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A loud knock on the front door has me stealing a glance at Wren with a raised brow, asking her silently if she invited someone over – we normally have a weekly dinner with her family, but that isn’t another five hours or so.
She shakes her head and I rise slowly from my chair, Nicole still perched happily on my hip. My eyes widen when I see my best friends standing on the porch, smiling brightly as they catch sight of Nicole clinging to me.
“Uncle Brent, Uncle Evan! I missed you!”
Just like that, Daddy is no longer her favorite man in the room. I can’t even try to compete with it. Brent and Evan love to spoil our kids rotten. Brent easily takes Nicole while Evan takes the first step into the house with his hands tucked into the pocket of his jeans.
They look at each other, communicating with stares instead of words, and it makes me wonder if something is seriously wrong.
“We have a show tonight to help raise money for cancer, and we want you to play with us.”
Well, that’s not what I expected to hear.
Wren
It’s been six years since Ryker decided quitting the band was the best thing for him, so I know Evan’s statement is throwing him for a loop. When the silence goes on far longer than necessary, I calmly step around the corner with Nico following behind me and clear my throat.
“He’ll do it,” I say proudly.
Ryker snaps his attention to mine, raises his eyebrows, and shakes his head. “I don’t know, baby. It’s been a while.”
I roll my eyes and smirk at him. “You’ve been teaching our son how to play the guitar, and I think you’re more than prepared to play a single show.”
There are times when I can tell Ryker misses the rockstar life, especially when he’s keeping up on Brent and Evan’s career, but I also know that he feels more content staying here with me and the kids.
I can’t say I disagree because I love always having him close, but I also know that he would regret it if he turned his best friends down right now.
“Dad, come on, that would be totally cool!” Nico says from in front of him, then turns to greet uncles. “Hey, Uncle Brent and Evan.”
Evan scoffs. “That’s the greeting I get. What happened to me being the favorite uncle?”
As much as they love fighting over who the favorite uncle is, everyone knows that goes to my older brother. Elias has been nothing short of supportive ever since I called to tell him about the grand gesture Ryker made for me all those years ago and he was elated when I told him about the pregnancy.
Since then, my brother has moved back to Arizona with his own wife and kids, visiting at least once a day to make sure we have play dates.
“Listen to your kid, man,” Brent says, hugging Nicole closely when she starts pressing kisses against his cheek.
My stomach cramps, and I lean against the wall for support, squeezing my eyes shut for a moment as the feeling passes.
Braxton Hicks.
That’s all it is.
I’m only four weeks away from my due date; there’s no way the baby is coming now. I shake from my thoughts and walk over to my husband, gently placing a hand on his shoulder with a smile. “I think you’ll regret it if you don’t go. It’s only one night. What could possibly go wrong?”
Just like that, another wave of pain shoots through my stomach, and I grip Ryker’s shoulder like my life depends on it.
“Wren, baby, are you okay?”
I nod while sinking my teeth into my bottom lip to keep my mind off the pain. This close together? That can’t possibly be good. “Just need to lie down, you remember how bad Braxton Hicks was last time.”
He stares at me curiously, studying me for any signs of a lie, then nods in response. “Go lie down on the couch. I’ll bring you something quick to eat.”
Just as I sit on the edge of the couch, another contraction pulls tight at the base of my stomach, and I lean back into the couch. Once I lay back, get into a different position, and take deep breaths, everything will be okay.
I’m not in labor.
I’ve done this enough times now that I’m only fooling myself, but there’s no way our unborn child is ruining its dad’s chances of playing for the first time on stage in years.
