Hayden

Maxwell Kade wasone intense motherfucker.

And that was after meeting Mason, who I had a feeling was considered the loose-cannon out of the two Kade brothers.

But Max was…

He was really, really intense, and he was scary when he felt someone, or something, was threatening those he loved most.

And I didn’t think there was anyone in this world he loved more than Olivia, and that included his brother.

“Hang on, kiddo. I’m going to get you to the hospital in time, okay?” he said from the driver’s seat. I was in the back with Olivia, doing the only thing I could do, which was hold her hand while Max drove as fast as he could to the hospital without risking our safety.

Olivia let out a small laugh that sounded way too much like a grimace for my liking. She tightened her hand around mine. “I’m about to be a mother. I don’t think you can call me that anymore.”

“Hush, now. You can have a dozen children and you’ll still be my kiddo. Got it, kiddo?”

We caught Max’s eye in the rearview mirror, and he winked. I could admit, he was charming when he needed to be, when he wasn’t trying to control everything to make sure we all got there safely and on time.

Max pulled up to the hospital entrance and got out, throwing his keys at the valet standing there. I had never been to a hospital with its own personal valet before, though I didn’t comment, and it wasn’t long before we got Olivia checked in and into her own private room.

Max was in the room with her, biting off the heads of all the nurses and doctors that came in to check on her, and though I wanted to stay with her, I didn’t think Olivia would want so many people in the room when she felt her most vulnerable.

I was out in the waiting area when I saw Mason, Gage, and finally Logan rushing in.

My heart pounded fiercely at the sight of Logan.

I hadn’t seen him in a week, and though he looked just as beautiful as he always did, he also looked tired and stressed. I had to look away. No doubt I was the reason he looked like that.

Mason got to me first. “Olivia?”

“She’s alright. Don’t worry. The doctor said it could be hours before she’s ready. Max is in there with her now.”

I pointed to the room and Mason took off without another word.

And then it was just me, Logan, and Gage.

I looked to Logan but didn’t say anything. I didn’t know what to say. I took a week away from him to figure things out, and I still didn’t know what to think.

Gage let out a low whistle and muttered something about giving us some privacy, though I doubted we could get much privacy in a hospital waiting room.

“How are you?” Logan asked. He raised his hands, as if he wanted to reach for me, but stopped at the last moment and dropped them awkwardly. I wished he had. Because nothing had made more sense in my life than the time I spent in his arms. I didn’t tell him that, though.

I cleared my throat. “I’m fine. And you?”

His eyes met mine, the hazel irises dimmer than what I was used to. “To be honest, I’ve been better.”

I looked away from him and shifted on my feet, my fists clenched by my sides. All I wanted to do was reach out to him. And I know he would be receptive to it, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. At least not yet.

I still didn’t even know what I was feeling.

I wasn’t angry at him anymore, though admittedly, I had felt it the first night I left and ended up sleeping in Mason and Olivia’s guest bedroom.

I was trying to come to terms with my feelings when a commotion caught my attention. A little boy, about three or four, was running around, and a petite woman with long red hair and the most arresting green eyes was running after him.

“Hunter Costner get back here!” she yelled.

The little boy giggled and shook his head. “No, Mama. Catch me. Catch me!”