Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
He handed me the phone and I brought it to my sweaty ear. It rang twice then went to voicemail.
“Damn it. I need my phone so I can call my mom.”
“You don’t know your mom’s phone number?”
“No, I don’t know my mom’s phone number! It’s the twenty-first century. Who remembers phone numbers anymore?”
“But your mom’s number’s probably something—”
“Shut the fuck up and call my phone so I can find it!”
“God, you’re scary.” He took the phone and paused. “Do you know your phone number?”
“Yes, I know my phone number,” I snapped, rattling off the number to him as I panted through the pain. “Why are the contractions coming so fast?”
“I don’t know but I’m really praying it’s just gas.”
“Shh, it’s ringing.” I held up a hand, silencing him. “Hush!”
“I’m not saying anything.”
“I said shush.”
“God, you’re terrifying.”
I sent him a scathing glare as my ears tracked the ringing. “Where the hell is it?” I waddled into the living room, flinging cushions off the couch until the call went to voice mail. I dialed again.
“Look, why don’t we just get into my car and take you to Hale?”
“I’m not going to the hospital with you!”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t like you!”
“Well, I’m not a huge fan of yours right now either, but you have goop and people coming out of you, so I really think we should find a doctor.”
“I need my spiritual doula.”
“Your what?”
“My—Woahaaaaaaaaoweee—oooh, fucking butt-fucking fuck! What?” Okay, that one really hurt.
“Jesus Christ. How did I get here?”
I swallowed, almost positive I was going to vomit from the pain. “I need water.”
“Are you allowed to drink during labor?”
“Just get me some fucking water!”
“Okay, okay!” He rushed to the fridge, slipping and sliding across the floor until he caught the counter and glared at me. “You’re so lucky I didn’t fall in that shit.”
“That shit is the miracle of life, you insensitive prick!”
He shoved a bottle of water into my hands. “We’re going to the car.”
My face pinched as tears rushed to my eyes. “I don’t want to go without Hale.”
“Rayne, Hale’s going to meet us there. I’m going to get you to him as fast as humanly possible. Believe me! But you have to get into the car. The sooner you get into the car, the sooner we get to Hale.”
“Okay.” I sniffled and leaned into him as he helped me to the door. “I’m sorry I yelled at you.”
“Don’t worry about it.” He led me out the front door to a tiny black Lamborghini. “Not to be a dick, but could you try not to leak anything on my seats.”
“Oh, my God, you’re such an asshole.”
“I’m sorry! But I just had the upholstery redone.”
Stifling a sob, my chin quivered as a low hum whistled out of me. Where was Hale? Where was Willow? I wanted my Mom. This was not my birthing plan. And this prick of a man was not going to make me cry.
“No, no, no, no!” He held up his hands like I was a fragile vase about to fall. “Never mind. Fuck the seats. Get in. Everything’s fine. Don’t cry.”
Shaken and terrified, I lowered onto the seat as my insides twisted like a vise. How the hell I was ever getting out of such a low car?
Xander’s phone rang the moment I buckled the seat belt. I looked up at him with desperate hope in my eyes. “Is that Hale?”
“Yes. Here.” He shoved the phone into my hands and raced around to the driver’s side.
I brought the phone to my ear. “Hale?”
“Baby, are you okay? You sound upset.”
The driver’s door slammed. “Wait! I have a bag.”
Xander looked at me like I was asking him to leap out of an airplane. Then slouched and sighed. “Where?”
“It’s under the table in the foyer.” He rushed back into the house. “Hale?”
“I’m here, baby. I’m driving as fast as I can to get to you.”
“I don’t want to do this without you.”
“You won’t. I’m on my way. Tell me what’s happening.”
“Xander’s getting the bag.”
“Okay, good. And what about you? Any more contractions?”
Oh, there were contractions. As I tried to answer, one tore through me, and I gasped. “Hale,” I said, my voice laden with fear.
“Shit.” He heard my worry and sensed I was in pain. “Remember everything we learned, Rayne. Deep, calming breaths.”
I inhaled and blew out a jagged breath. Small whimpers were all I could manage to let him know I was still there as my stomach tightened again.
“I’m about ten minutes from the hospital,” he said. “I called your mom, and she’s going to meet us there.”
“What about Andrew and Willow? I can’t find my phone and I didn’t leave a note.”
“They know what’s going on. I spoke to Andrew. Willow is walking back from the park and she’s going to be right behind you. Andrew’s got Elara covered. You just have to worry about you and the baby.”