Page 96 of The Complication with the Best Man

“I know. I keep imagining what our baby might look like. I keep picturing you holding her and wondering if she’ll get your red hair or my dark hair.”

She chuckles and sets her water back down on the table. “You’re still so sure it’s a girl?”

“Team girl all the way, baby.”

Harper shakes her head and singsongs, “You’re wrong.”

“We’ll see, won’t we?”

The waiter returns with Harper’s mocktail and my sparkling water, and we order our food.

Once he’s left the table, Harper lets out a big sigh. “I have to go to the bathroom before I can drink this. I need to make room.”

I can’t help but feel bad for her. She must pee fifty times a day now.

“Let me help you up.” I get out of my chair and come around to her side, helping to slide the chair back and letting her use my arm for leverage to get up.

“Thanks.” She gives me a quick kiss on the cheek and walks toward the bathroom.

I’m not even back in my seat before she gasps. I whip around, and she’s standing a few feet away, staring at a pool of liquid between her feet.

“Oh my god, my water broke.”

I rush over, my heart racing. This is it. Oh my god, is it too soon? She’s not due for almost another two weeks.

Harper looks up at me with wide eyes full of trepidation.

I take her hand and help her step away from the amniotic fluid without slipping. “It’s okay. We got this. Let’s head to the hospital, okay?”

She nods, and I lead her to the front door then grab our coats from the coat check. I don’t bother looking around the restaurant to see if I know anyone. There’s no point. I can already predict what will be in Buzz Wheel tonight.

Let it. Let Lake Starlight know that the woman I love is about to give birth to our baby. I’d shout it from the rooftops if I could.

* * *

God,it’s so fucking hard to watch the woman you love be in so much pain.

Twenty hours later, we’re finally at the part where Harper is pushing. She opted for an unmedicated birth, even after my insistence early on that she didn’t have to be a hero and should get the epidural. Maybe that was selfish of me, but watching her writhe in pain and not being able to do anything about it, was pure torture.

But she stuck it out and now our baby is almost here. Harper has been pushing for more than half an hour though, and I can tell she’s losing steam. I share a look with Holly, who is on the other side of Harper.

“I can’t do this,” Harper says with tears in her eyes. She’s sweaty and spent, red-faced and exhausted, but she’s never been more beautiful.

“You can do this, Harp.”

She squeezes her eyes shut and shakes her head. “I can’t. I’m so tired.”

“Hey, look at me.” When she keeps her eyes closed, I add a little more force to my voice. “Look at me.”

Her bloodshot eyes open, and she meets my gaze.

“You’ve got this, Harper. You’re the strongest woman I know. Now stop doubting yourself, because I know you can do this. I know how much you already love our baby and how excited you are to see them. It’s gut-check time, all right? When the doctor tells you to push in a minute, I want you to take all that strength and determination and stubbornness I know is inside of you and focus it on pushing, okay? I’ll be right here with you.”

Determination settles into Harper’s features, and she blinks a few times and nods. “Okay, okay. I can do this. You’re right.”

Holly gives me an approving smile and a nod.

“We’ve got another contraction coming up,” the nurse says.

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