32. Chapter 32
Sadie
The next day I felt free. Nothing was pulling at me, and I practically skipped down the stairs and into the kitchen.
Cole and Alyssa sat at the table, eating cereal.
“Good morning!” I said, going over for my allowed two-second kiss with Cole. His hand moved into my hair, making it more of a four-second kiss.
“Morning,” Cole said, his eyes sparkling.
Alyssa looked at me. It was a cross between a glare and something I couldn’t place.
I grabbed a bowl and sat down.
“Hey, Alyssa?” Cole said. “What would you say Sadie’s dream is?”
Alyssa tilted her head to the side. “She wanted to be a speech therapist back before Grandma passed.”
He looked at me. “Is that still true?”
I shrugged. “Maybe.”
“Just not a gym manager or pep club leader?”
“Oh, good, you told him,” Alyssa said. “I told you he wouldn’t be mad.”
Cole turned to her. “Don’t let your sister keep secrets from me that make her unhappy. Alright?”
She smiled and nodded.
“I can still manage some of the things for the gym,” I said. “I hate looking like a failure. All those guys figured I’d quit.”
“Don’t worry about what a bunch of meatheads say.”
“I might be able to handle the pep club. It isn’t too often.”
“No,” Cole said. “Joanne was taking advantage. Trying to get free work. She can hire someone if she doesn’t like it.”
“Wasn’t it part of your agreement for getting the job?”
“Not officially. I’ll tell her it isn’t working out.”
“I can’t just sit home all day doing nothing.”
“You can take up knitting,” Alyssa offered. “It’s back in fashion.”
I wrinkled my nose. “I don’t know how, and it sounds boring.”
My phone rang. “It’s Nayvee.” I answered. “Hello?”
“Hey,” Nayvee said, her voice slightly higher pitched than usual. “You busy?”
“Not at all.”
“Van’s phone got dropped in water and I can’t… ouch… get… a hold of him.”
My brows went together. “Are you okay?”
“Nooooo. My water broke, I need a ride to the hospital. And I need someone—” there was a long pause, “to find Van. He might… be at the school.”
I jumped to my feet. “Cole, go find Van. At the school. Nayvee’s water broke.”
Cole was up and on his way to the door.
“I’m coming,” I told Nayvee. I hung up and glanced at Alyssa. “Don’t forget to go to school on time.”
She nodded. “Take a few towels for the car.”
I didn’t even have a car. I hadn’t thought of that. I ran next door and pounded.
Taya answered. “What’s wrong?”
“Nayvee’s water broke, and Van is gone, and I don’t have a car.”
Dax popped into view. “Get in the car. I’ll drive.”
We all hurried over to Dax’s fancy car. I’m not a car person, so I don’t really know types, but I was pretty sure this one cost more than I’d ever made.
I got into the back seat, and we drove to Nayvee’s. She was sitting on the porch steps when we arrived, so I ran straight over and helped her stand.
“Are you okay?”
“Probably,” she said. Dax went to her other side. “Do you need to be carried?”
She glared at him. “No.”
He ran to the car, opened the door, and arranged the towels.
Nayvee stopped and bent over.
I swallowed. I remembered my mom didn’t want anyone touching her when she was in labor with Alyssa.
She stood tall and blew out a breath.
We got to the car, and Dax stepped back. “Can you try not to get anything gross on the seats?” he asked.
Nayvee glared at him, and Taya said, “Dax!”
“Sorry. But those are perforated leather seats.”
“Dax, knock it off,” Taya said.
“But I just had it detailed.”
“I will hurt you,” Nayvee growled as she climbed awkwardly into the car.
Dax had us on the highway in no time. I wasn’t sure what to do. Nayvee didn’t seem to want conversation, so I just sat there.
Every time she had a contraction, she would bend over and make a small noise.
“You can scream,” Dax said. “I heard it helps.”
Nayvee’s eyes narrowed. “I’ve never been much of a screamer.”
“You could try.”
“Be quiet,” she said, cradling her stomach.
“Got it.”
Dax’s knuckles were white against the wheel.
We drove a few more miles, and Nayvee moaned. “I thought I was tougher than this.”
“You are tough,” I assured her, even though I had absolutely no idea.
“Deep breaths,” Dax said.
“Shut up, Dax!” Nayvee snapped. Then she started shivering. Hard. And it wasn’t cold. I knew nothing about childbirth. Was that normal? Weren’t people supposed to sweat? That’s what TV had taught me.
“We should have brought a blanket,” I said. “Her teeth are chattering.”
“Give her your jacket,” Taya ordered.
Dax glanced down at his leather jacket and grimaced. “Really? I can pull over and grab the blanket from the trunk.”
“Don’t stop,” Nayvee said through clenched teeth.
Dax sighed like he was surrendering a family heirloom and tried to wiggle out of his jacket while still driving. Taya helped yank it off his arms, then handed it to me.
I wrapped it around Nayvee, and she clutched it tight.
Dax glanced in the rearview mirror. “I’m sending the dry-cleaning bill to Van.”
Taya punched him lightly on the shoulder. “Knock it off, Dax.”
I still didn’t have a firm grip on Taya’s personality. She was usually quiet. The kind of woman who made you look twice. Black, shiny hair and perfect features. I wondered what her story was.
“HURRY!” Nayvee yelled, gripping the door handle.
Dax stared straight ahead. “I’m going as fast as I can.”
“It’s not fast enough!”
“If you have that baby in this car, you better name it after me. Boy or girl.”
Nayvee growled.
My phone rang, and I fumbled it out. “Hello?”
“I’ve been calling forever,” Cole said. “What’s going on?”
“Dax is driving us to the hospital.”
“Okay. Van and I are probably a little behind you. We’ll meet you there.”
“Great. Bye.”
“Cole has Van and they’re on their way,” I said.
Nayvee nodded, jaw tight.
Dax pulled off the highway and into the city.
“I need to push, I need to push,” Nayvee groaned.
“Don’t you dare!” Dax said, gunning through a yellow light.
“Don’t tell me what not to do!” Nayvee snapped, teeth clenched.
We flew into the hospital parking lot, and Dax screeched to a stop in front of the ER doors. He jumped out and yanked open Nayvee’s door. Taya ran inside the hospital.
Nayvee tried to move her legs but froze, eyes squeezing shut. “Whoever the idiot was that said to labor at home first is officially on my list.”
“Come on,” Dax said, holding out his arms.
She shifted and sucked in air through her teeth. “I can’t.”
Taya came running back with a man pushing a wheelchair. Another nurse hurried behind them.
“Let’s get you into the chair,” the man said gently.
Nayvee took three sharp breaths. “I don’t think that’s happening.”
“We’ll help you.”
“No, no, no! It’s coming now!”
Dax grabbed his head and paced across the parking lot.
“It cannot fall onto the asphalt!” Nayvee yelled, swinging her legs toward me.
My eyes went wide.
A man rushed to my side and opened my door. I stumbled out.
“Alright,” he said calmly. “Let’s do this.”
I glanced at Taya. She gave me a half smile.
I didn’t look in the car.
Less than a minute later, a baby’s cry split the air.
Well. That escalated quickly.