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As we pull through the hospital roundabout, Parker and Kenra jump out instantly, and as swiftly as possible, I dartbetween the seats, stretching out and hitting the lock button on the doors.
As my ass falls back in the seat, I look out in time to see Parker jogging through the double doors, probably to get help or something, but Kenra steps over, tugging on the handle of our door.
“What the hell?” She knocks, cupping her hands and pressing her face to the window to try and see through the tint.
I turn to Payton, take her face in my hands, and tip it toward me.
Her hands come up, wrapping around my wrists, fear written across her face.
“I can’t do this,” she finally cries.
“Listen to me, Payton Baylor,” I whisper, holding her gaze. “You’ve gone through hell for years, but you fought through it, and in that hell, you found a bit of peace to hold on to in a boy who meant the world to you. And then you lost him.” Her lower lip trembles, and I clutch her tighter. “But you’re still here, Pretty Little. Pushing and fighting and growing even stronger than before. I know you’re afraid, but you’re also brave. Braver than me, no doubt, and I need you to know, even if you were all by yourself, the ten of us here nowhere to be found, you could do this.”
She shakes her head, but I push on.
“You can. You’re the strongest person I know, and you’ve fucking got this. And if for some reason you need a little help, I’m right here. Hold on to me. Yell or scream or claw at me, tear me a-fucking-part if it helps, and know that I’ll still be right here, no matter what. You amaze me, gorgeous girl. You’ve got me in every sense of the word.” I press my forehead to hers, our gazes still locked. “I’m not goinganywhere.”
Big blues blink up at me, a tenderness taking over her tense features.
“Promise,” she whispers. “Promise me, Mason. No matter what. Promise me.”
A shudder runs through me, my eyes burning as I stare intently into hers. “I promise, Pretty Little.”
She stares a moment longer, and then a small smile breaks her lips, a choked laugh escaping. “Oh my god, I’m about to have a baby.”
A laugh breaks from my lips, and I look up over my shoulder to see Parker now back with a wheelchair, the others rushing down the path from where they had to park.
I face the angel at my side with a smirk. “Yeah, you are. So what do you say? You ready to meet your little man?”
She licks her lips with a nod, smiling wildly now. “I’m ready.”
I open the car door, and in the hospital we go.
I’mreallyfuckingglad I gave Payton that pep talk before we stepped into the hospital, because apparently her water breaking at home was just the beginning. I mean, I knew that, but it wasn’t until we got up in the room, the monitors all hooked up and the doctor coming in for the second time, that shit got real.
Parker stepped out, glaring at me when all I did was move back a few feet, but that was only for his benefit. The doc told him to wait outside, and I’m not sure why the woman didn’t tell me to go, too, but she didn’t. The only reason I moved at all is because Payton gave me a small nod.
Maybe because she didn’t want to hurt her brother’s feelings, or maybe it was because the doctor threw Payton’s gown up to her waist like she was simply looking under the hood of a car, but either way, I slipped out.
Of course, the second Parker and the others turned around and a nurse came out the double doors blocking her from me, I snuck through them before they could close. I went right back to her bedside, ignoring the looks Kenra was shooting me from Payton’s opposite side. I was so fast, only out maybe a solid minute, that the doc hadn’t even had time to stand from her little rolling chair.
I don’t know what it was they put in Payton’s IV, but it’s been only five minutes now, and the whole-ass game has changed. Payton’s contractions have finally started, and according to the nurse with her head between her legs right now, she’s moving at an accelerated rate.
It’s absolute fucking torture.
She’s crying, gripping the bars on the side of the bed, and writhing in agony, tears fogging her ocean eyes. She can hardly sit still, and I’m as useful to her right now as a condom would be.
But I don’t move from my spot at her side. I wouldn’t dare.
Not when every few minutes, she lifts her pretty head to look at me, as if to make sure I’m still there.
I swallow, moving with the nurse toward the door, and whisper, “How much longer?”
She smiles brightly as she pulls her gloves off and tosses them in a red bin. “Any time now, hon. Just keep doing what you’re doing, and you’ll get to meet your little one soon.”
“Mase.”
I whip around to find her hand outstretched and hurry back.
