32. Noah

32

Normally, I don't consider myself a smooth talker. I'm not the guy who is going to flirt to get his way or even bat my eyelashes when I need something. I've seen Quinn do it with his sisters and those two turn into a puddle of whatever Quinny wants, he gets. Yes, I will do some puppy dog eyes at Peyton if I'm not getting my way, but she's my wife and it's expected of me.

With that said, I know when to turn on the charm.

Peyton has written out the three names we chose. We've said them out loud and given them to the nurse, who promptly wrote up new cards and handed them to us for keepsakes. The original name cards will remain the same for privacy reasons.

With a big sigh, I look at Peyton. "We should tell our family."

She nods and reaches out for me to help her move from the chair to the wheelchair. While she complains about using it, I think she secretly loves it because I'm at her beckon call. She likes being ushered around by me. Truth be told, I don't mind.

"I just wish they could meet the triplets at the same time," I say loud enough for the nurse to hear me. "Your sister really wants to meet her niece and nephews."

Peyton glances over her shoulder at me with a confused expression on her face. I give her the eyes, like I need her to play along with me. When she finally understands, her lips morph into an "O" and she nods.

"And she's leaving this evening with Quinn. Is there any way we can bring her in?"

Granted, this isn't the best argument since Quinn was in here, but it's what my mind came up with, so we have to run with it.

The nurse chuckles. "All you have to do is ask," she says, clearly onto our game. "I'll go with you. The triplets can't leave the incubator, but everyone will be able to see them, and the babies will hear everyone."

"Thank you," I say to her. We wait while she unhooks the incubator and then we leave the NICU and head back to the maternity ward where everyone has decided to hang out instead of going home. It has to be incredibly boring for them waiting around. Although, I think our parents stay because they want to be here if we need them or monopolize any free time with the babies.

My dad is the first to stand when he sees us coming. Katelyn stands next, and then everyone else does. Elle steps forward and I stop Peyton in front of her sister.

"Are you good?" Elle reaches for Peyton's hand. "Tell me you're good because I'm freaking out."

Peyton nods. "I'm sore, but good. Can't wait to get back into the gym. Thank God for Xander, huh?"

"I knew my brother-in-law was good for something," Harrison says while everyone laughs.

Elle and Peyton hug, and then Katelyn shoos her daughter out of the way to get to her other one.

"Where's JD and Jenna?" I ask, hoping they would've arrived by now.

"Delayed," my dad says. "Eden had a test this morning she couldn't miss. They'll be here later."

It saddens me they're not here. We try to include them in everything our family does, but Eden keeps them busy. She's a hell of a surfer and now that surfing is an Olympic sport, she's busting her ass to make the team. I know she can do it and her being there will give us an excuse to travel. I'm not sure any of us would miss seeing her compete for a gold medal.

It's my mom who notices the babies first. Her eyes widen and she covers her mouth in surprise. Maybe shock? I look over my shoulder and can't help but smile at the three of them.

"You bought the babies," Elle states.

"I hear you haven't been in to see them," Peyton says to her sister. "How come?"

Elle takes Peyton's hand. "Because I wanted them to see you first."

"I love you for that," Peyton says to Elle. I sniffle and blink my misty eyes. "Go meet your niece and nephews."

The nurse pushes the cradle into the family waiting room, allowing everyone to gather around. They coo, wave, say their names for the babies to hear, all while Peyton and I stay off to the side. As much as we want to be in the middle of it all, we'll have our time. Our moments with the babies will come as the days go on.

After what seems like an hour but in reality, is only a few minutes, I clear my throat and push my wife toward the cradle.

"We have names," Peyton says as she beams at me. "No comments from the gallery if you don't like them. We do and they're fitting."

"Baby A, our oldest is Maverick Liam Westbury."

We let Maverick's name settle onto his gramps. My dad wipes at his eyes and nods. Knowing him the way I do, he's too emotional to say anything about it right now and will likely write a song about his grandchildren.

"Baby B," Peyton continues as she looks at her dad. "Is Jace Harrison Westbury."

"Oh, thank heavens," Katelyn blurts out. "I thought you were going to call him Harry Westbury and I just couldn't wrap my head around it. The poor boy would've been teased relentlessly."

Peyton looks at me and blanches. Neither of us thought about anything like that. Shit.

"And my niece?" Quinn asks.

"You know her middle name's Elle unless Peyton did me a solid and named her first born daughter after her lovely sister," Elle says as she bumps his shoulder with hers.

Quinn scoffs. "Maybe Quinnella," he says.

"Please no," Katelyn says and then covers her mouth. There's a look of horror on her face. I shake my head, hoping to ease the dread she might feel.

"Our little girl is Juniper Elle Westbury."

"Yes," Elle says as she fists pumps. "I told you!" She jabs her finger at Quinn. "Wait, Juniper? Not Elle? I mean I knew Elle was in there, but I really thought?—"

"Juniper," Peyton says. "We'll call her Junie or Junie Elle. I didn't want to call her Ellie, and she needs her own identity."

"I love it," Elle says.

My eyes meet Paige's. She's staring at the cradle but not saying anything. I go to her, wrap my arm around her shoulder and pull her away from everyone.

"I'm guessing the tears are because Juniper has Elle for a middle name?"

She shrugs. "I don't know. It's silly. Elle's her sister so it makes sense, and I think I sort of knew it but hearing it out loud. I don't know. Like I said, it's silly."

"The one thing you and I will never understand or have, is the twin bond. It's freaky and indestructible. No one will ever come between them, and this is Peyton's way of honoring her sister."

"I get it. I think I was just caught off guard."

"I'm sorry, Paige. But do you want to know something?"

"What?" she asks.

"You'll spend a lot more time with the triplets than Elle will. We're going to raise the babies here, which means until you go away to college, you have full access to them. Elle has her own life and will be a mom soon. You," I say as I point to her. "You get to be auntie every day, anytime you want. They're going to be attached to you."

"I guess that's something even though this isn't a competition."

"I think dad and Harrison have made it one."

Paige rolls her eyes. "They're ridiculous. I think Mom and Aunt Katelyn have told them to knock it off a million times. Then, when Nick came to see how everyone was doing, they tried to get him involved."

This time I roll my eyes. "Come on, let's go see what the rowdies are up to."

We head back around the corner. I smile when I see Peyton and head toward her. "I'll tell you later," I say to her.

"Beautiful names," my mom says as she comes up to us. "You guys did good." She comes over and hugs us. "Thank you for making me a grandma."

"Is that what you're going to be called?"

She shakes her head. "Grammie will suffice. Katelyn wants to be grandma."

"Gramps and Grammie it is," I say to her.

Before the nurse takes the babies back to the NICU, my dad, in his infinite wisdom says to my father-in-law, "You know Maverick being the first born and having a name like that means he's superior."

Harrison rolls his eyes. "Whatever you say, Gramps."

"Grandpa!"

"It's like they're fighting but in the old man sort of way," I whisper in Peyton's ear. "Do they even know what they're arguing about?"

She shakes her head slowly. "Nope, but it's entertaining."

Harrison rubs his hand up and down his torso. "Grandpa or not, I still got it."

"Hey!" Katelyn shouts.

"Too far, Harrison," I say quietly to Peyton.

"She'll kick his ass later."

Harrison puts his arm around Katelyn's shoulders and pulls him to her. "You're one hot grandma."

"Time to go, Noah," Peyton says, laughing.

I heed her demand and take her back to her room. Once she's settled, there's an army of people who come in and out all day. It's mostly our family bringing flowers and presents. Peyton had opted not to have a baby shower, mostly because we could afford everything and with the grandparents buying anything not nailed down in the store, there wasn't any need. Not to mention, Christmas is less than a month away.

Still, that doesn't stop the gifts from coming in. Everything from matching outfits for the boys, to frilly dresses for Juniper. While people visit, I begin to return texts and messages, and with Peyton's permission post a photo of three pairs of baby feet. Within seconds, my notifications go crazy. Also, with my wife's consent, I send the family photo I took of the five of us earlier in the NICU to our friends, knowing they won't share it with anyone.

While I'm checking my emails, I receive one from People, asking for an exclusive. "Peyton, the magazine wants an exclusive. It says here, they want to come to the house, interview us and take pictures. They'd like to be the ones to introduce the babies first."

"How much?" Elle asks without looking up from her phone.

"Say two mil."

"Nah, send it to me. I'll negotiate something better. Two is peanuts. They'll move the needle or we'll go with some other mag."

"Uh, Peyton?" She hasn't said whether she wants to even do this.

She shrugs. "Something to consider. We can donate the money though like we talked about, you know helping others with fertility."

"See, that's at least a five million dollar offer," Elle says. "I'll get you at least that."

I wait for Peyton to tell me what to do. She nods and I forward the email to Elle and let her do her thing.

Peyton asks for my phone. I give it to her, and she brings up Instagram. "All these comments. I'm glad they're all positive."

"Of course they are, you just had triplets. If anyone has anything nasty to say Paige will delete them." My sister is very good at managing my social media. Of course, she gets paid to do it and takes her job very seriously.

"Paige is dynamite on the socials," Elle adds. "We hired her to run the agency's account, as well as the FMG Records. Smart cookie."

I make a mental note to tell Paige about what Elle said, hoping to ease what she feels on the name sleight.

There's a knock on the door, which is surprising. It opens before we can say for whoever to come in. I see the cradle first and then Nick, in his white doctor's coat.

"I thought we'd stop by and say hi to mom and dad for a bit." Nick gives me a hug and then kisses Peyton's cheek. "We just took some vitals and did some testing. Things are looking great."

"When can they go home?"

"Juniper probably by the end of the week. The boys, I'd like to keep them for two weeks, but if they keep improving the way they are, end of next week at the earliest."

To be honest, I'm pretty damn happy Nick is their doctor. There isn't anyone else I'd trust with my children.

"Are they healthy?" Peyton asks. "Any longterm issues?"

Nick shakes his head. "None that I can see or even predict. It'll be a bit before the boys catch up with Juniper, but they're eating well and gaining slowly. You did everything right, Peyton." He gives her a soft smile.

There's another knock and this time Mack and Amelie, followed by Talisa come in.

"Can I hold them?" Amelie asks and then frowns when Nick shakes his head.

"Not until they go home, then it's up to Peyton."

"Uh, congratulations," Mack says awkwardly. "I think?"

Everyone in the room laughs.

"How's Stevie Nicks?" I ask him.

"She's good. She really loves playing with Beau."

"Because he's the best," Elle says, still not looking up from her phone, which she has resting on her rather large belly.

"I would love to come to your home while the children are at school and help you, Miss Peyton," Talisa says. Peyton looks at me, then to Nick, who nods.

"Consider it a gift," he says. "I know you didn't want anything, although Amelie has spent a fortune at the store on gifts. Talisa is home during the day and wants to help."

"Are you sure?" I ask Nick.

"Of course, we're family. It's what we do."

"I'd love the help," Peyton says. "Thank you."

Talisa claps her hands together. "Ooh, I can't wait to hold them."

I spy Mack, looking at the cradle. I go over to him and point to my oldest who is wearing a navy-blue hat. "That's Maverick," I tell him. "And this one is Jace."

"Perfect footballer names," Mack says.

"Or baseball," I add.

"Or doctor!" Nick throws his hands up. "How come none of my kids want to be doctors?"

"Too much school, Dad," Amelie says. "No one likes to read except for you."

We all laugh until Elle blurts out, "Will you freaking stop kicking me!" and then jabs her hand into her side.

"Yep, that's the one thing I'm not going to miss."