25. Luke
LUKE
I watch Bertie across the reception floor. Day has turned to night, and the outdoor string lights bathe everything in a yellow hue. She sips at some water; her face squished like she’s in pain. Every time I ask her if she’s okay, she insists she is and that she’s just heavily pregnant and tired.
I want to believe her, but my gut tells me she’s lying, especially since she’s resorted to avoiding me. Every time I get closer to her, she moves away.
When Daire finally comes off the dancefloor, I manage to grab his elbow and pull him toward me.
He gives me a quizzical look. “Is something wrong?”
I nod my head toward Bertie. “B’s not acting right and I’m worried she’s in labor and lying to me.”
He looks over his shoulder at her. “Are you serious?”
“Unfortunately.” I slip my hands into my pockets. “Can you just keep an eye on her? She’s started avoiding me, I think my hovering was getting on her nerves.”
He laughs at that and smacks me on the shoulder. “You got it, dude.”
He heads off to rejoin Rosie. I spot Bertie in the same spot she was in the last time I looked. She makes eye contact with me and shoots me an awkward thumbs up. She’s so full of shit.
I shake my head and make my way through the crowd to her. “Bertie,” I say as evenly as I can, but I’m afraid it still comes out sounding a bit gritty.
She blinks innocently up at me. “Yes?”
“Are your contractions coming regularly now?” I’m trying my fucking hardest not to show my internal panic, because if she is in labor, she doesn’t need me shutting down right now.
“Uh…” She looks around for a means of escape.
I grab her wrist. “Bertie, I’m serious. If you’re in labor, we need to go.”
She rubs her lips together nervously. “I don’t think I’m in labor.”
I close my eyes and resist the urge to pinch the bridge of my nose. “Are your contractions regular?” I ask again.
“I don’t know. I haven’t been timing them.”
She wants to give me a heart attack. I scrub a hand over my jaw. “Okay, well let’s go sit down at a table and I’ll time them for a bit, okay? Do you want anything to eat or drink while we do that?”
“I can’t be in labor,” she scoffs. “We haven’t even put his actual crib together or picked out a name. It’s too soon. He’s not due yet.” She lifts her chin haughtily in the air.
I take a deep breath as my stomach roils. If she’s been in actual labor since this morning, then there’s no telling how dilated she might be by now. Granted, this is her first baby so things should go slower.
“Well, in that case it still won’t hurt to time what you’re feeling and be certain, right?”
She frowns, rubbing her stomach. “I guess not.” Her face contorts with pain.
I immediately yank my phone out of my pocket and time the length and then start another clock when it’s over so I can keep track of how long it takes until she has the next one.
“There’s a table right over here.” I take her hand, guiding her that way.
“The tables are name assigned,” she says. “Ours is way over there.”
“I don’t give a fuck right now,” I bite out and her eyes widen in surprise.
I’m not one to ever raise my voice or to sound short, but right now it’s taking pretty much everything I have not to run in circles freaking out.
If I didn’t think she’d fight me tooth and nail I would scoop her up and carry her out of here and drive straight to the closest hospital.
“We’re gonna sit right here and time these and if anyone has a problem with that, then they can just deal with it. ”
She gapes at me. “I’ve never seen you like this before.”
“Like what?” I ask, staring at my phone.
“So … bossy. I kind of like it.”
I pull out a chair for her and she sits without argument. I take the chair beside her and when I finally look her way I’m surprised by how she’s looking at me. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you want me to bend you over this table in front of all these people and hike your dress up and show you how fucking possessive I can be.”
A shiver runs down her spine and she wets her lips. “You said it, not me.”
I shake my head at her antics.
“Now, you have to be honest with me about what you’re feeling.” I arch a brow at her. “Think you can do that?”
She pouts her bottom lip. “Yes.”
We’ve been sitting about ten minutes when Rosie comes hustling over, almost tripping on her dress. Sweat beads her skin and Daire hurries behind her.
“Daire just told me you might be in labor. Why didn’t you say something?” She pulls out a chair from the opposite table and scoots it beside Bertie.
“I’m not in labor,” she insists. I want to be wrong, but I think she’s being stubborn. “It’s normal for my body to prepare for birth and that’s all this is.”
Her face contorts with pain and without her saying a thing I start timing this one.
Rosie looks my way, and she looks like she believes Bertie about as much as I do.
“Maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to go to your hospital.” She rubs Bertie’s arm. “I don’t want you to stay here because of me.”
Bertie lifts her chin in the air. “I am not in labor at your wedding. I refuse. First babies rarely come early.”
Rosie meets my gaze and shakes her head.
“This is your wedding.” Bertie gives her best friend a nudge. “Go dance.”
Daire grabs the back of the chair Rosie sits in and leans forward. “We’re good right here.”
Bertie crosses her arms over her chest and looks away. I know she’s hating the fact that she’s taking attention away from their wedding day.
I time things for a bit longer before I sigh and run my fingers through my hair. “B—”
“Don’t fucking say it,” she harumphs.
“I have to say it.”
She shakes her head, steadfast. “Nope.”
“You’re in labor and I think you’ve been in labor all day.”
She glowers at me. “I have not.”
I bite my tongue. Now is not the time for her to think I’m calling her a liar. “Well, you’re in labor now and we need to go.”
Daire straightens. “Can I have your valet ticket? I’ll get your car brought around.”
Shoving my hand in my pocket, I grasp the slip of paper and hand it to him. “Thanks, man.”
“Do you want to use the bathroom before you go?” Rosie asks her. “I can help you.”
Bertie sighs like we’re all being completely ridiculous. “I can get there myself.”
“Well, lucky for you I need to go too.”
Rosie gives me a reassuring smile and mouths, “I’ve got her.”
I breathe a sigh of relief, for the moment at least.
While Rosie helps Bertie up and to the bathroom, I head to the front of the venue where Daire is waiting for my car to be brought around. As soon as he sees me, he laughs and shakes his head. “She’s totally in labor.”
I run my fingers through my hair and mutter, “I know.”
She’s going straight to the hospital whether she likes it or not.