Page 36 of Baby for My Best Friend's Brother

ALMOST NINE MONTHS LATER

SOPHIE

A sharp pang jolts me awake.

Blinking, I’m vaguely aware of the moonlight streaming in through a gap in the curtains. I’m more keenly aware of the tightness seeming to grip my swollen belly.

Panic lances my heart, and turning onto my back, I clutch my stomach. Holding my breath, I wait with bated breath. Snoring softly next to me in bed, Cliff’s strong arm drapes protectively over me.

Several minutes pass until another sharp pain clenches and spreads. This time I bolt upright, and Cliff’s arm falls to the side.

With a soft snort, he turns to his other side and falls back asleep.

Protectively stroking my belly, I start counting the seconds between the pains. I count to one hundred several times over, losing my place as my heart thunders in my ears and my breath hitches.

When the pain rolls through me for a fifth time, I know this is nothing like the Braxton Hicks pains I’ve been experiencing forthe past several weeks. My heart pounds. Equal parts of fear and excitement course through my veins.

“I’m having the baby.”

“Hmm?” a sleepy Cliff asks.

“I’m having the baby,” I repeat more clearly, stifling a sudden urge to laugh.

“What was that?”

“Cliff, wake up.” I nudge him once. Twice. “I’m having the baby. We’re having the baby.”

His eyes fly open. “Did you say you’re having the baby?”

“Like, ten times.” I finally give in to the urge to laugh. “Honey, I think it’s time.”

“Okay.” He swallows hard. I can tell he’s trying really hard to keep his tone steady, though the wildness in his dark eyes gives him away. He rubs his face and blinks rapidly, still trying to wake up.“We’re going to have the baby. We’ll call the doctor. I’ll grab your suitcase. Then I’ll?—”

“Gah!” Another pain shoots through me. This one is more intense than any of the others. I instinctively grab his arm and squeeze while I ride out the wave. When it finally passes, I release my hold and give Cliff a sheepish grin. “Sorry about that. I?—”

“We need to get you to the hospital.” He jumps out of the bed. His eyes are wide open now, and all hint of sleepiness is gone. “You stay here.” He brushes the hair away from my face and kisses my forehead. “I’ll take care of everything. Just… relax. Or breathe. But don’t—DON’T—start pushing.”

I can’t help but grin in amusement as he runs back and forth across our bedroom. He opens his dresser, pulls a pair of gray sweatpants over his boxer briefs, and then races to the other side of the room to rummage through my dresser to grab one of my loungewear sets.

He offers me the clothes, pausing to ask if I’m okay, and gives me another kiss, before running back to the other side of the room to dig through the items on top of his dresser.

While he mumbles something about never being able to find what he’s looking for, I swing my feet over the edge and pull on my clothes.

My bottom lip sticks out. “I’m going to need help with my shoes.”

Cliff continues digging through the top drawer. “What was that?”

“I need help with my shoes.” My voice breaks with my confession.

I haven’t seen my feet in weeks. There’s no point crying about that now, but I’m in very real danger of doing just that.

“Hey.” Cliff kneels in front of me, massaging my knees. “I’ve got you, honey.”

A single tear slips down my cheek. “You’re so good to me.”

“Only because you’re even better to me.” Cliff’s eyes soften and his lips curve up. “I love you.”

He gives my knees one more squeeze then slides my shoes onto my feet. Holding my hand with one of his, he slides his other arm around my back and helps me stand.

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