38
Olivia
I’m officially done. If I have to be pregnant for one more second, I am going to scream.
“Oh my God, just get out of me.” I groan at my gigantic bump.
I’m almost two weeks past my due date. Two weeks of constantly sitting on the toilet, eating everything in sight and then feeling sick, not being able to breath because this child is taking up so much space inside me and not being able to get comfortable no matter how much I try.
There is always at least one foot stuck in my ribs and it feels like this baby is doing somersaults.
Don’t get me wrong, a baby moving inside you is such an amazing thing but Jesus Christ, it’s past the point of normal.
I mean, the baby is so big, I don't know how there's any room in there for her to move around.
I thought I was in labor three weeks ago.
We rushed to the hospital, sat there for hours to be told it was only braxton hicks.
When the doctor told me “braxton hicks aren't sore. They are merely uncomfortable.” The Friends quote, ‘No uterus, no opinion’ sprung into my head and I wanted to kick him in the shin.
I was all for it but Josh got in my way. Prick. The doctor, not Josh.
I let out a loud groan, huffing and puffing trying effortlessly to get comfortable in these God forsaken stadium seats. The only relief I have is the coldness in the air because of the giant rink a few rows down.
“You okay, babe?” Sasha asks from the seat beside me. She’s been by my side for a month now just in case I go into labour and Josh isn't there. I’m so grateful to her but sometimes I want to strangle her for asking these stupid questions.
“Do I look okay?” I question her, bitch mode activated. Who am I kidding, it was activated months ago. I give her an apologetic look, “Sorry. I'm just so uncomfortable.” I say, attempting to push the tiny foot out of my left rib. “Just fucking move.”
“I know it’s hard right now but you just have to remember in a few days, you'll have a beautiful baby girl in your arms.” Sasha wraps me in a warm hug and I accept it willingly. “I was meaning to ask this but I keep forgetting, have you seen Ryan since everything went down?”
“I haven’t, thank God.” I tell her, “I haven’t even seen him.”
“Hopefully he realized that he shouldn’t be here anymore and went back to New York. Why was he in Florida anyway?”
“Work, I think. I’m not completely sure, to be honest. Any Ryan talk and I mentally block my ears. I don’t want to hear anything about him.”
When the lights dim and our boys start skating onto the ice, it’s like all the pain and discomfort dissipates. Seeing Josh on the ice just makes everything else go away.
I started my maternity leave last week, not by choice. Katherine threatened me and said if I didn't take it, she'd be forced to fire me. I had a very colourful response to that but in the end, I accepted her request.
This is the first time I’m actually getting to watch a game of hockey, rather than focusing on the camera. The atmosphere from the stands is a lot different up here. It’s charged and electric, making the hairs on the back of my neck rise and goosebumps erupt down my arms.
I’m wearing my ‘Woods’ jersey to support my man.
I had to get the largest size available and it’s still tight around my ever expanding stomach.
Sasha is wearing her ‘Michaelson’ jersey tonight.
I think she has one for each of the players except Conor’s.
I truly think she does that just to piss him off.
Seeing him get all riled up when she has a man’s name on her back that isn't his is honestly one of the funniest things I've ever seen.
The game begins and within the first five minutes, Daniel shoots the puck straight into the net with an assist from Josh. Sash launches from her seat, cheering for our team while I do it with my ass resting on the seat. I don’t think I could get up even if I tried.
Another ten minutes go by before the opposing team scores and me and Sash silently huff. By the end of the first period, both teams are neck and neck.
During the intermission, Sasha helps me to the toilet.
She has a firm grip on my arm as if I can’t walk properly but I’m glad.
On the way back to our seats, she stops to get us some bottles of water and I drink a full one before we’ve even made it back which was a huge mistake on my part.
I’ll need to pee again in approximately two seconds.
The second period begins as I slide into my seat, grateful we’re at the end of the row.
I’m out of breath, needing to take a minute before I can focus on the game.
We’re just over ten minutes in when I get a sharp, cramping pain at the top of my bump and I feel winded by the force of it.
Gasping, I clutch my stomach but before I can think too much of it, the pain is gone.
“You good?” Sasha eyes me, her expression filled with worry.
“Yeah.” I smile up at her but it doesn't reach my eyes and I can tell she doesn't believe me.
When the next pain hits a few minutes later, Sasha immediately comes down to my side. “Oh my God, are you in labor?” She gasps.
“No. It’s just cramp-” My sentence is cut off with a loud, pain filled groan.
“Liv, we need to go.”
“I’m not leaving yet.” I say breathlessly when the pain is more bearable. “Not when Josh is in the middle of a game.”
“Babe.”
“No.” I snap, “I’ve held her in this long, I can hold her in until Josh is finished.”
Sasha listens to me although I know she doesn't agree with me. I try and fail to hide the next shot of pain. “Take a deep breath. In for three and out for three. You’ve got this.”
I do as she says and it takes the edge off.
At the end of the second period, our team is up by one point. “I really need to pee again, Sash.”
“Okay. That's okay. Come on, I'll help you.” She guides me by the arm but before we even make it up the first step, I'm doubled over.
“I can’t do this.” Tears fill my eyes and slide down my cheeks. “How am I supposed to do this?”
“You can do this, babe. You’re strong. And I’ll be here the entire time.” We gave the toilet a miss. I’m sure peeing myself would be the least of my worries right now.
Sasha tries to take my mind off everything until the third period starts and I have to say, it worked. The pain is still there, still strong, but I can breathe through it. Maybe I’m just getting used to it.
Conor scores within two minutes and the arena erupts into cheers. I’m so proud of my boys. They weren't doing so good for a while there but now it seems as though they are on a comeback.
With ten minutes left on the clock and the contractions getting stronger and more frequent, I try my best to hold out. It’s only ten minutes. I can wait that long.
When Michaelson manages to get the puck off the opposing team, he skates quickly down the ice before a gigantic man goes in for the defence, slamming him hard against the boards, the sound echoing throughout the stadium.
He passes the puck off to Matthews before that happens, who quickly passes it over to Josh.
Josh gets close to the net and the anticipation of the whole arena is like static.
The moment he hits the puck and the buzzer sounds, the whole place erupts into a mess of screams, whistles, clapping and stomping of feet.
Sasha and I jump to our feet the second it happens, and that's when I feel it. A gush of liquid spreads down my legs, splashing onto the floor. Sasha is oblivious as she jumps around in excitement.
I grip her arm with a firm hold, “Sasha.” She doesn't seem to register my panicked features as she continues the celebration with everyone else here. “Sasha.” I say louder, finally getting her attention. When she looks down at my now soaked shoes, her eyes widen in horror. “We need to go.”