Page 148 of His to Save

“Okay. Got it. You wait here. I'll grab everything and then help you into the truck.”

She nods, and I take off like a shot, hollering Ellis's name as I rush down the hall.

“Yeah?” he calls back, poking his head out of his door.

“It's baby time.”

“For real?” Leave it to him to somehow sound more nervous than me.

“Yeah. We're headed to the hospital. Do me a favor and let Scarlet know.”

“You're lucky I love y'all, man.” Maybe Nora's right and there is something there, because God knows, they fight like an old married couple. “Let me know when my nephew is born. I call dibs on holding him first.”

“Yeah, yeah. You two better be on your best behavior or I swear to God, I'll kick you out of Nora's hospital room.”

“It's not my fault you and your girl befriended Satan.” Ellis mimes a halo over his head. “I'm a perfect angel.”

I try not to grin at his antics, but it's a losing battle. “I don't have time for this. Text Scar and keep your phone nearby. I've gotta go.”

He tips his head my way in acknowledgment, and then I'm on my way. I make quick work of grabbing Nora's bag, pillow, and the gift I picked out for her, especially for this occasion—a push present, Scarlet called it.

I race back to the truck like I'm trying for Olympic gold, throw the bag in the back seat, and then help Nora into the cab.

“You ready, Pip?” I ask, stepping onto the running board to buckle her in.

She looks back at me with wide eyes. “What if I'm a bad mom?”

I rear back. “Not possible.”

“Atlas, I mean it.”

“Nora Morgan, you are everything good in this world, and there's absolutely zero possibility of that not carrying over to motherhood. I guarantee it.”

She gasps and grabs my hand, squeezing it with a strength I didn't know she was capable of. “Okay.”

“How far apart are your contractions?” I ask, because they seem to be coming pretty quickly.

“Um, like two or three minutes apart.”

My eyes widen to the point where I'm sure I look like a cartoon character. “Okay.” I suck in a deep breath of my own. “Okay, yup. Let's go.”

I step down and race around the front of the truck before hopping behind the wheel and hitting the ignition. I'd like to say I drive calmly and follow all of the traffic laws, but that'd be a damn lie. I drive like a bat out of hell, bobbing and weaving between cars, my eyes anxiously flitting between the road and Nora.

In fact, the only other time I've ever driven anywhere near like this was the day Nora was taken, and coincidentally, both of those days ended up with us in the hospital. At least this visit is planned—mostly.

“How you doing over there?” I ask as I merge onto the highway.

“Peachy,” Nora replies through gritted teeth. “Just freaking peachy.”

I reach over and take her hand in mine, knowing damn well she's about to use it like a stress ball. “We're not too far out now.”

She nods in my peripheral, too focused on her breathing to reply.

Please let us make it in time. Please don't let my son be born in my truck…

“Um, Atlas,” Nora whispers as she grabs my hand, clutching it tight. “You m-might wanna hurry.”

“Going as fast as I can, Pip.” I rub the back of her hand with my thumb. “Traffic's?—”

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