Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“Keely,” he says, helping me to sit back down. “Are you okay? Is the baby okay? What the hell was that?”
I rub my belly. It still feels hard, and I let out a little laugh. “I think I’m going into labor.”
The entire kitchen stops and everyone stares at me.
“Did, uh, your water break? Like on TV?” Evie looks around at everyone else. “Does anyone see water on the floor anywhere?”
“That doesn’t actually happen,” Jamila says, but hesitates. “Does it?”
“No,” I confirm, rubbing my back with a grin. “No, it’s supposed to happen like this. They’ll be pretty far apart for a while, but as they get closer and closer, we should head into the hospital.”
“We’re heading there now,” Nolan says.
But I shake my head, standing once again. This time, no contraction. “Seriously, it’s fine. We might even have hours. I can help finish the morning prep, then we’ll drive over. You head home, get the bags—”
“Keely, like hell am I going to let my pregnant wife go to labor in the back of a fucking donut shop.” Nolan’s raging, his eyes practically on fire. “I don’t give a damn if you have fifty hours. We’re going to the hospital. Right. Fucking. Now.”
Again, the kitchen falls silent. Everyone’s staring at him. Even my mouth’s hanging open. This is the bossy, mafia bastard Nolan, the side of him I don’t get it see very often.
I kind of like it.
“Wow, I didn’t know Nolan could be scary,” Fallen says, laughing awkwardly. “You’d better go, Keels. Before he has an aneurysm.”
“I’m fine,” I say, walking over to kiss his cheek. “I promise. Go get the bags, and when you’re back, we’ll leave, okay?”
He stares at me like he’s about to explode. “There is no way in hell I’m going to leave you until that baby’s born. Do you hear me?”
I sigh, patting his face. “You’re sweet. But seriously, go get the bags.”
He looks around for help, but everyone’s rushing back to work, studiously ignoring us.
I start helping Jamila out. She gives me a panicked look but says nothing. I carry a tray from the cooling racks to the glazer. I do it once, twice, three more times, before I stop for a little rest.
And get another contraction. “Ow,” I grunt, gripping the edge of the table. “That sucks. Oh, fuck, that sucks.” I let out a breath when it’s over, groaning.
“That’s it.” Nolan grabs my arm. “Come on. We’re going home, getting the bags, and heading to the hospital.”
“No, please, I’m fine, I can wait. That was like twenty minutes apart! We’re fine!”
He turns on me, expression smoldering. “For the love of everything you hold dear, if you care about me at all, you will get in that fucking car and let me take care of you. Do you hear me, wife? Get in the damn car. I’m absolutely begging you.”
I stare back at him. Again, the kitchen’s silent, until Fallen speaks up. “Shit, I’ll get in the car if you’d look at me like that,” she says.
Jamila shushes her while Arabella and Evie both laugh.
I touch my loving husband’s cheek. “I love you,” I say.
“I love you too.” He takes my hand. “Please.”
I sigh. I don’t want to go. I’m afraid to have this baby. After everything, the labor’s finally here, which means the baby’s going to be here, which means I have to be a mother—
But I won’t be doing it alone.
I have Nolan. I have Molly and the Crowley family. I have Ash, Bernie, Fulco. I have Jamila.
I can do this.
“All right, fine. Let’s go.”
Then Nolan springs into action, dragging me out of there, while the girls wish me good luck.
“Let’s go have this baby, darling,” I say, leaning on Nolan’s arm.
“Good idea,” he says.