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“I’m fine,” she whispers, looking up at me.
Don’t lie to me, my scowl screams, and she responds in kind, her little glare replying withI’m not. I don’t mean to smile, but it grows wider when a low chuckle leaves her. She shakes her head and settles once more.
Fine or not, I stay beside her regardless, and I plan to all damn day.
Because the gang’s all here now, and that means soon…she won’t be.
Unfortunately, soon comes too quick, and before I know it, I’m lying alone in my bed, staring at the dark ceiling. No matter what I do, I can’t get comfortable. The bed feels too big, too…empty.
Jesus, I turned into a sap.
I smirk to myself.
I think I’m okay with that.
I wonder if she’s asleep. I look toward the clock, finding it’s a little after eleven.
Is she lying restless like me? Wishing she’d stayed instead of going back?
Lifting my phone off my chest, I sigh, scrolling through social media, something I haven’t done all week. It’s just as boring now as it was then, and I toss it back down, flipping onto my stomach. Forcing my eyes closed, I begin to count down from a hundred. I make it all the way to fifteen when my phone pings.
I jerk up, looking at the screen to find it’s from Payton.
Sitting up, I pull up the message.
My Pretty Little: Mase?
I hit the Call button instantly, my pulse jumping faster by the second, because somehow I just know something is wrong.
She answers on the second ring, a soft sniffle tearing into me, and I fly to my feet.
“Tell me what’s wrong.”
“I’m scared,” she whispers.
“Baby, what’s wrong?”
Another sniffle, and then a shaky “I think the baby is coming.”
I’m already shoving into my shoes and running out of my room.
“I…I need you, Mase,” she cries, the sound so fucking soft.
And there it is.
She fucking needs me.
“I’m on my way.” I run down the stairs, screaming, “Payton’s in labor, and she’s scared!”
Just like that, doors open, footsteps pound, and the whole gang is out the door.
By the time we’re seated and pulling from the driveway, Ari has Kenra on the phone. Turns out I’m the only person Payton told, even though she was in a room just down the hall from her brother when her water broke.
I’m gonna analyze the hell out of that later, but calling them ahead of time was the right thing to do to get us moving. They are running out the door and jumping into Parker’s car as we pull to the curb, but not Payton.
She hesitates, her eyes snapping over and finding mine as I hop from the Tahoe, ditching the driver seat and ready to climb in the back seat with her. It seems she was waiting or expecting that, too, as she didn’t dare climb in until I was at her side, my intention clear. Ignoring the frowns from my cousin and her man, I press my body right against hers, our hands clinging together instantly. I don’t know who gets behind the wheel of my Tahoe, and I don’t care.
My focus is on the girl gripping me for dear life, a nervous expression on her pretty face. She doesn’t say a word the entire drive, just clenches her eyes and my fist.
