Page 41 of Top Shelf
“Locke, I…”
“I know. Let’s go, brother. I got you.”
There’s a brief flash of relief as he nods. “Okay, okay. I just have to change. I?—”
“Change in the car. I have clothes in there. We gotta move.”
Another nod. “Right. Okay. Thanks, man.”
“Any time,” I say as I steer him from the room and toward the parking garage.
As we make our way down the hall, I hear Lawson yell, “I can’t believe we’re having a baby!”
“I…I can’t breathe.”
“You can,” I say to Hutch as I push my AMG to speeds it has never reached within city limits. “Just in and out.”
“I think I’m having a heart attack.” He grabs the dashboard in front of him. It’s easily the most high-strung I’ve ever seen Hutch, and I’ve seen him in some pretty intense situations before.
“Dude, just breathe,” I say for the umpteenth time.
What am I thinking? Of course he can’t breathe. His entire world is about to change. That’s a lot to take in, and it’s even harder to take when you know the person you love the most in the world is hurting to make that happen.
“Did you talk to Auden? How is she doing?”
“No.” He shakes his head as he inhales and exhales once again. “Just Vanessa. But I heard her. She sounded… Fuck, Locke, she was in such pain.”
“I know, man. I know, but she’s going to be okay. I promise. I’ve been through this with my nieces and nephews. It might feel like it’s taking forever right now, but the baby’s going to be here before you know it, and you’re going to forget all about what you’re feeling right now. Auden too.”
He nods, another heavy inhale and exhale. I’m not sure if that helped at all, but at least he’s not complaining about a heart attack. My tires squeal as I pull into the hospital parking lot, and I skid to a stop at the front entrance.
Hutch doesn’t move.
“Hutch?”
Nothing.
“Hutchinson?”
Nothing again.
“Reed!”
His first name snaps him out of it, and he looks over at me, eyes wide. “I’m having a baby.”
I laugh. “Yeah, yeah, you fucking are. Get in there and go meet your kid.”
For the first time, he smiles, then leaps out of the car and bolts into the hospital. I chuckle as I watch him go, then drive around for ten full minutes looking for a parking spot. I’m not sure if he even wants me here, but I’m going to stick around for a while just in case.
I walk into the hospital far more casually than he did. Still, the receptionist at the desk stares up at me with surprise.
“Is the whole team here?” she asks.
I grin. “Fortunately for me, no. Can you point me toward the?—”
“Maternity ward?” she finishes for me, then relays the directions.
“Thanks so much,” I tell her.
