tell you how much I"ve missed you both. You guys are everything to me."

"Weston," she responds, her eyes brimming with tears, "we"ve missed you too. More than words can say."

We"re a family, a unit, connected by something so much deeper than just blood. Her lips curve into a radiant smile, and I know that she believes in us just as much as I do.

"Pres," I murmur, my heart pounding with the weight of my confession, "I love you. And I am fully committed to being here for both you and Sawyer."

"I love you too," she breathes, her voice barely audible.

I lean over to her, careful with Sawyer in my arms, to place a tender kiss on her soft lips.