Page 81 of Book Boyfriends
“If only your niece knew that and wasn’t deciding to come early. Let’s go to the hospital and Davis, I’ll try not to have thisbaby in your backseat—” her face creases “—Although, she was conceived in one.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
THE LAST NIGHT AS FRIENDS
“She’s got a strong heartbeat,” Della, the midwife, reports with a warm smile.
“She does.” Hope beams, her hand folded tight around mine, her gaze locked on the emergency room monitor hooked to her belly.
The best part of possible labor, there is no long wait to be seen. Upon arrival at the hospital, a nurse spotted Davis and me helping Hope out of the vehicle. He grabbed a wheelchair from inside and escorted us in. With a quick thank you to Davis, I followed Hope inside as they wheeled her to triage.
“It is strong.” I wipe my eyes.
The sonogram video of my niece’s heartbeat doesn’t compare to hearing it in person. Inside my bestie’s round belly is who I know will soon be one of my favorite people. Somehow, experiencing this in real life rather than a recorded video makes this all real.
“There’s like areallittle human in there.” My laugh is watery.
“What did you think? That I’d just swallowed a watermelon?” she quips.
“You do like fruit.”
The nurse chuckles. “Keep that sense of humor. As parents, you’ll need it.”
“If only she were my co-parent instead of my very tardy husband.” Frowning, she looks to the clock on the wall above a counter lined with medical supplies. “He should be here by now. He was only thirty minutes out when I spoke to him, and it’s been an hour.”
I squeeze her hand. “Probably just hit traffic.”
“We’re going to do a physical exam to confirm labor. Do you want bestie to stay for that?”
“Oh yeah, she’s used tolady business,” she winks, repeating Davis’s words from earlier.
The moment we’d parted from him, she’d tugged me close and whispered, “Davis?” The almost obscene way his name rolled from her lips telegraphed so much.What happened to Lars? Why is Davis here? Please tell me you’re climbing him like a sexy ladder.Those questions, and I’m sure way more, lurked behind her gaze. It’s only a matter of time before she pounces on me.
Della finishes the exam, including a swab of Hope’s lady business. The baby’s heartbeat is strong with no apparent distress, and all signs are that this is a false alarm, but they are confirming a few things and consulting with Hope’s OB-GYN before giving the all-clear. With a quick smile, Della ducks out of the room, leaving us alone.
“So embarrassing,” Hope mutters, rubbing the center of her forehead.
“Now, now”—I pat her hand—“it could still be labor.”
Head tossed back, a whiny laugh whooshes out of her. “I just freaked.”
“Like you said earlier, you’ve never had a baby. Anyone would have done the same thing. It’s better to know than to givebirth to my niece in your kitchen, while in the middle of making pastries.”
“I panicked. The contractions kept coming, and the discharge… And your brother was gone. This is allhisfault,” she grumbles.
“Pretty sure it was both of you in that backseat making my niece.”
“Now isn’t the time to be ‘Quippy’ Georgia, Now’s the time to be ‘Blame Rem for knocking up your bestie and not being here’ Georgia.”
“That is a mouthful.” I chuckle, squeezing her hand. “I’ll be whatever Georgia you want.”
“I know you will.” She sighs. “And I love you for that, but…”
“But you want Rem.”
“He just makes everything better.” A wistful expression dances in her features. “No matter how scary any situation is, I know he’s got me.”
“It helps that the manalwayshas a plan.” The tiniest note of sarcasm punctuates my statement.
