Page 49 of F Buddy

“The baby is coming,” was all she managed to gasp.

Suddenly, there were other people around us. I got defensive until I realized it was our friends finally stepping in. Olivia stepped up to her other side and tried to take her from me. I refused to let her go and Olivia shot me a glare but relented.

Our friends rushed us to the hospital; me, Olivia and Scarlett taking one cab, while the rest of them came after us. There was a bit of traffic, and I was pretty sure I wasn’t useful at all. If anything, I panicked right along with Scarlett as Olivia put her through her breathing exercises.

We made it to the hospital just in time for her to double over in her first contraction.

“Scarlett!”

Olivia and I held her as she let out a short scream of pain. Then there were people there in scrubs taking her away, one guy holding me back as I went to follow. I watched Scarlett disappear from view, thoughts moving a mile a minute.

She’d said the baby was mine. I’d more or less ignored it when she said it just a few moments ago, but it jumped in my mind right then. And even without some form of proof, suddenly I was sure. Scarlett was carrying my baby and not only had I been stupid, but I’d been fucking blind too.

Chapter 20

Scarlett

Everything was moving too fast; my mind didn’t even have a moment to catch up. The moment I felt something wet flowing down my thighs and realized I was ready to give birth, everything had gone a little blurry.

I was scared. The doctor's visits had projected I’d be giving birth at least a week later. I’d hoped my mom would be there to get me through the moment. Of course, Zach was there, but he was probably the reason I was going into labor early, and in spite of what he’d told me, I wasn’t sure I wanted him there.

The ride to the hospital was frantic, and if Olivia hadn’t been there, I might have choked on my breath. I had a vice grip on Zach’s hand, and I had to admit it helped a little. But then we got to the hospital, and pain as I'd never known was suddenly piercing me, starting from between my thighs and rising over my stomach. I knew what it was, of course. Thanks to Olivia taking me to pregnancy classes, I had a better understanding of the whole process.

Suddenly, there were people there, pushing my friends away from me and taking me away. I was put in a wheelchair and I was glad to be off my feet. But then they were rushing me away, and I heard Zach call out to me, but he was too far away. I’d only just caught my breath and opened my mouth to complain when another painful contraction had me doubling over my stomach.

Things were moving fast again, people rushing around, voices I didn’t know shouting things I didn’t understand. I was put in a bed and left there for the moment as people rushed around me, setting up equipment.

Then a nurse stopped at my head, shaking my shoulder a little to get my attention.

“Ma’am, we have a man named Zach asking to be allowed in here with you. He claims to be the father. Can we let him in?”

My eyes welled up with tears. Was Zach admitting to being the father of my baby? After he’d accused me, I’d assumed it was because he didn’t want to be associated with the child or me. I wouldn’t have forced him into taking a DNA test, but I’d been angry when he said it so carelessly.

I could have wept and did as I nodded my head frantically. If my mom couldn't be there with me, then I wouldn’t want anyone there but Zach. I hadn’t forgiven him completely, but suddenly I very much wanted him there.

It seemed like he was there almost instantly, covered in scrubs with a cap over his head, a mask over his mouth, and gloves on his hands. But I could see his eyes, and I recognized them. I reached my hand out for his, and he took it gladly.

“Shh, Scarlett,” he murmured, trying to calm me as I continued to cry. “Don’t cry, baby. You’re fine.”

I shook my head and looked up at him. “Zach, I’m scared,” I told him, deciding on honesty.

I heard his breath hitch and his hand tightened around mine. He pulled the mask off his mouth and pressed a quick kiss to my lips, and on my cheeks, under my eyes, wiping away the tears. I let him comfort me, my crying reducing to hiccups.

Then he put the mask back on his face. “It’ll be fine, Scarlett. Just a little longer, and we’re going to hold our baby, right?”

I nodded, smiling a little at the way he said ‘our baby’.

Another contraction pierced through my body, and my scream caught the attention of everyone else in the room. I knew I would have to endure the pain, and I wasn’t sure I could. I strangled Zach’s hand in mine, and he didn’t complain, just murmured words of comfort to me.

That time seemed to go on forever. I barely understood the instructions the people around me were barking at each other. I kept most of my focus on Zach, even as my knees were raised and my legs spread.

My brain seemed to white out at the pain that attacked me in waves so much fiercer than before. I was in so much pain I thought something had gone wrong, but I could hear the encouragement in the doctor’s voice and continued to do as he instructed.

After what felt like ages, I gave a final push and fell back on the bed in exhaustion. I was pretty sure if I needed to do it again, I’d pass out. But it was unnecessary. Somehow, I’d missed it, but then I heard a loud, shrill cry. It took me a moment to realize it was the baby crying. I blinked the tears out of my eyes, frantically looking for Zach’s face.

He still had his hand in mine, his other buried gently in my hair. He had the mask over his face, but he was looking away. He stared at where the sound came from, a blank look of shock on his face. I waited for him to realize I was looking at him, and he blinked down at me.

“Zach?”