Chapter Twenty-Five
Ian
He couldn’t believe after being so panicked that she’d passed out that Coco was willing to push herself. Huds had probably already realized it. They’d have to be careful not to take advantage of her desire to please, her ability to endure. She didn’t have to anymore.
Dressing Coco was one of the delights of his day, her sweet soft dresses and her darling knee socks and ruffly diaper covers. Though getting her dressed in big girl clothes wasn’t as fun, it was satisfying in a different way.
They’d bought her some cozy loungewear but today he decided to dress her in jeans and a sweater Sable had brought her at their last playdate. Coco’s was blue and had a puppy on it, Sable’s was pink and had a kitten on it.
“We’re like cousins,” Sable had offered shyly, and Coco had hugged the sweater and rubbed her cheek against it. He’d ached for her to smile too, but soon. Soon, he could feel it.
Luckily, there were also some big girl panties with a puppy face on the bottom in the seldom-used underwear drawer, and he drew them up Coco’s slim legs.
“I know you just used your diaper but if you need to go potty just let me or Daddy know while you’re wearing your undies, okay?”
“Yes, Papa.”
They didn’t have any bras for her yet, so Ian tugged a soft white camisole over her head and coaxed her arms into the straps. When he helped her step into her jeans and pulled them up, he was reminded of what a beautiful woman she was.
Not that he ever forgot she was a woman—a girl didn’t have a body like Coco’s, a mind like Coco’s—but mostly she was their babygirl.
It almost made her extra cute, like she was playing dress-up. Although if she wished it, someday she’d be out in the world more and she’d dress like this more often. Probably sometimes cocktail dresses and heels, maybe even a suit. Who knew what future Coco would fashion for herself—with their help, he hoped.
And if the way Ry had looked at her, swooped in to help when she’d collapsed earlier, was any indication…
It’s not that his partner wasn’t thoughtful. Ryker was more deliberately considerate than he was for fuck’s sake. But he tended to stay out of things, away from people, unless absolutely necessary. At which point you would realize precisely how much he cared.
He’d been the officiant for Sable and Jethro’s wedding and had been great at that, with all his gravitas and low rumbling voice. And when they’d had the baby shower here at the loft for the twins, he’d spent hours researching an appropriate baby gift. He did shit like that all the time.
Hell, he’d brought a washcloth, a bowl of cool water, and a bottle for Coco after he’d laid her down gently on the bed. Had understood what had happened when Ian’s brain was still going haywire.
That motherfuckercared. He cared a lot. Now if they could just get him to acknowledge it, to act on it.
“Okay, Coco. I think you’re ready,” he pronounced after sliding little pearl pins into her hair at the temples. Not that she really needed them to keep her short locks out of her face but fuck they were cute.
Her eyes were owlishly round as she nodded. Sweet, nervous little thing. A little bunny, just like Ry had said.
Ian took up one of her hands and Huds held the other as they made their way to the back stairwell. He had to let go as they made their way down the stairs, but that was okay. He wasn't jealous.
Hudson was the teddybear daddy, he was the fun papa, and Ry was the scary AF something-or-other. Maybe not a daddy ever, but whether he liked it or not, whether he would cop to it or not, the man did have some caregiving instincts.
When they reached the landing that let out to the back of the building, Coco hesitated.
“Do you want me or Daddy to open the door today?” he asked.
But she got that fierce look of determination on her face, brows and mouth set in stubborn lines. His little bunny was going to fuck up some shit someday and he couldn’t wait to stand on the sidelines and watch. As amazing as she was now—and she fucking was—she was going to be something to see when she wasn’t so skittish and fragile anymore.
She grasped the handle and turned, closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again and pushing the door open.
The sunlight from outside—indirect as it was because they were in an alley—lit her up, highlights and shadows of her face, the glossiness of her hair. She was so gorgeous, made his heart hurt just looking at her. She looked around the outside even though there wasn’t much to see—dumpsters, cracked pavement, brick wall and fire escapes of the building next door. Curious little kitten.
And then she looked back at them. “Can I go outside?”
“Course you can,” he urged, heart like a one man band in his chest.
“Will…Will you hold my hand too, Papa?”
“Yes I fucking will.”