KNOCKOUT

Chapter 16

My feet carry me over the threshold, pulling me into the living room. Instead of seeing Holden like I expected, Sterling is sitting shirtless on our couch. I feel well rested, finally sleeping through the night for the first time since Maggie joined our little family.

"Where's H?"

Sterling points behind me, his eyes focused on the door to Maggie's room, slightly cracked open. I nod, turning to walk toward the door when a thought stops me in my tracks. "Aren't you guys supposed to be training right now?"

He shrugs, "We were training but she woke up, so we're taking a break."

"How did he know she was awake?"

"He took the baby monitor from your bedroom down to the gym with us and wouldn't let me crank the music up so he could hear it," Sterling explains. "Samuels wanted you to get some more sleep."

I nod again, smiling slightly before walking down the hallway to Maggie's room. The door pushes open easily and I take in the sight before me.

Holden is sitting in the rocking chair next to Margaret's crib, quietly talking to her while she tugs on the curls hanging around his face. I've come to love the room we've set up for her, the all-white furniture blending in perfectly with the rest of the apartment, but still looking dainty enough for a baby's room. However, I love the room even more when it's like this. I love it when it's filled with my two favorite people, sitting quietly together as if they're the only ones still in existence.

"Thank you for letting me sleep," I say, catching Holden's attention. He looks up at me with those eyes ⎯ eyes capable of breaking any girl's heart. Sad she lost his attention, Maggie tugs on another curl, trying to bring Holden's gaze back to her.

"C'mere." I comply with his demand, slowly walking toward the pair.

When I reach them, Holden gently hands Maggie over to me, carefully supporting her head. He's been so good with her and my heart flutters each time I see them together. I stand for a second, rocking the baby back and forth before Holden pulls me down to sit on his lap. The chair gently shakes underneath our weight and Holden wraps one of his arms around my waist.

"Look what we have here," he mutters. "My two favorite girls."

He presses a quick kiss to my cheek before relinquishing his free hand over to Margaret. She pulls at his long fingers, inspecting them closely. As if trying to show me a new discovery, she wraps her whole hand around just one of his fingers, bringing it close to my face. She's gotten so big; she'll be teething soon, and I can see her contemplating sticking Holden's finger in her mouth.

"We missed Mommy, didn't we Mags?"

Maggie coos back to him, responding in her unintelligible baby language, but I can't bother to focus on anything else. I'm pretty sure my heart just grew three sizes and burst from my chest, happiness flowing around me as Holden's words repeat through my mind.

"Samuels!" Sterling calls from the living room. "Are we still training today?"

I roll my eyes, carrying Margaret with me. Holden follows close behind us, all three of us entering the living room together. Sterling's lips turn up in a smile when he sees me with Maggie, happy to see the little bundle.

"Let me get Maggie's bottle ready and we'll go back downstairs," Holden says, briskly walking into the kitchen. I can hear him rummaging around for her favorite bottle, and the sound makes my smile grow wider.

Sterling is still staring at Maggie and I, so I walk closer to the couch. "Do you want to hold her?"

Although he's been around her for the last few weeks, Sterling hasn't gotten too close to the baby. I don't know if it's because he's uncomfortable or scared, but I'm leaning more toward the latter.