Page 166 of On the Double

As soon as we pulled in, the nurse was waiting for us. It had been part of the lead vehicle’s job to call in an ETA and have emergency personnel waiting for us. I had filed all the paperwork ahead of time and paid extra to have a single room. They assured me that would most likely happen anyway, but I wasn’t taking any chances.

The wait was long and difficult—for me. Harper seemed perfectly fine with everything. And when they brought in that giant needle for the epidural, I nearly fainted.

“You may want to sit down, Mr. Markinson.”

I puffed out my chest. “I think I can handle a little needle.”

He shrugged and raised it for me to see. My chin quivered and my knees shook, but I nodded to him, gripping Brock’s arm just to be sure I didn’t end up on the floor.

“Breathe,” he hissed in my ear.

Fuck, I was trying, but that was a huge needle. I watched as it entered her spine, and that about did me in. I felt my eyes roll back in my head, but Brock grabbed a cup and splashed water on my face.

“And that’s why the men usually sit down,” the doctor chuckled.

I wanted to be offended by his comment, but the moment Harper chuckled, I knew he was right. Besides, if Harper could laugh during such a traumatic time, I could hold my shit together.

Hours later, I held her hand, panicked about the fact that it was time to push. She sat there serenely, nodding along with everything the nurse had to say.

“Just breathe, Pookie.”

“I’m good,” she assured me.

How was she so calm? There was about to be a baby born and it was coming out of her! Shouldn’t that freak her out just a little bit?

She didn’t even act like it hurt. Maybe that was the epidural, but Icould guarantee no man would be this strong for something so traumatic. She was barely breaking a sweat.

“Alright, we’re going to push one last time,” the doctor said, his head right between Harper’s legs.

“We?” I asked, my face laced with panic as I watched her lean forward and push one last time. My eyes widened as the baby’s head popped out. I gasped and stepped back as I watched in fascination at what Harper’s body was doing. “Brock! Brock! Get over here. You’ve gotta see this!”

“I’m good, man.”

“Yeah, he’s good,” Harper panted.

Everything around me swirled, but not like I was going to pass out. I was amazed and so fucking in love that I felt like I’d burst. I didn’t know how I hadn’t seen it before. Everything about this was amazing, and I’d missed out on so fucking much of it. I would never let that happen again. I would be there for every second of every birth from here on out.

“One more push!”

She slid out like coming out of a waterslide. My little girl with beautiful brown hair like little wisps all over her head. Everything stilled as the doctor handed her off to the nurse, who promptly took her over to the table and cleaned her up, wiping her nose and brushing the goop from her body.

I leaned over the back of the nurse, staring down at my perfect little girl. She was so fucking beautiful, with ten fingers and ten little toes. And one very adorable nose.

“Holy shit,” I said, taking a step back. I ran my hands over my head as my eyes welled with tears. “She’s mine. She’s really fucking mine.”

“Would you like to hold her?” the nurse asked, holding the little bundle out to me with a smile.

I looked at Harper, hoping she would say yes. I desperately wanted to feel this little piece of joy in my arms. She smiled at me, nodding slightly.

“Yeah,” I croaked out. “Hell yeah.”

The nurse carefully put her in my arms, making sure I cradled herhead the right way. I sucked in a ragged breath as I gazed at her innocent face. How the fuck had something so perfect come from me? She was a miracle.

I walked over to Harper, laughing as I sat down beside her. “Here she is. She’s so light.”

“She’s beautiful.”

“Just like her mother,” I said, staring at Harper. Leaning in, I pressed a kiss to her lips, then rested my forehead against hers. “Thank you.”

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