Page 72 of Outlaws' Single Mom
Better than good.
It sounds perfect.
40
DAKOTA
“Oh my God,either I just peed myself or it’s finally happening.” Paige’s eyes pop wide open and she puts her tea down very deliberately. She shuffles to the bathroom, and a few minutes later I hear, “Oh, yup. Dakota, something’s definitely happening!”
I’ve moved into the officer apartment—at least until the next house behind the compound is finished—and I’ve been taking turns with Jessica and Willow to be on baby watch for Paige. Of course it has to be my turn when her men are out meeting some mid-grade crime lord to convince him that it’d be healthier for everyone involved if he maybe stayed in his own territory, by force if necessary. The only reason I know is because Jackal, Stiff and Lash are with them, too. Such is life in an MC.
Logan, who’s playing in one of the chairs, looks up curiously.
“Alright, I’m on it.”
I call Bones, the resident EMT, who can handle transportation, then Anne. At this point, she and Logan are regular gaming buddies, as much as a four-year-old and a fifteen-year-old can be, and she knows that I might have to go with Paige at a moment’s notice, so I’ve basically got her on speed dial.
“You okay, Paige? Can I get you anything? Bones is on his way.”
“Where are my hospital bags?” She throws down a towel and sits on the edge of the couch, balancing gingerly.
“By the door. Ready to go. Clothes, water bottles, snacks, tablet, e-reader, all of it right there.” I salute. “We got this. Take it from another mom.”
Paige gives me a long look, rocking back and forth like her body doesn't want to be still. “To be fair, you were smart and got to skip this part.”
I usually feel like I have to prove a little extra that I’m Logan’s mom since I didn’t actually give birth tohim, but we know each other well enough by now for me to accept it as friendly teasing. There are so many odd family situations in our group that mine doesn’t even register.
“Some of us just happen to plan these things better, instead of getting ourselves knocked up like there are no consequences,” I tease right back.
The side-eye I get from her speaks volumes. “I’m going to be the first to remind you of this conversation when it happens to you. Just so you’re warned.I will make sure you’re aware!” She yells the last over her shoulder as she looks out the window to see if the ambulance is here yet.
No ambulance, but Anne comes running down the sidewalk. By the time she reaches the front door, I’ve already got it open. “Is it happening?” She looks for Paige, then jogs past into the living room.
Logan lights up when he sees her. “Anne!”
“Hey, Lo. Mommy’s going to be busy for a little while. Want to play Dirk Mayhem over at my place?”
He’s running past to put on his shoes before she’s even done with the sentence, Mr. Larson and Helmet in tow. Yes. That’s its name now. Just… Helmet. Jackal tried to name it Darth Helmet, but Logan didn’t get the joke so it didn’t stick, and Stiff suggested Helmut, but I’m not sure Logan even heard the difference. So Helmet it is.
An ambulance pulls into Paige’s driveway, and Bones pops out along with a co-worker. “Finally! Glad I’m on duty today,” Bones says with a grin.
“Oh! Ow!” Paige nearly tumbles right back out as they help her into the back. “Who the hell decided this was a good way for humans to make babies?”
“You coming too?” Bones’s co-worker asks, eager to get the door shut and get to hospital before Paige decides to just get it done with in the ambulance.
“Yep, here I come.” I climb into the back along with Bones.
“You can sit there,” he says, pointing me to a folding seat with belts. By the time I’m buckled in, we’re peeling out onto the road and accelerating.
Bones checks her vital signs, and times her contractions. Paige’s breathing starts coming faster, interrupted by sharp breaths and winces as contractions hit. Stronger too. I grab her hand and squeeze it, and when they hit, she squeezes back. With my free handI’m messaging the chat group we set up for this, so Savage, Poe and Crank know that they really should hurry up with beating up whoever they’re beating up.
I think we’re all half convinced Paige is about to push out an ambulance baby by the time we’re getting close. “Hold on, Paige. You can do this.”
“That’s… easy… for… you… to… say,” she produces between gasps. Her contractions are coming really quick now.
“Does it usually happen this fast? I thought you were still talking hours at this point.”
Bones shrugs. “Usually it takes a while for a first time mom, but sometimes they’re in a hurry. Don’t worry, if it comes here, we’ll handle it. Not my first rodeo.”
