Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 38483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
“Why are you up?” Justin asks, dropping my bag off his shoulder and rushing to my side as soon as he comes through the door. “Did you have another one?”
“Yes.” I lean into him and let him help me back to the couch. I take a deep breath through my nose and let it out through my mouth. “It’s over now.” I sigh in relief and lean back against the cushion.
“I don’t think I was gone for even five minutes.” The worry in his tone is audible.
“I don’t think you were either.”
“C’mon.” He tugs on my hand and leads me to the door. “I can’t handle seeing you in that much pain. We’re going to the hospital.”
“But—”
He doesn’t let me finish. He goes and grabs my bag then comes back to the couch and picks me up. Cradled in the safety of his embrace, I wrap my arms around his shoulders as he carries me out the door. “You can call your doctor on the way. At the rate you’re having contractions, you’ll have four more before I even get you to the hospital.”
“Okay.” I’m not about to argue with him, not when I’m seriously scared myself by how quickly each one seems to be coming. Especially when I read it’s normal to be in pre-labor for hours with your first baby.
“Let me help.” He takes the seatbelt from my shaking hands once he has me in the passenger seat of his Rover.
“Thank you,” I whisper, and his eyes linger over my face before he clicks my buckle into place.
“Anything,” he whispers back, brushing his lips over mine before moving out the door and slamming it closed. A moment later, he climbs behind the wheel then reaches over and laces his fingers through mine, giving them a squeeze. “I know it’s got to be hard as fuck for you to trust me, baby, but I promise you’ll never regret it.” He starts the engine and pulls out of the parking lot.
“It’s actually easy trusting you,” I admit quietly as he drives. Yes, my brain might’ve needed a little more time to catch up, but my heart seemed to know right away that he was the kind of guy any woman would be lucky to have, including me.
“That’s good to know,” he says, and I start to laugh, but it’s cut off by another contraction. While I breathe through it, his gaze darts to the clock on the dash as he steps on the gas to speed up.
A little less than a minute later, the pain passes, and I pant, “You’re everything I didn’t expect to find.”
“Fuck, sweetheart,” he groans. “How can you be so damn sweet when you’re in labor? Aren’t you supposed to be yelling and screaming at me?”
“Do you want me to yell at you?”
“Not really,” he says, squeezing my fingers, and I laugh as he stops at a red light and turns to look at me. “Seriously, baby. If anyone in this car is lucky, it’s me, not you.”
“I think that goes to prove I’m right about you.” I shift in my seat, trying to get comfortable now that my lower back is aching. It doesn’t do any good, and I grimace at the pain.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, his tone full of worry.
I try to smile at him, but my attempt doesn’t appear to reassure him much. “The contraction’s over, but now my back hurts.” Tears fill my eyes as I start to freak out. “What if the recurring nightmare I’ve had about giving birth in the parking lot all by myself was a warning? What if we should’ve called an ambulance? What if—”
“Aubrey,” he bites out in a firm, deep voice, cutting me off. “Take a deep breath, baby.”
I squeeze my eyes shut and focus on my breathing. “Okay, you’re right. I need to try to stay calm. Even if you have to pull over before we make it to the hospital, it’s not like I’ll be alone.”
“I’m not going to have to pull over so you can give birth. Your doctor said the first time you give birth takes the longest, remember?” he reassures me. I give him a jerky nod and keep on breathing. “We’re halfway there already. You’re doing great.”
“So are you,” I say, and he laughs, thinking I’m joking when I’m not. I’m almost sure most men wouldn’t be this calm and understanding in the same situation.
“All I’m doing is driving, sweetheart. You’re the one who’s doing all the hard work.”
“You’re not just driving.” My throat gets tight. “You’re here for me.”
“Damn straight I’m here, and I’ll never let you be alone again if you let me.”
I turn my head, open my eyes, and stare at him in silence as he drives for another minute or so before all the muscles in my lower abdominal area squeeze tight and I have to pant through the pain again. When it passes, I whisper, “You better be careful what you offer right now, because I might hold you to it, Justin.”