Chapter 121: Cole
We’re all crammed together in the living room, the six of us piled up like we used to, just the way it was before she was taken. Sofia’s sitting on my lap, and honestly, I haven’t let her go since the moment we brought her home. Just having her here, safe, wrapped up in my arms—it’s like something finally settled inside me. Even when she had to get up to use the washroom earlier, I couldn’t help but pout, which earned me a laugh from her, and then from the rest of the guys too. I don’t care. She’s here, and I’m not letting her go.
The movie’s barely started, and the room is quiet, just the sounds of Sofia breathing against my chest and the occasional murmur from the screen. Then, out of nowhere, her stomach growls, loud enough for all of us to hear. She stirs a little, sitting up, and I can see her cheeks flush pink.
All of us glance at each other, unable to help but grin, and my hand slips down instinctively to her belly. The little baby in there… It’s still surreal, knowing something so tiny and precious is already growing inside her, even if she doesn’t know it yet. But none of us says a word. We’re letting her settle back in, giving her this moment.
Riley’s the first to break the silence, smirking. “Alright, princess, what do you feel like eating?”
She pauses, biting her lip thoughtfully. “Mmm, maybe… pizza?” She glances up, then shakes her head. “Oh wait, maybe… ramen?”
Danny chuckles, crossing his arms. “What’ll it be, Soph? Pizza or ramen?”
She frowns, tapping her chin. “Actually… what about tacos?”
The guys all laugh, and I can’t help but join in, her indecisiveness somehow adorable. I feel her wriggle a bit, embarrassed but laughing with us.
Danny stands up, pulling out his phone. “You know what? I’m ordering it all. Let’s just get you whatever you want.”
She grins, leaning back against me, and I feel my chest tighten with a warmth I can’t quite explain. I let my hand rest on her stomach again, feeling that tiny, almost unbelievable weight beneath my palm. It’s surreal, thinking about what she doesn’t yet know, the change that’s already happening inside her.
“Soph,” I say, my voice softer than usual. She tilts her head up to look at me, eyes wide and curious, and I feel every bit of emotion I’ve held back well up, filling my throat.
“There’s something you should know.”
She looks up at me, her brows knitted in confusion. I glance around at the guys, each of us trying to find the words. Finally, Nate sighs and crouches down in front of her, taking her hands in his gently.
“Before we say anything else,” he begins, his voice low and serious, “we want you to know that whatever you decide, we’re with you. It’s your body, and I know this is… probably a huge shock.”
She looks even more confused, glancing between us, her eyes searching. “What are you talking about?” she asks softly.
Nate glances at me, and I nod. Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out a small, crinkled photo, the one the doctor gave us that day in the hospital. He hands it to her, and she stares down at it, eyes widening as she takes in the black-and-white image. Her gaze lingers on the tiny bean-shaped form in the middle of the ultrasound, tracing it with her finger, and a single tear slips down her cheek. She looks up, her expression somewhere between wonder and disbelief.
“One of Moretti’s tests revealed it,” Riley explains softly. “He saw it in your blood work. The doctor confirmed it at the hospital.” He pauses, his voice gentle, careful. “It’s still early—just a few weeks.”
Her hand is shaking slightly as she keeps tracing the tiny shape in the photo, and she glances around at us, emotions flickering in her eyes. She takes a deep breath, then whispers, “How… how do you guys feel about it?”
We exchange a look, each of us filled with more emotion than we know what to do with. Danny speaks up, his voice steady but soft. “What matters is what you want, Soph. This is your choice. We’re here for you no matter what.”
She looks back down at the photo, her fingers trembling slightly, then finally whispers, “I think… I think I’m happy.” She looks up, a fragile, almost shy smile forming on her face. “A little baby…”
A collective sigh of relief fills the room, each of us releasing the breath we’d been holding. Nate reaches out, brushing a tear from her cheek with his thumb, his voice filled with warmth. “We’re happy too. We were hoping… we were hoping you’d feel the same.”
She laughs softly, and I pull her closer, feeling the warmth and weight of the moment settle over us.
The doorbell rings, and Riley jumps up, returning with bags of food in his arms. The smell fills the room instantly—pizza, ramen, tacos, everything she wanted and more. Sofia’s eyes go wide, and she looks at the bags like they hold pure treasure. I can see her practically salivating, her fingers twisting in her lap like she can’t wait to dig in.
“I don’t even know where to start,” she says, laughing, her eyes bouncing between the boxes.
Danny grins, laying everything out on the coffee table. “Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.” He starts piling up a little bit of everything on a plate—one slice of pizza, a spoonful of ramen, a taco cut in half. It’s a ridiculous mix, but it makes her smile, and that’s all that matters.
“Here,” he says, handing her the plate. “The ultimate sampler, just for you.”
She takes a bite of the pizza first, her eyes closing in bliss. “Oh my God,” she says, muffled through a mouthful of cheese, “this is amazing.”
We can’t help but laugh, the tension from earlier slipping away with every bite she takes, every laugh that escapes her. Danny grabs his own slice, biting in with exaggerated enthusiasm to match her. “Pretty good, huh? Nothing like pizza to make you feel like a new person.”
Sofia nods, moving onto the ramen, her eyes lighting up as she slurps the noodles.