Chapter 28 #2
I work him slowly, finding a rhythm that makes his breathing ragged. My hand wraps around what I can’t take, stroking in time with my mouth. The sounds he makes…they’re desperate, guttural groans. They go straight between my legs.
“Look at me,” he says.
I do, meeting his eyes while I take him deeper. His eyes are full of want, need, adoration, protection, and…love, maybe?
“You’re so beautiful,” he says. “On your knees for me. Taking me like a good girl.”
I moan around him, and his hips jerk slightly. One hand braces against the shower wall while the other stays in my hair, guiding me but never forcing.
“Fuck, Peaches,” he says. “You’re working me so fucking good.”
I pull back just enough to tease him.
I take him as far back as I can, nearly gagging on him. His breathing increases, and I work him faster, wanting to watch him fall apart.
“Holiday, I’m—fuck—”
He pulses in my mouth, and I drink him down, watching him lose himself. I love the way he looks when he comes completely undone.
I stand and wrap my arms around him, kissing him, allowing the taste of both of us to mix into our mouths.
“I think I want to conserve water every day,” I whisper across his lips, smiling.
“Fuck, me too.” Then he cups my face and kisses me deeply under the hot stream.
We finish rinsing our bodies, and he turns off the water. Lucas wraps me in a towel and then wraps one around himself.
We’re both still trying to recover from our shower, smiling at each other in the candlelight, when our phones buzz from the bedroom at the same time.
We look at each other, and then we rush into the bedroom where our phones are lighting up with notifications. I grab mine and see I’ve been added to the family group chat. I look at it, and then I look at Lucas. He shrugs.
Hudson
Emma’s in labor. Going to Merryville General now.
Claire
Emma’s having the twins! Everyone’s heading to the hospital!
Mom
Holiday, Emma’s in labor. We’re all going to the hospital. Are you?
Lucas is already pulling on jeans and a T-shirt. “We need to go right now.”
I drop my towel and scramble to get dressed, throwing on the clothes I brought. My hair is still wet, but there’s no time to dry it. Lucas is fully dressed in less than a minute and grabbing his keys.
“You ready?” he asks.
“Yeah. Let’s go,” I tell him, trying to slide on my flats as I walk down the stairs. We both walk as fast as we can to his truck. He drives faster than usual, but his hand finds mine.
I text the family group chat back quickly.
Holiday
On the way to the hospital now. Be there in ten minutes.
Jake
Lucas with you?
Mawmaw
Ooooohhh!
I blush and swallow hard.
“Oh, no, they’re giving you a hard time already?” Lucas asks. “You know how they are, so it’s kinda your fault.”
“True,” I tell him.
Holiday
Yep!
Claire
Is that wedding bells I hear?
Holiday
I can absolutely leave this chat.
I’m bombarded with several not an option and no replies.
We pull into the hospital parking lot, and Lucas finds a spot close to the entrance.
We practically run inside, following signs to the maternity ward.
I haven’t known Emma for too long, but she became a fast friend, and I care about her well-being.
Plus, this is Lucas’s niece and nephew being born, which is a big deal.
The waiting room is already packed. Hudson’s parents, Emma and Claire’s dad, Jake, Claire, and Mawmaw are all present. It feels like half the town is here.
Mawmaw sees us first. “There you are! Got here in record time. I hope you weren’t speeding. You know the troopers are out this time of year.”
“You both showered,” Jake says conveniently. I see several pairs of eyes go to mine and Lucas’s hair.
“Yes? And? Is that not allowed?” I ask, challenging him.
“Together?” Jake adds, giving Lucas a hard time.
Mawmaw speaks up. “Hudson’s with Emma now. Doctor said it could still be a few hours.”
“Or it could be any minute,” Dad adds. “Twins don’t follow a schedule.”
“How would you know?” Lucas asks him.
“I’m Santa. I know everything.” He blinks at him.
We find seats at the end of the row, and Lucas drapes his arm across the back of my chair. Everyone notices but no one says anything directly. Bella slides into the chair next to me with a knowing smile.
“You both look guilty as sin,” she whispers.
“Shut. Up,” I tell her. “You’re annoying.”
“I know,” she says. “I’m like an annoying little sister. Which is great, because when you’d babysit me and Wendy, we’d pretend like you were our meaner older sister.”
I turn to her. “Oh really? I let you do whatever you wanted.”
She chuckles. “You’re right.”
Jake brings us coffee from the vending machine and settles in on Lucas’s other side. I lean into Lucas without thinking about it, and his arm comes around me naturally. Mawmaw is definitely watching but I don’t care anymore. I’m in the family group chat. They all know at this point.
When he thinks no one is looking, he presses a kiss to my damp hair.
We wait for what feels like forever. People doze in their chairs. Someone orders pizza that arrives around midnight. Mawmaw tells stories about when her own children were born, making everyone laugh. Lucas’s dad paces, and each time he walks, his shoes jingle.
Lucas traces circles on my palm. Every so often, I catch his mawmaw watching us with a soft smile on her face.
Around one in the morning, Hudson finally bursts through the doors with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on his face.
“They’re here!” he announces. “One healthy baby boy and one healthy baby girl!”
The waiting room erupts in cheers and congratulations. Hudson’s eyes are wet with tears, but he’s grinning from ear to ear.
“Emma’s incredible. The babies are perfect. They’re so tiny and beautiful and—” His voice cracks. “Colby is in there holding them before anyone else. He’s going to be such a good big brother.”
Jake pulls Hudson into a hug and they’re both crying and laughing at the same time. Hudson’s parents rush to embrace him. Everyone is talking at once, asking questions, and congratulating him.
“How much do they weigh?” Mawmaw asks.
“Five pounds, three ounces for Evan and five pounds even for Ella,” Hudson says. “They’re small but strong.”
“And Emma?” his mom asks.
“She’s tired but wants everyone to meet them before she goes to sleep.”
We wait another thirty minutes while the nurses get Emma and the babies settled. The energy in the room is completely different now. It’s joyful and full of anticipation.
Finally, a nurse comes out and says we can go in to see them in small groups.
Lucas’s parents go first, then Mawmaw. After her, Mr. Manchester, Claire, and Jake go.
When it’s finally our turn, Lucas takes my hand and we walk into Emma’s room together.
He smiles at me, and I can’t help but smile back, feeling that electric pull between us.
This is a very close family thing, and I’m his plus-one.
The significance of that isn’t lost on me.
Emma looks exhausted but absolutely gorgeous, and she sits up in bed. Hudson holds a swaddled baby and so does Colby, who’s looking prouder than I’ve ever seen anyone look in my life.
“Holiday! Lucas!” Emma smiles when she sees us. “Come meet your niece and nephew.”
There’s no question in her voice when she says it.
Lucas goes to Hudson first, and he carefully transfers one of the tiny bundles into his arms. I watch as he cradles the baby against his chest. The baby is so impossibly small in his big hands, wrapped in a blue blanket with a little knit hat on his head.
The look on Lucas’s face has my blood pumping much faster. Wonder and tenderness and something that looks almost like fear—like he can’t believe he’s being trusted to hold something so precious.
“This is Evan,” Hudson says. “Evan, meet your uncle Lucas, who’s absolutely not going to be a bad influence on you.”
Lucas chuckles. “Yes, I will.”
“Colby, give Holiday your sister, okay, buddy?” He nods as Hudson does a successful transfer.
“You make a good dad,” I tell him.
“Thanks, Holiday,” he says, putting her in my arms.
I cradle Ella carefully, surprised by how impossibly small she is. She weighs almost nothing in my arms. Her face is red and scrunched up, her tiny fists curled near her chin. Not to mention she has the tiniest fingernails I’ve ever seen.
“She’s beautiful, Emma,” I whisper, afraid to speak too loudly.
“How did these two miracles come out of you demons?” Lucas asks with a soft laugh.
“Oh, just you wait,” Hudson warns him. “Both of you. But still, even I can’t believe we made perfect little humans.”
“Am I perfect, Daddy?” Colby asks.
“Oh, the most perfect, Colby. The perfect son. The perfect big brother. You’re the absolute best.”
“You totally are! And you know what, because you’re so amazing, I’m going to make you some very special cookies just for being the best.”
“Oh, really? Aunt Holiday, you’re baking me big brother cookies?” His voice goes up an octave.
“Yes, I am,” I promise him.
Emma watches Lucas and me hold the babies with tears in her eyes. “The kids are lucky to have you.”
I glance over at Lucas and find him already staring at me. I give him a smile and he returns it. Something passes between us. It’s understanding, and a promise that someday this could be us.