Page 47 of Roommates
Once Lucas had climbed into the passenger seat and closed the door, I got us on the road. “You reached your parents?” I asked, glancing at him. He looked fine, if a little pale. I wondered if he was in pain. He'd said something about cramps earlier, hadn't he?
“I talked to my dad,” Lucas said. “They're coming to the hospital.” He exhaled. “This is fucking scary, you know? But I'm also kind of relieved.”
“Relieved?”
“That I can just go to the hospital now. Imagine if I was still trying to hide this pregnancy. There's no NICU nearby when you're delivering your baby in secret.”
“No, I guess not.” The thought made my stomach turn. “The baby is going to be fine, though, right?”
Lucas swallowed. “I hope so. It should be. I should be far enough along. I just... I hate this!” At his sides, his hands balled into fists.
“I know.” Taking my attention off the empty road ahead of us only for a moment, I rested one of my hands on his knee and squeezed. I wished there was more I could do to help, but for now, all I could do for my mate was to drive him to the hospital.
“I guess I'm just not a very good omega,” Lucas said. “Going into early labor like this.”
“Fuck that,” it burst out of me. “You're perfect the way you are. Actually, I'm sure the only reason you're going into labor now is because our baby is just done cooking earlier than other babies.”
“You really think so?”
“Sure I do.” I gave him a smile and he smiled back at me and something in my chest lightened.
Maybe my presence wasn't totally useless after all.
AFTER WE GOT to the hospital, it took another two hours for the nurse to declare that Lucas was ready to be rolled into Labor and Delivery. By that time, his parents had arrived as well, but I was the only one who went into the delivery room with Lucas. His dad patted me on the back as I went. “Don't pass out, boy,” he advised.
I didn't respond to that. No need. I wasn't going to pass out. I'd prepared myself mentally for what I was about to see!
I mean, there was a reason I'd watched parts of that birthing video. When we prepared for a big football game, our coach sometimes showed us footage of the other team playing because it was good to know what you were going to be facing.
I'd done what I could, and I walked into Labor and Delivery full of confidence.
Watching someone give birth was nothing like competing in a football game, though. I noticed this very quickly when my mate squeezed my hand and started screaming.
Nothing could have prepared me for this.
It wasn't the sights and smells I was confronted with that did me in. The worst of it all was having to stand by as the man I loved suffered. I could give him my hand to hold, but aside from that...? I was basically benched.
But only because this wasn't my fight. It was Lucas'. I couldn't approach this situation like a football player. I had to take on the role of a cheerleader—maybe without the pompoms, though.
“C'mon, Lucas, you're doing so well. Just a little bit longer,” I told him while I let him crush the bones in my hand.
Lucas responded by cursing at me. I didn't blame him. Not when he was so obviously in pain. I glanced at the doctor by Lucas' spread legs, but she wasn't giving any indication as to how long she thought it was still going to be. She only told Lucas to keep pushing.
Very helpful,I thought.
“I'm never letting you near me without a condom again,” Lucas huffed.
I only nodded. After seeing him like this, I wasn't sure that I would everwantto approach him without a condom again.
My feelings about that only changed when it was finally all over. From one moment to the next, suddenly the doctor held a screaming baby in her hands. I didn't knowmuchabout babies, but I knew screaming was a good sign. Working lungs, right? Our baby was going to be fine, just as I'd promised Lucas.
“Congratulations!” the doctor said as she handed our baby over to the nurse to be cleaned and swaddled. “You have a little boy!”
A boy! We had a son! Pride swelled in my chest and I couldn't take my eyes off the little one as the nurse wrapped a cozy little blanket around him and ultimately placed him on Lucas' chest. My mate looked exhausted, but happy too. “Is he all right?” he asked the nurse, gingerly stroking the baby's cheek with the tip of a finger. “He's so tiny.”
“He's perfect,” the nurse assured him with a smile.
“Of course he is,” I chimed in. “Just look at him.”
