Chapter 32
Thirty-Two
“ Y ou’re awfully quiet over there.” Sam squeezed Evie’s hand as they walked back to the ranch. His sister had insisted on bringing everything from the shower over in the morning so they didn’t have to worry about hauling it all back right then. And he was grateful for that, because as soon as he’d walked back into the living room to find Evie, he’d known something was off. “You okay?”
She nodded, but even in the darkening light of twilight, he could see the rosy color hadn’t returned to her cheeks. “I think it just made everything so much more real for me.”
“And that’s scaring you?”
“No.” Her whole face scrunched up. “Yes.”
Sam stopped, wrapping his arms around Evie as he pressed a kiss to her lips. “You’re going to be absolutely fine. And so is Grace. You’ll see. By morning, we’ll have a text with a picture of the baby and a new little life will join our wild and crazy group. And then, in a little over a month, it will be our turn with Jellybean.”
Something was still clearly bothering her. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with worry. “Are you sure you want to do it? You can back out, you know?”
His hands cupped her cheeks. “What are you talking about?”
“You aren’t legally bound to us. You don’t need to be there for us. You can change your mind and walk away before there’s a picture of us looking happy in the hospital.”
“Stop.”
“I’m just sayi—” Sam playfully covered her lips with his finger, laughing as the last little bit of her argument came out a string of mumbles he couldn’t understand.
“The words that are coming out of your mouth are not yours right now. They belong to that pesky voice in your head that lies when it tells you everyone is going to leave because you are not enough. Let me make this clear to you right now before this goes any further.” Sam tapped gently on her forehead. “I. Am. All. In. With. You. And. Jellybean. Now, waddle a little faster so there’s time for me to rub your feet before you fall asleep.”
She slapped her hand across his arm. “I do not waddle. I’m gracefully shuffling, if you must know.”
“Mhm. And are you declining the foot rub?”
She stepped back from him and gasped. “Never. Maybe I can have a little snack to keep me awake?”
“What are you craving? Peanut butter and hot sauce oatmeal? Steak with lemon pie?”
“Come on. My cravings aren’t that bad. Peanut butter definitely. But maybe with spring onions?”
Sam laughed. “Jellybean is going to have one adventurous palate.”
“I doubt it. She’ll be eating chicken nuggets and plain macaroni like every other toddler before we know it.”
“Alright, graceful shuffler. Let’s get… shuffling.” Sam laughed again as the playful smack landed on his chest.
Daisy: How’s our girl doing?
Emma: Let us know if you need us to drop off anything else!
Jackson: She’s a fucking goddess. I couldn’t be more in love with this woman. Doc says she’s already 7cm and progressing fast. He should be here before the morning.
Evie: Well, now I’m crying. If that isn’t the sweetest text.
John: Yeah, that brother of mine is a real sap for his woman.
Sam: Like you wouldn’t be for my sister?
John: Oh, I’ll be worse when it’s our turn to bring a baby home.
Jackson: Want to bet?
Abby: He’s not allowed to take bets with you anymore.
Evie: Give Grace all our love.
Emma: Tell her if she pushes the baby out before breakfast, I can stop over with coffee and a cinnamon roll for her!
Sebastian: Don’t let my fiance push her way in. I’ll drop off coffee and sweets anytime and you won’t have to hand that baby over to me.
Emma: Traitor! My own love!
John: Oh man, someone’s not getting lucky tonight.
Emma: Nah. He will. I love intense foreplay.
Daisy: EMMA! This is a baby update text thread.
Emma: How do you think babies are made?
Evie: Shouldn’t we be keeping the texts to a minimum? Grace and Jackson need to focus.
Jackson: Actually, Grace is laughing between contractions as I read her these messages. You’ll see soon enough, Evie! Distraction is welcome in labor.
Sam: Don’t talk to Evie about labor. I had to talk her down off the ledge on the walk home.
Abby: You’ll do amazing, Evie .
Daisy: There is nothing to be afraid of. You are a rock star, Evie. You’ll kick ass when it’s your turn.
Evie set her phone down and rolled into Sam, snuggling into his chest. Their friends were right. She’d be fine. Especially with an epidural. Now that, she was looking forward to.
“Thank you for tonight,” she whispered.
“You deserve to be celebrated. So does Jellybean.”
Evie looked at the bassinet in the corner of the room, and the boxes of diapers stacked opposite it with a few outfits resting on top.
“It’s wild to think she’ll be here so soon.”
“Yeah, it is. Our friends are right, you know? You’re going to do amazing.”
She didn’t respond, letting her eyes drift closed as Sam traced circles on her belly while Jellybean kicked at the changing pressure. His small chuckles at the baby playing with him lulled her off to sleep.
The next thing she knew, their phones buzzed again. Sam reached over to grab his.
“Everything okay?” she asked. “What time is it?”
“Shh, we fell asleep. It’s quarter after four.” He smiled down at her and turned the screen towards her face. There was a picture of Jackson sitting on a hospital bed with his arm around Grace. Tears were clearly streaming down both of their faces as they looked at the beautiful baby in Grace’s arms. Below the picture, another text message came in.
Jackson: Grayson Davis Boone
8 pounds, 10 oz. Born at 330 this morning. Everyone is healthy and happy!
Jackson: Oh, and Em, Grace says bring coffee and cinnamon buns as soon as visiting hours start. Everyone else is welcome to come say hi then, too.
“He’s so beautiful,” Evie rubbed her eyes.
“He really is.” Sam set his phone back on the nightstand and pressed a kiss to her temple as he pulled her back onto his chest. His hand slid down to her belly. “We’re next. I can’t wait to meet Jellybean.”
“We’re next,” she agreed. “I think I’m scared, Cowboy.”
Her admission had his arms tightening around her. “I am too, Bluebell.”
“I should have done the birthing class at the hospital.”
“It’s going to be okay. My mom told you about that course she saw online, didn’t she?”
“She mentioned it the other day.”
“Well, there you go. We’ll do that.”
“Are you sure?”
“If it makes you feel better, then of course I am. Now, go back to sleep. We’ve got another hour before I have to be up.”
“I think you mean before we have to get up.”
Sam sighed. “I thought maybe I’d convince you to stay in bed for a little while longer today.”
“No can do. I told my main man, Jasper, I’d be there for breakfast.”
“Main man, huh?”
He hand trailed down his chest and over his stomach until it rested on his ass, where she gave it a squeeze.
“I said what I said.”
“Well, I guess I’m just going to have to keep you up now and show you who the real apple of your eye should be.”
He nipped at the skin over her collarbone, heat pouring through her body like a tidal wave. As Sam worshiped each curve and dip of her ever expanding body, Evie’s worries fell away to the rush of pleasure.