“Does it hurt?” Kat’s sweet voice washes over me.
I’m too weary to sugarcoat it tonight. “Yeah.” My sister looks weepy as she stares at the angry purple bruises painting both of my biceps. I don’t tell her about the one on my ass. “But I’m okay.” Physically, at least.
I’m sprawled out on the couch in her living room, and Brady is pacing back and forth in front of us. “That goddamn asshole. I’m gonna rip his arms off his fucking body.”
Brady didn’t take any of this well, especially not the part where Jamie picked me up and physically threw me out of the house.
“I appreciate the sentiment, but you will do no such thing.” I motion to Kat’s enormous belly. “Stork alert. We got a baby about to land over here. You ending up in jail is not the way to kick things off. And we both know you’re the one who bails me out. Not the other way around.”
Neither of us laugh at my lame joke. I have to keep Brady out of trouble, though. He’s been there for me too many times over the years to let him get tangled up in my mess.
The mention of babies has me thinking about Cody, and I blink back the heat in my eyes. I hope he’s okay. That whatever happened tonight wasn’t too serious.
“Have you called Ethan?” my sister asks.
I shake my head, hot tears stinging my cheeks. The truth is I’ve been too scared to call. I know I should be brave, but I’m tired. So fucking tired. I don’t have the heart to chase after Ethan. I’ve laid it on the line, and if he wants me, he knows where to find me.
But he doesn’t call.
My phone sits still on the coffee table, its black screen taunting me.
Eventually, I stop checking it.
Kat lets me cry on her shoulder, and tonight I don’t hold back.
Tonight, it’s a dark torrent, this love. Full and unyielding. Crashing through me and carving out the last tender parts of my heart.
I let it cut.
Because when it’s done, I won’t wallow.
I won’t let myself fall apart over another man.
Not again.
Not ever.
With a final click of the mouse, I force myself to smile. This is good, I remind myself. It doesn’t matter that I feel like death because I’m moving forward. I’ve registered for my classes this fall, and that’s positive.
Yes, I’m utterly heartbroken that Ethan and I are probably over, and while I’d love to curl up in a ball for the next week and eat my weight in ice cream, I won’t let myself go that route.
Ignoring my swollen, itchy eyes, I set Kat’s laptop on the kitchen table and reach for her hand. “Thanks,” I whisper. “For everything.”
“Anytime. I mean that.”
She looks exhausted, and I feel guilty for bawling all over her last night, but that’s what sisters are for, right? “I know you do. That’s why you’re my favorite sister.”
We smile at each other like fools.
“Morning.” Brady comes stomping in and pauses when he sees us.
I wave him in. “I’m done crying. You can do whatever you have to do.”
He tells Kat he needs to pick up his check at the tattoo parlor in Austin, and then he’ll get Izzy from his parents’ house. “It shouldn’t take longer than two hours.” Worry knits his brows. “But maybe I should ask one of the guys to drop off the check.”
I squeeze my sister’s hand. “I’ve got Kat. If anything happens, I’m right here.” He frowns, and I mock being offended. “What? I watch all those medical shows. Grey’s Anatomy, reruns of ER, House. I got you, bro.” Plus, my parents are driving up later today. They want to be here the moment this baby arrives.
Still frowning, he kisses his wife’s forehead. “You’re sure you’re okay? You moaned all night.”
“Oh my God, you guys.” I cover my ears. “Too much information!”
Brady snickers and shakes his head. “She was moaning because she’s so pregnant, doofus. Not because I was giving her the midnight express.”
“LOL.” Thank God.
My sister laughs. “I don’t think you’re supposed to say LOL in person.”
“Says who? I do things my way. You do it yours.” I’m difficult, but she knows this.
Brady eventually leaves after we assure him—again—that Kat’s fine.
The first half hour alone goes well. We drink this weird ginger pregnancy tea, and I make my sister some scrambled eggs.
But then my luck goes south.
Really south.
Because her water breaks.
Kat looks at me like I’m crazy. “Let’s just wait for Brady.”
“He’s probably in Austin right now, and your contractions are five minutes apart. Five. Why didn’t you tell me your back hurt all night?”
“I didn’t think they were contractions!” Her voice is wheezy since she’s trying to breathe through the pain.
“Look, I’m driving you to the hospital. It’ll be fine. If we hurry, we’ll beat the noon rush. Bet you can pop out this baby before dinner. I’m a speed demon when I want to be, remember? We can drag-race on the way there.”
Her death grip on my hand makes me pause. “Stop trying to be funny.”
“I’m not trying. I’m naturally funny. Now get your ass in the truck. Come on, I’ll help you waddle.” In the meanwhile, hopefully Brady will get my messages and haul himself back here.
Except, shit. Now we’re headed to the hospital. Whatever. One crisis at a time.
We only make it to the Lone Star diner when I have to pull over because Kat says she has to push.
All I know is that’s bad.
I run into the packed restaurant screaming like a crazy person. “I need a doctor! A nurse! A paramedic! Someone who knows more than McDreamy references.” Everyone stares at me.
Fuck my life, nothing ever works like it does in the movies.
Rounding the truck, I open the passenger door. “How you doing?”
Sweat beads her forehead, and she reaches for me with a clammy hand. “Baby’s coming. Like, now.”
Can’t freak out.
Can’t.
Cannot.
“Everything’s gonna be okay.” I don’t recognize my voice because inside I’m losing my shit. “Ambulance is on its way.”
The Texas heat sears into me as I bounce on my toes with nervous energy and yank my hair into a massive bun on top of my head.
Why did I tell Brady to go? Why?
A small audience gathers behind me. Patrons from the restaurant and some neighbors. Scanning the faces, I spot one of the waitresses. “Get me some clean towels and some hot water. Maybe a glass of ice water too. Oh, and a clean turkey baster!”
She nods like this makes perfect sense, and I ignore the strange look on my sister’s face. No need to tell her what that last item is for.
“Let’s get you more comfortable.” I release the lever for Kat’s seat and shift the whole contraption back as slowly as possible before I recline her. “Better?”
“Yeah.” Her pasty, pale complexion freaks me out. She might be the one in labor, but I have to remind myself to breathe too.
I feel bad that she’s sitting here with a towel under her ass like a diaper and half of our town is watching this go down. Ugh, the indignity of childbirth.
Please, don’t poop, Kat. I know you’ll never forgive me for dropping a deuce in front of so many people.
The waitress runs up to me with the supplies I asked her for, and I lean over my sister and set everything on the driver’s seat except for the ice water, which I offer to Kat to drink.
“Tori!”
Goosebumps race up and down my arms. That voice.
When I see Ethan stalking toward me, weaving through the crowd, my knees almost buckle.
It takes two seconds to shake myself out of it.
Fuck that.
I don’t have time to deal with him right now even though my heart can’t decide if I’m elated to see him or so fucking mad, I wanna sock him in the nuts.
“What’s going on?” he asks over my shoulder.
I snort. “What does it look like? Kat’s having her baby.” Duh. I roll my eyes.
As discreetly as possible, I reach for the container of hand sanitizer and squirt it all over myself.
When Kat sees what I’m doing, her eyes widen. “Why do you need that?”
“In the event you pop out a living, breathing human before the paramedics arrive, I thought I should have clean hands. So I can catch him. Or her.” Damn it, why didn’t I bring any blankets? “I used to play basketball in high school. I got you, babe.”
I don’t remind her that I sucked at basketball and all that dribbling. I’m not good with big balls.
I’m too freaked out to mentally snicker at my dirty joke.
When her next contraction overwhelms her, a war-like shriek breaks from her lips, making me jump, but Ethan places a warm hand on my shoulder.
I clench my eyes shut and say a prayer for Kat and this baby. That they’re okay. That I can get them through this.
We can do this.
Behind me, I tell everyone behind me to back off, because I need to protect the sanctity of my sister’s vag, and Ethan helps me, making sure no one can see into the cab of the truck.
I hoist up Kat’s butt so I can push down her soggy underwear, which is tough to do standing outside the passenger side, leaning in, but it’s not like there’s an easier way. She lifts her swollen legs, balancing her feet on the edge of her seat, and grunts.
“Where’s Brady?” She’s crying and trembling.
Ethan leans over my shoulder. “He’s coming. I just talked to him.”
Holding her hand, I start spouting nonsense to distract her. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you lost your mucus plug. I thought sisters were supposed to tell each other everything.”
She sniffles in between contractions. “How do you know about mucus plugs?”
“Google. I told you I was studying up on pregnancy. You’re my big sister. My only sister. You think I’m going to let you pass a beach ball through your hoo-ha and not research it? Hello. I’m true blue.”
Ethan mumbles something behind me that sounds like, “You are,” but I don’t have time to figure it out because my sister is pushing and bawling and sweating. So much sweating.
“Do you want to squat? I hear squatting is a thing. It’s all natural and helps get more oxygen to the baby. And, like, women drop trou in the Amazon, squat, and squirt out their babies, but you know, without the actual squirting. Hopefully.” Please, Jesus, no squirting.
“Stop making me laugh.” She smacks me, and I flinch because she nailed that bruise on my arm, but she probably doesn’t know it because my t-shirt has three-quarter sleeves. “Yes, I want to squat. Help me.”
It’s a tough squeeze because she’s carrying a Goliath-sized child, but I help her plant her feet on the floor and wedge her body between the seat and the dash.
Pausing, she pulls me close until we’re eye to eye. Damn, she’s strong for a pregnant lady. “Catch. The. Baby. Or. Else.”
“On my life, I’ll catch this baby.” Truer words were never spoken.
Reaching underneath her, I ignore the weird gush of fluid and hope I don’t catch a turd instead of a child.
Holy shit. I’m really doing this.
Another contraction makes Kat wobble, but Ethan reaches over my shoulder and steadies her. She eyes me warily. “Sorry this is so gross.”
“It is gross, but it’s okay. I love you. Just don’t forget to name the baby after me.”
“No more jokes.”
“I can’t help it.”
Her face goes red with another contraction. More screaming and crying.
And then… a wet, squelching plop.
I fumble, but only a smidge.
Because I promised my sister.
Checking between the baby’s legs, I smile through my tears—I have a niece!
And I caught her with a prayer and my bare hands like a freaking wide receiver.
I am officially a badass.
“And then Tori sucked the fluid out of the baby’s mouth with a turkey baster!” my sister exclaims while she snuggles baby Annabelle Victoria Shepherd to her chest. “She was amazing!”
Everyone in the hospital room stares at me. Brady, his parents, my parents, Ethan.
I avert my teary eyes.
My mother crosses herself. “Gracias a Dios que estabas con tu hermana, Victoria.”
She thanks God I was with my sister.
“Yes, mija. We’re so glad you were there.” Dad gives me a weird side hug. “If anyone could do this, it’s you. You were always the brave one. Always so bold and strong.”
Wait. Whaaaat?
Dad smiles at Ethan. “But you know you have your hands full with this one, right?”
I look away, not wanting to see Ethan’s expression. It’s still too painful.
My parents don’t know we broke up. I mean, I guess we broke up. Ethan never came to see me last night, and now that the adrenaline from the live birth experience is waning, all the reasons why I’m pissed at him are falling into place like a game of Tetris.
So I’m shocked—stunned—when Ethan pulls me to his chest and kisses my forehead. “Well, I love her, so I’ll gladly take whatever she’s offering.”
I shove him away. “Now? You tell me that now?”
My dad laughs and pats him on the back. “Good luck with my little fireball.”
“We need to talk.” Angrily, I poke Ethan in the chest, and everyone behind me chuckles except Brady. I’m pretty sure if he weren’t about to cradle his baby, he’d be in Ethan’s face right now for letting Jamie treat me like shit.
I give my brother-in-law a look.
I got this.
