Page 220 of Creep

There was one in the trunk.

I pulled the seatbelt over her and held her close in my arms, my eyes moving up to meet Theo’s in the rearview mirror.

He nodded—his reassurance that he was going to get us to the hospital safely.

I trusted him.

The ride to the hospital was uneventful, thankfully. I timed her contractions. They were still far enough apart that I didn’t have to worry about Lia having our son on the fucking road, in the car, no less, and away from hospital equipment.

It didn’t take us long to get her checked in, considering I had booked this room well in advance, and thankfully, Theo had thought to call ahead for the doctor, who met us by the entrance.

“How are you feeling?” she asked Lia as we got her settled in the bed.

“Like I’m about to push a watermelon out of my vagina.”

Across the room, Theo made a small sound between a cough and a laugh.

Lia blushed a little before she let out a small chuckle.

“Is everything okay?” I asked the doctor, watching closely as she hooked Lia up to the machines.

“Everything is as it should be. You don’t need to worry too much.”

Not worry too much?

Was she crazy? I would fucking stop worrying when I’m dead.

“I’m going to get some coffee,” Theo said. “Do you guys need anything?”

“We’re good,” I said, looking at Lia, who was shaking her head. I walked over to the hospital bed and grabbed her hand in both of mine, looking into those devastating brown eyes that had me completely hooked at first sight.

“I fucking hope our son has your eyes.”

She smiled sweetly at me. “I hope he looks like his dad… whoever that man is.”

I leaned down and nipped at her neck playfully for that bratty comment. She let out a laugh and tried to pull away from me. I stopped when another contraction hit her. They were getting closer and closer.

“Okay?” I asked.

She let out a small breath of air and seemed to force her shoulders to relax. She was trying hard not to show her pain.

My brave, silly girl.

“As long as you’re here with me, I’ll be okay.”

“Good. ’Cause I’m not going anywhere.”

“I know,” she said. “Out of everything in my life, the one thing I am most sure about is you. Thank you for being that for me.”

I swallowed hard, trying not to show any emotions to her words. I was supposed to be the strong one, holding steady, so she had someone to lean on, no matter what.

“You don’t ever have to thank me for that,” I said. “I love you.”

Those words were getting easier and easier to say every day I got to spend with her. And they were the truest words I had ever uttered to another human.

I fucking loved her yesterday, I loved her today, and I would love her tomorrow, until forever. I thought I might have loved her the first time I saw her, as if my soul had recognized that this girl belonged to me, even if my conscious mind hadn’t yet been made aware of it.

“I love you too,” she said sweetly.

---