Chapter 2
Holly
I watch in amazement as my unabashed friend rips off her sheet and settles down into warrior mode. She’s fierce. I’m so freaking proud of her. I can’t wait to meet this little one, which I will call mine. Blood or not, I don’t care. I will be the best damn auntie ever. Period.
I look down at Dr. Sexy, poised and ready between one of my best friend’s thighs, and all I can think is someday soon, Jane and I are going to get a good laugh about this.
If only she knew the half of it. She would be begging for deets between contractions.
I hold back a snicker, and Dr. Reyes’s, wait, Jaxon’s green eyes glance up at me for the briefest of seconds.
Damn it, he’s pretty. Those forearms and all serious like this in his element?
He must have an idea what I’m thinking so I lock it down, but it’s too late.
A mischievous tip of his lips has me swooning and picturing them all over mine mere minutes ago.
I haven’t even had time to wrap my head around that.
Jane catches it though and looks up at me with a searing look that says, “Bitch, you better tell me later or I’ll cut you” seconds before she sucks in a breath and Jaxon tells her to push, causing all her thoughts to center on the miracle at hand.
There’s only one close call with Garrett. When Jaxon tries to refocus Jane and asks her if she wants the mirror to see her little girl coming, Garrett looks like he might lose it when he gets a glimpse. I promptly snap my fingers to tell him he better get his shit together, and everyone laughs.
Jane declines the mirror but reaches down to feel her daughter’s head.
A fresh wave of determination washes over her face, and with a few more contractions, our girl is here.
Jane, Garrett, and I all cry as Jaxon grins, laying that beautiful little squish on Jane’s chest while telling Jane how wonderful she did.
“I’m so proud of you!” I kiss the top of my friend’s head.
“Hello, little beauty! I’m Aunt Holly. I’ll hold you in a bit.
” I snap a closeup of Jane kissing her tiny head, and another of Garrett and Jane kissing, then another of their foreheads resting together as they soak in the moment of this big change.
My vision blurs as I back up to give them their time.
This moment is everything, and Jane let me be a part of it.
I’m beyond thankful. I look over at Jaxon as he starts in on the post-birth things, and he grins over at me and winks like he knows how I’m feeling right now.
“Thank you for taking care of them,” I say, fighting to choke back all the emotions welling inside me.
“My pleasure,” he says softly, just so I can hear, not wanting to interrupt their family bonding time.
Without another word, I wash my hands and slip out the door to go tell everyone our newest member of the fam is here.
???
“She’s freaking adorable, Syd, and Jane did sooo good! Jaxon, I mean Dr. Reyes, told her that she was a badass. That was like…highest compliments,” I ramble excitedly into the phone.
“I can’t wait to meet her! I’m assuming a name hasn’t been spilled yet either. Wait a minute, Jaxon? You’re on a first name basis with Jane’s doctor?”
“You would be correct,” I affirm about the name. “Just think, in five more months, two more will be here!”
“Hmmm, don’t think you’re getting out of that question. I smell a story. Ugh…I still don’t think I’ve come to terms with having twins yet. It feels so unreal.”
“It’s going to be great!”
“Oh! Colin’s just coming to the truck.” I hear a door open.
“She’s here! Get us to the hospital!”
“What?! That was way faster than I expected. Damn. They both okay?” I hear Colin ask, smiling at his thoughtfulness. He’s going to be such a great dad.
“Yes. Holly’s on the phone. She was with her. Come on!”
I giggle at my bestie’s impatience and hear Colin doing the same.
“We’re going, we’re going.”
“You better move faster than this when I go into labor.”
I bite my tongue. Those pregnancy hormones have made her rather feisty. I can only imagine Colin’s facial expressions. He sure loves her though.
“Are you getting the look?” I snicker through the connection.
“Totally getting the look. We’ll be there soon.” Sydney titters before hanging up.
Brynleigh called Ava, so we’ve got everyone in our group taken care of. Jane’s and Garrett’s parents are already coming down the hall, looking straight giddy with their flowers and a stuffed pink bear. We met them at the baby shower, and they are going to be a hoot.
“She’s here?” Garrett’s mom, Sheila, asks.
“She’s here! They have a family room for us until they come say it’s okay to go in. When I left, they definitely weren’t in a place for visitors yet.”
“Okay. Gah!”
“Congratulations on your first grandbaby!” I say happily, reaching for Jane’s mom, Anita.
“Thank you, sweet girl.” Anita pulls me in tight for a hug, and it makes me miss my momma back home.
Sydney and Colin stroll in a few moments later, all smiles, ready to meet our self-proclaimed niece.
“Mark said he and Ava will be here in an hour or so. It was a court day for Ava, so she couldn’t exactly run out. He was just finishing closing up,” Brynleigh states when she comes into the room.
Trystan follows not too far behind. Bryn leans in to hug Sydney and rubs the belly in hello.
We’d all wondered how she’d do with two pregnancies, but she couldn’t be happier for her friends.
I see the wistfulness in her eyes, but she’s been talking to a therapist in hopes it will help her when the time comes for her and Trystan.
“So, what’s the dish on the first name basis with this Jaxon guy?” Sydney inquires, more noisily than I’d hoped for. I blush. Brynleigh chokes on her sip of water, which doesn’t go unnoticed.
“Jaxon? Jaxon who?” Colin and Trystan ask at the same time. Go figure; big brother attitudes engaged.
“Did I hear my name?” Jaxon queries as he comes into the room like he owns it. Damn, he’s just…gorgeous.
“Figures he’d pick now to walk in.” Bryn snickers at my mumbled comment as Jaxon’s eyes lock with mine an instant before flitting over to Colin and doing a double take.
“Reyes? Dang, it’s good to see you! Although I never pictured you in pink scrubs,” Colin exclaims as he strolls up to Jaxon and pulls him into a hug. So they know each other. Interesting.
“Saved for the moment…” Brynleigh mutters next to me. Trystan notices and tilts his head in question before turning back to the conversation at hand.
“I wasn’t wearing pink initially, but having to change multiple times a day in this field is kind of a thing.
Been filling in at this hospital, since I had OB experience and they have a few out on vacation.
On top of that, I’ve been here for about forty-eight hours, so I ran out of clean scrubs in my locker.
It’s good to see you too, man. How’s veterinarian life treating you? ”
Colin grins and pulls Sydney forward to introduce her to him. Apparently, they went to med school together before Colin opted to switch fields to the fuzzier type of patient.
“Twins? That’s awesome! And terrifying.” Jaxon quickly changes his tune when he sees Sydney’s worry. “No worries! Dangit, I stuck my foot in my mouth. I just know I would be terrified with twins. Medically speaking, it’s great. You’re going to do great, Sydney.”
Sydney smiles, then turns to me with questioning eyes. She clearly thinks he’s pretty too. I flush and walk over to grab the water next to my purse, suddenly so parched, I feel like I could keel over.
Jaxon sends the grandparents back but stays with all of us, shooting the shit with the guys for a minute. His eyes are never far from mine for too long. It’s a tad unnerving.
“Girl… I need the tea,” Sydney mutters expectantly, leaning in so close that I can smell her floral shampoo. I’ve got to find out what that stuff is.
“We all do. I haven’t gotten the chance to ask why she was sneaking out of the very same linen closet he exited just a minute before,” Brynleigh states with a playful grin.
Sydney’s jaw drops as her head swivels to face me.
I want to bury myself in the nearest refrigerator.
It’s so flipping hot in here. I’m way too young for hot flashes, right? Right.
“That face says it all. She’s pinker than her shirt, Brynleigh.”
“Yeah, you should’ve been there when they met too. Ha, that was even better.”
I rub my face with exasperation. This day is intent on decimating me. Full burn. Nothing left but ashes from how many times my cheeks have gone up in flames.
“Oh???” she asks with a goofy tilt of her lips.
“Let’s wait for Jane and Ava. They’ll want to be in on this too.” Brynleigh widens her wolfish smile.
“Oh yes, let’s,” I mimic, and they both snort, getting a kick out of my embarrassment.
“What are we missing out on over here?” Trystan asks, bending to press a sweet kiss to his bride’s cheek. They really are perfect together.
“Nothing!” I answer quickly—a little too quickly.
Trystan’s eagle eyes and bullshit radar are on high alert.
He chews on the inside of his cheek, looks me up and down, then lets his eyes wander to Jaxon.
Play it cool, play it cool. You’re already busted, and you know it.
Play it fucking cool. When his eyes land back on me, one corner of his mouth turns up, revealing that dashing Trystan dimple we all love.
He nods once, then slips back over to the guys, looking at me mischievously.
No, don’t embarrass me. I shake my head no to him, and he chuckles, moving his hand in the universal ‘calm down, I’ll be good’ gesture.
I’ll be calm when Jaxon leaves the room.
Jaxon notices my flushed face and smiles wider while listening to whatever glory-days story Colin’s reliving. As soon as the man sees his out, he claps Colin on the shoulder and walks my way. I choke on a gulp of water. Sydney and Brynleigh giggle amongst themselves.
“You really seem to have this effect on her today,” Brynleigh notes, and Sydney elbows her in the arm. Ha, karma for the elbow I got from her earlier today.
“Hmmm, I see that. Good thing I know my first aid.”
My eyes bug out of my head, watering as I still splutter on the remnants of water as the girls snicker and walk away.
“Are back blows going to be enough, or am I going to have to pull out my CPR skills?”
“I’ll—” cough “—be okay.”
“Good. Otherwise, I’d be awfully lonely on our date.”
“Smooth.”
Jaxon lets a slow grin creep along the expanse of his unbelievably pretty face, even with all that scruff.
I ache to reach out and rub my fingers across it again.
It almost dares me to. Jaxon’s eyes flare with heat as he notices me ogling him.
Oh, if only the man knew the dry spell I’ve been living in.
If you don’t count our little closet interlude, I can’t remember the last time I was touched. I don’t need reminding.
“So, about that.”
“Yes?”
Jaxon’s pager goes off. He sighs, looking down to grab it and muttering, “damn cockblocker.” I snicker, amused at the vehemence laced in those two words. We are not having any luck here today. “Shit.” He looks up at me. “I’ve got an emergency. I’ll find you as soon as I can.”
I nod, but what I don’t see coming is the radio silence that follows.