44. CALLUM – OWW OWW
CALLUM – OWW OWW
Pulling the door closed with a gentle click, I stand outside of her room for a minute. It’s been two weeks since our hospital visit and she’s been in bed most of the time. Even though the nurse said she wasn’t on bed rest, Knox has been super protective. Dinner is at six and at seven, we go for a walk around the house before one of us gives her a bath. After Emmett saw her trying to bend over to wash her legs, he made the executive decision that we give her baths now and take care of her.
Our first wedding anniversary was last week, so Knox and I decorated her bedroom, while Emmett fixed her favorites and Jax kept her busy. Not with sex, because Knox has the entire house freaked out about giving her an orgasm and inducing labor.
With New Year's Eve tomorrow night, I’ve been a little busier helping both of the clubs get ready. This has really been a test to see if we can step away from the businesses like we’re wanting to after the babies are born and so far we’ve been very impressed across all of them. It may be hard, but when the babies get here, we won’t want to do anything else.
I was hoping to have Ev’s surprise complete by Christmas, but we ran into a few weather delays so it looks like it will be ready closer to Valentine’s day, which will still make for a nice surprise. Knox has been going crazy trying to figure it out, but the guys and I decided he can’t know because he’d ruin it.
After Ev’s bath tonight, we decide to watch a movie. It’s supposed to be Emmett’s pick, but because Ev’s been moaning a lot more today and carrying her stomach around, he gave his choice to her. Knox has set up some blankets and pillows on the floor in front of the couch, along with several bowls of popcorn and some bottles of water. Ev picked a new fake dating romcom, which actually looks pretty funny. She’s all smiles and giggles the entire time she’s watching these types of movies, which is nice to see.
Emmett, Ev, and I take the couch while Jax and Knox sit on the floor by her legs, each rubbing a foot.
“How are you feeling?” Knox asks. It’s the question he asks at least twenty times a day, to the point Jax got signs on little paddles made so she can hold them up. Which, of course, turned into Knox, snatching one and chasing Jax around the house, yelling, ’Let me paddle that bottom, boy!’
“I’m good now that I’m sitting. There’s just been so much pressure today. They’ve been moving quite a bit more as well.” She laughs and lifts her shirt over her perfectly round belly. “See.”
A lump protrudes from her stomach and moves from left to right at the same time another lump thrusts out.
She lets out a moan and leans to the side, pressing the one lump in with her hand. “Someone has a foot in my rib. I’ve loved being pregnant, but I can’t wait for them to get here for so many reasons.” She sighs and leans her head on the back of the couch as she draws in a deep breath.
The doorbell rings, which sets the dogs off, but before any of us can stand up, an all-too-familiar voice chimes in. “Hooo hooo.”
Jax groans.
“Oh, stop!” Ev bats him on the shoulder. “I invited her over since she’s been wanting to see this movie.”
“I forgot she can’t watch it at her house. Oh wait. She can.”
“Boo boo bear!” Lizzy sings, walking around the corner, her belly now protruding, into the living room.
“Here Lizzy.” I stand, offering her my seat.
“Too kind. Too kind.” She plops on the couch beside Ev and leans over to give her belly a kiss. “Hello my babies. Auntie Liz is here.”
Taking a spot on the floor on the other side of Lizzy, I grab a bowl of popcorn and hand it up to the girls. Ev rests it on top of her belly and laughs. “I’ll be happy when I can breathe again, but this built-in tray is kind of nice.” She picks up the remote and turns the movie on.
Halfway into the movie, I look behind me and find Ev has fallen asleep on Emmett’s shoulder. Lizzy follows my eyes, then looks back at me, smiling. She leans forward and whispers, “How’s she doing?”
“Ehh. She’s not been complaining too much, just a lot of heavy breathing and sighing. I think she’s ready. She said she felt a lot of pressure today, so I’m thinking she’ll have them early.”
Lizzy claps and gives a little squeal.
Jax and Emmett both laugh out loud, pulling our attention.
“I knew you were a romcom guy,” Lizzy says leaning forward, patting Jax’s shoulder.
“It’s a funny movie,” Jax defends.
“You tell her babe!” Emmett teases.
“Shut it.” Jax squeezes his leg, and Emmett jumps a little, causing Ev’s head to shift.
She lets out a small moan and then a louder one. A second later, her eyes are open and they lock into mine. “Oww!” She grabs her stomach.
“Oww?” Knox turns around to say, eyes wide with excitement. “Like oww oww?”
“No dipshit, like bow chicka bow wow.” Jax smacks him in the back of his head.
“It was a valid clarification,” Knox defends, eyes getting wider by the second.
Ev lets out a low guttural groan and looks at her stomach. “It’s like oww oww.”
“Oww oww!” Knox throws the remaining popcorn into the air as he bolts upright. “It’s go time, boys. Oh my God. It’s happening.”
“I knew it! I knew when she texted me this morning saying she was feeling ick that things were going to happen!” Lizzy thrusts her fist into the air.
“Knox. Seriously?” Jax sighs, looking at the pile of popcorn on the floor.
“It was an accident.”
“That’s bullshit and you know it. In some fucked up reality of yours, you’ve always envisioned a moment where you could throw popcorn in surprise and you chose this time to do it.”
“I. Well. You’re not wrong.”
“No shit.” Jax smirks with a smug satisfaction.
Knox wraps his arms around Jax’s and squeezes. “You know me so well, daddy. Daddy! We’re going to be daddies!”
“Get out of here.”
“Right! Babies time!”
Forty-three minutes later, we’re at the hospital and Everlee has been admitted to a room where they have her hooked up to machines and are watching her vitals. They said she’s in active labor, but hasn’t dilated much yet. She’s been trying to fall asleep for the last twenty minutes, but the contractions keep waking her up. Lizzy, of course, lost her mind when we texted because she is so excited we’re having New Year’s Eve babies. I’ve texted the clubs to let them know we won’t be there tomorrow and Low replied immediately with exclamation points and celebratory horns.
Tomorrow is supposed to be a check-in with the general contractor for Ev’s surprise, but I just emailed canceling that, too. I wish I could have Beckett and Will help with the surprise, but knowing Beckett, he would ruin it and I can’t have that. Not after the months of keeping this thing a secret from her.
She’s my world, and I’d do anything to make her happy.
My gaze falls on her. Our wife. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come in just under two years. She came into our lives like a wrecking ball and now our babies are doing the same. With her head turned to the side and her eyes closed, she rests her hands on the bottom of her stomach.
My love and her belly.
I pull in a deep breath and feel something tug at my heart.
We’re going to be dads tomorrow.