Page 41 of Blame It on the Bikini
"I guess that means you want to stay here," he said with a knowing gleam in his eyes.
"I do. But you don't have to stay, Grayson. I know you have to get up early tomorrow. I can get a rideshare home."
"Don't you have a photo shoot at dawn?"
She shrugged. "This is more important. I'll manage on whatever sleep I get. The way things were going, I think the baby will be here soon."
"I agree. I'll wait with you for a while."
They sat in silence, the adrenaline of the last twenty minutes slowly wearing off. Around them, the waiting room hummed with quiet activity—nurses at the desk, some going in and out of the double doors, others speaking with anxious visitors.
As she looked at the clock on the wall, Grayson gave her a smile. "It hasn't been that long."
"I know. I'm just nervous and impatient."
"Serena is a healthy young woman, and there's no reason to think she won't be okay."
"Except what we just witnessed."
"Well, I don't know anything about women in labor, so I'm no expert, but it seems to me like there's usually a lot of pain and yelling involved," he said dryly.
"And swearing. I've never heard Serena swear like that."
He laughed. "I was surprised, too. But I wasn't sure if she was always like that."
"Never. Absolutely never." She paused. "I do appreciate you staying with me."
"If I went home, I'd just be wondering what was going on."
He'd no sooner finished speaking when the double doors opened, and Brad walked out. She jumped to her feet, but she didn't even have to ask Brad if Serena was okay, because he was smiling from ear to ear, a joyous glow in his eyes. "Serena is fine and the baby is beautiful. She's seven pounds, eight ounces, and when she opened her eyes, she screamed her head off, which reminded me very much of her mother right before she was born."
"Oh, Brad, I'm so happy for you." She gave him a hug.
"Congratulations," Grayson said, shaking Brad's hand.
"I have to get back to her. Can you let everyone know, Lexie?"
"I will spread the word. Tell Serena I'm glad she's okay. And I can't wait to see the baby."
As he headed back to his wife, she turned to Grayson. "It's all good. Just like you said."
"Told you," he returned with a smug smile.
She knew she shouldn't, but she couldn’t stop herself from hugging him and brushing a grateful kiss against his lips. "Thank you."
"I didn't do anything."
She gazed into his eyes. "Yes, you did. You got Serena here, and you stayed. And I'm just really happy they're okay."
As they broke apart, she heard familiar voices and turned around to see her friends coming into the waiting room. Everyone from the bar was there: Kaia, Ava, Liam, Emmalyn, and Hunter.
"Serena had the baby," she told them. "Everyone is healthy. Brad is over the moon. It's all good."
"Thank God," Ava said, practically collapsing in Liam's arms. "I was so worried about her. She saw the doctor yesterday, and he didn't think she was going to be early."
"It all worked out," Liam said. "I told you."
"I know. I was just scared for her." Ava turned to her. "Thank you for getting her here, Lexie."
