Page 128 of Rival
“I’m gonna die from blue balls. It’s happenin’. Fuck havin’ a baby. I need you to takemein.”
I snort at his complaints I have no sympathy for and ask, “Seriously, how quickly are these coming? Have you let Mason know?”
“I didn’t even get a chance. I read the word sex, and she was like, ‘Yes, that!’” He mimics her in a high voice and we both bark out a laugh.
We both shoot to our feet when we a chair being dragged through the kitchen and I justknowshe’s about to climb up to grab the chips from the cupboard above my refrigerator. Hurrying to find her, I stop her just as she’s lifting her leg. “I’ll grab them. Why don’t you sit?”
With her hand supporting her back, she eases herself into the chair while I show her different bags until I finally pick the right one. Dill pickle. Fucking gross, but I keep my opinion to myself.
As she dives in, I send a quick text to Mason.
I don’t know for sure, but I think she’s having contractions. Real ones, not the fake ones.
There in ten.
Door is open.
Turning off my screen, I squat down in front of her and watch as she shovels in a chip with a loud sigh. Thankfully, her morning sickness seems to have completely gone away in the last two months, so her weight has finally started to go up in small increments, making her doctor extremely happy with her.
“I’m going to start setting timers so we can see how long is between each one.”
“I’m having one right now,” she says nonchalantly, popping another chip into her mouth. I narrow my eyes, but I notice the tightness around her eyes, clueing me in that she’s not comfortable.
“But you’re eating chips,” I say slowly, not wanting to sound like I don’t believe her. She reacted strongly to the previous one, so this just seems odd.
Shrugging, she gives me a half smile and mumbles around her mouthful. “They’re really good.”
Laughing at how fucking cute she is, I set a timer and set my phone on the table. Gripping her knees, I study her as she eats chip after chip. My mind starts spinning because of what might be happening and a question pops into my head. “Are you nervous?” I blurt out, but I want to know. I don’t want her to be scared, butIfucking am and I know the guys are as well.
The chip she has halfway to her mouth falls to her lap as she looks at me. “I’m really freaking scared.” Her lower lip trembles and I wish I could take my question back. With regret riding me hard, I rub my hands up and down her thighs in a soothing gesture.
“We’ll all be right here with you. You’ll be incredible, and I’m sure she’s going to be super sweet the moment she’s born. My mom said when she had me, then Julia, it was like every scary moment floated away as soon as we were in her arms.”
A lone tear falls down her cheek as she smiles. “Do you think so? I want to have her right now so I can meet her, but I also wish I could keep her inside forever because I know she’s safe there.” With a wobbly lip, she adds, “And I’m afraid it’s going to hurt.”
Pushing up to wrap my arms around her, I kiss the corner of her mouth lightly, then her cheek and nose. “Maybe a little, but I think you’ll be focused on doing what your body needs from you.We’ll make Mason run around for everything you need and keep us entertained. Maybe we can make a game of it. How many times will he yell at a nurse?”
Her giggle is watery, and for the first time, she peers up at me with no hesitation or worry. She’s totally open to me and I wish I could eat up every second of it. I want to pour out my heart to her, but I know this isn’t the time. Maybe a distraction will help.
“You want to hear my Julia story?”
Nodding her head quickly, she grins. “Yes, please. I’ve loved hearing about her. Will you tell me a funny one?”
Tapping my fingers on my lips, I pretend to think hard. “A funny one. Alright. I don’t know if it’s super funny or if it was something you had to be there for, but when Julia was about three years old, she was fighting our parents about wearing clothes.”
Humming in approval, Edith leans back in her chair and starts munching on her chips again as I share my story.
“So, my mom had a bunch of ladies over for the afternoon. Maybe it was for a book club or something? I don’t really remember. I was only five or so at the time. Julia had snuck up to her room, and no one noticed. You should know that the kitchen table was infull viewof the stairwell at that time, so when my sister interrupted them, everyone got their fill of what my mom was about to deal with.”
Edith’s eyes open wide just as Mason walks into the kitchen, but he doesn’t interrupt us. He just lifts his chin in greeting and sets his keys on my counter.
“What’d she do?” she asks excitedly.
Grinning, I shake my head slightly. “She had snuck into her room and stripped out of all her clothes, including her pull up. They were still trying to potty train her, the stubborn ass. Apparently, someone had left the bathroom door open, and she proceeded to grab a wad of toilet paper and shove it betweenher butt cheeks. So, Julia, with a ball of paper shoved up ass crack, came running to the top of the stairs and screamed, ‘Look mommy! I’m a bunny!’ and proceeded to hop around in a circle, making what shethoughtwere bunny sounds, but actually sounded like a donkey.”
Mason snorts as Edith bursts into laughter. Covering her mouth, her words are slightly muffled. “Oh my God, that’sprecious!You need to call your mom and tell her that one. I bet she’d love it!”
Laughing with them, I assure her I will later. “It was pretty hilarious because mom flipped out and ran up the stairs so fast, she missed a couple and tripped her way up to hide her. I don’t think she’s ever been more mortified.”
