14. Lachlan
Lachlan
Lainey had been asleep for at least an hour. I knew because I couldn’t stop checking on her. Couldn’t stop walking past the bedroom where my brother usually stayed. I’d never bothered to check if he was okay or not. But now that I knew she was in there, I couldn’t stop worrying.
Was she comfortable? Was she still in pain?
What if she was in pain, and she was too worried to say something to me?
I walked extra gently down the hall again, making sure my cane didn’t clang against the floor as I stepped closer to her door.
She’d left it open a sliver, like I’d asked. In case she needed me.
I couldn’t keep doing this. Sinking to the ground, I pulled my phone out of my pocket after I laid my cane down on the floor beside me. There was anxiety radiating through my body, and I needed information to settle it.
The only thing I knew about pregnancy was the very little bit I’d picked up from being around Jessie when she was pregnant with Beckett, and Violet when she was pregnant with Connor.
It wasn’t like I’d had any real experience with it, though, and that freaked me out.
How would I know if something was wrong?
If Lainey was being stubborn but she really needed help, would I be able to tell that?
I needed answers. I needed to know what could go wrong, so I could practice how to handle everything in my mind. Because if I thought about it enough, it wouldn’t happen.
My thumb scrolled past article after article of what new dads needed to know. For supporting their partner in pregnancy. During labor. After the birth. Not that I was going to be a dad…but I did hope Lainey could lean on me.
Before I knew it, I’d downloaded three books and bookmarked at least ten articles I wanted to go back to when I wasn’t half asleep. Who knew holding a comb during labor could help trick the brain into lessening the pain signal from a contraction? Actually…I should try that for my muscle cramps.
A groan pulled my attention away from my phone. Lainey shifted in bed, and I panicked as I heard her footsteps making their way toward the door. I grabbed my cane, but I was too slow, her gasp hitting my ears as I watched the door open fully.
“Lach?”
Oh shit! My ass was asleep, tingles shooting down my right leg.
I hadn’t moved because I was completely engrossed in this chapter about managing pain in labor.
Not that I’d need to know it…Birdie would come support Lainey.
And they’d both leave for the hospital probably as soon as the first contraction hit.
If she was still here. God, my chest tightened at the thought that she might not be.
I cleared my throat, trying to tuck my phone away undetected. “Hey.”
“Uh…what’s going on?”
“I…” There was no use lying. “I was just worried you might need me. Figured I could sit out here for a bit.”
She leaned against the door, one hand running over her belly, the other coming up to cover her mouth as she yawned. “What time is it?”
I looked at my phone. Damn, it was almost two in the morning. I’d fallen down a research rabbit hole and completely lost track of time.
“Still early enough that you should get back to bed.”
She smiled, wincing as her fingers brushed over her cheek.
“It's kind of hard to sleep when someone is bouncing on my bladder.”
I nodded, pushing up off the floor, using my cane and the wall to keep my balance. “That makes sense. Are you okay…otherwise?”
“Yeah,” she whispered. “I’m okay.”
My fingers brushed back some of her hair out of her face, careful to not bump her cheekbone. “I’m right down the hall if you need anything.”
“Just need the bathroom…and maybe a few more hours of sleep. But I can get up early.” Her teeth claimed the corner of her bottom lip, pulling it punishingly through their grasp before her eyes met mine again. “You know. To figure out what’s next. To get out of your hair.”
“No.” I shook my head. “Rest. As long as you need to. There’s no pressure.”
“No pressure,” she repeated, her eyes going glassy.
“None.”
Her hand landed on my arm, gentle and warm, as she nodded.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her hand falling away as she pushed off the doorframe and walked past me, toward the bathroom across the hall. Lainey turned, the first real smile I’d seen on her face since she got here. “Good night, Florence.”
“Good night, Trouble.”