Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 131821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
“Please.” She gives one more squeeze before releasing me. “I want him here, too.”
I’m already moving toward the door when she shouts. “Wait!”
The panic in her tone wraps around my shoulders. I jerk around again, ready to run right back. Hell, I’ll do circles right here in this little room if she wants me to.
“You promised,” she rasps, fear glittering in her gaze.
There’s a heavy knock in my chest, and I nod. “I’ll be right back, Pretty Little. Right back.”
She drops her head to the pillow, nodding as she squeezes her eyes closed, and I book it down the hall, pressing the button on the automatic doors, but there’s no time to run into the waiting room, so I shout from the other side. “Baby’s coming!” I clap, but I don’t wait around to be sure Parker heard, spinning on my heels and jogging back toward room 227.
Parker’s right behind me, and he moves for her right side, but that’s my side and I hold still, so he goes to stand behind Kenra, reaching past her to gently brush Payton’s arm.
She looks to each of us, then back at the doctor, nodding as the doc explains what happens next.
And honestly, I’m shitting my pants right now.
Her legs are up, feet locked in these scary-ass metal things reminding me of those contraptions Forrest Gump had on his legs when he was a kid, and there’s an operating tray set out with all sorts of shit like a horror movie prop setup.
Yeah, I’m freaking out, and I’m guessing it’s obvious seeing as nurse number two steps up beside me and whispers for me to breathe.
So I listen, dragging in a long shaky breath as I look back to Payton.
“Okay, Payton, I’m going to count back to one, and on one, you’re going to push for a full count of three, okay?”
“I don’t know,” she whines, squeezing her eyes closed.
The doctor looks up at me, an expectant expression on her face, and my eyes widen because what the hell, man? What am I supposed to do? I don’t know shit about shit and—
Payton starts to cry, and panic bubbles into my throat.
Spinning, I face her, grip her hand, and squeeze. “Hey, Pretty Little, look at me.”
She does, tears slipping down her cheeks.
“Little man is ready to meet you.” I nod, catching the doc’s eyes a moment, quickly refocusing on Payton. “And I know how much you’ve been waiting to meet him, too, so what do you say, hmm? We ready to do this?”
Her lips press tight, those big blue eyes locked on mine, so fucking trusting and afraid at the same time, it shreds me to the bone.
I move her hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear the way she likes to do. “I’ll be right here the whole time.”
Slowly she nods, and together, we look to the doc.
“Okay.” The doc hunches down slightly. “In three, two, one…”
Payton groans, her teeth clacking as she shouts through them, her body curling up into an impossible crunch. Her face starts to turn two shades too red, and Parker and I lock eyes, fear and uncertainty burning like lava in my veins.
“Good,” the doc praises, and Payton falls back against the bed, panting. “A few more like that. Deep breath. The next contraction is already coming. Get ready in three, two, one…”
“Ahh!” Payton shouts, clenching again, her hand shaking, nails digging into my skin.
My jaw is locked, and I’m fucking sweating.
Payton settles again, her breathing all over the place, and those teary eyes find mine once more.
“You’re going so damn good,” I rasp.
“I can see the head,” the doc announces.
“She can see the head.”
“Two more and you get to meet your baby.”
“Two more and—”
The doctor snickers, and I clamp my mouth closed, gaze snapping around the room.
Even Parker is smirking, his gaze narrowed, though he quickly points it back to his sister. “You’re so close, Peep. Come on.”
“And three, two, one…”
Payton pushes, her shoulders trembling and legs shaking with the force.
“The head is out. Another push.”
“I can’t!” Payton cries.
“Come on, Payton,” the doctor encourages calmly. “One more.”
Payton shakes her head, dropping it back and shouting into the room as her body locks tight.
I lean over, pressing my forehead to hers, and our eyes meet.
“Payton, you need to push.” The doctor is a little more urgent this time.
Payton’s lip trembles as she stares at me, her head moving back and forth.
“Yes, baby,” I breathe. “You can do this. Come on, Pretty Little. You’re so close. Show me how strong you are. How fucking brave.” My lips slide across her cheek, and she cries harder. “You can do this. Let’s go.”
Slowly, she nods and starts to push. Her features pull tight, the cries of a warrior slipping from her lips, sweat rolling from her forehead and mixing with mine, but I don’t dare move. I hold her eyes, and with our gazes tied, pulses pounding dangerously fast, we hear it.