Chapter 21 #2
“But he’s so snuggly,” Sloane complains.
“Hand him over, Sinclair,” Kendall says, holding her arms out for her grandson.
“Yeah, you should have another one if you want the snuggles. You need to share,” Everly tells her.
“Funny, I was telling my husband the same thing just last night.”
“What?” Eden asks. “Really? Are you pregnant?”
Sloane smiles. “No, but we’re going to start trying.”
“That’s amazing.” Bellamy hugs her first, then the rest of us do the same.
In the past, talks of pregnancy would cause pain to fill my chest, but now that I have Mia, that old pang of want is no longer there. While I don’t know what it feels like to be pregnant, I am a mom, and it’s the greatest gift.
“Where’s everyone else?” I ask Kendall.
“Oh, they wanted to be closer to the action. They’ll be up later to see everyone, I’m sure.”
“All right, who’s handing over a kid? I know Mom’s not giving Alexander up yet,” Emma, Knox’s older sister, says.
“I’ll share,” Eden tells her. “My bladder isn’t giving me much of a choice.” She laughs, patting her baby bump, while Emma makes her way over and swoops Ella out of her arms and onto her hip. The baby squeals with laughter when Emma tickles her belly.
My stomach rolls at the thought of losing this.
Bellamy places Mia on her feet, and she toddles after Coral to the corner where the toy area is. Camden is already there, playing with a toy fire truck, and he offers each of the girls a truck as they plop down on the floor next to him.
“It’s time for kickoff,” Everly says, and everyone moves in to watch. I stand back a little to keep an eye on the kids, as does Bellamy. The Rampage is playing against the Richmond Royals today, and our offense takes the field first.
We talk, laugh, and keep up with the kids, all while the Rampage wrap up the first quarter, seven to nothing. That’s a good start to the game for sure. It takes a lot of effort not to watch Will on the sidelines and keep my attention on the game, but somehow, I manage.
“I’m going to use the restroom,” I tell Bellamy. “Can you keep an eye on Mia?”
“We all will.” Bellamy chuckles. “You know that you don’t have to ask.”
I nod and head to the bathroom. I’m handling my business when a strong queasiness washes over me. I brace one hand on the wall, willing it to pass. Once the room stops spinning, I wash my hands and step out of the bathroom.
It’s the last thing I remember until—
“Hey, Manda, can you hear me?” Bellamy asks.
“Wh-What happened?” I ask, trying to sit up, but she stops me, pressing on my shoulders to keep me down.
“You collapsed when you came out of the bathroom. We’re waiting on the EMTs to come up and check you out.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” I say, trying to stand again, but she pushes me down again, gently, and I don’t have the strength to fight her on it, so I lie on the floor of the suite. “Mia?”
“Occupied,” Everly says, kneeling on my other side. “Can we get you anything?”
“No. I just got a little lightheaded, that’s all.”
“That’s all?” Bellamy asks incredulously. “Manda, you fainted. You don’t faint,” she says, just as the door of the suite opens, and two EMTs rush in.
I let them do their thing, checking my vitals, and finally, they help me sit up and offer me some juice.
I drink it even though my stomach is telling me that it’s a bad idea.
I can’t really focus on what they’re saying—trying not to vomit everywhere—until I tune back in long enough to hear them say they’re taking me to the emergency room just to be sure.
“I’m fine,” I assure them. “I haven’t been sleeping and have felt a little dizzy. I’ll be fine.”
“You’re going. I don’t want to hear any lip,” Bellamy demands. “And before you say you can’t because of Mia, this room is filled with family who will take care of her while we take care of you.”
“What she said,” Sloane chimes in.
“I can’t leave her,” I say, feeling tears well in my eyes. I don’t know why I’m so upset at the mention of leaving her behind, but I am.
“Okay,” Eden says softly. “We’ll come with you. We’ll bring her so that she’s close.”
“Amanda,” Kendall says softly. “The girls and I would be happy to keep an eye on her for you. We can keep her at Corie and Knox’s place until you’re released. We’re happy to,” she says.
I open my mouth to tell her she doesn’t have to.
“Let Kendall, Everly, and Emma keep her,” Bellamy encourages me.
“I’ll stay with them,” Eden says.
“Me, too,” Sloane says. “That’s five of us, and five littles. One for each of us. We’ll keep a close eye on her. I promise,” she says.
I lose my battle with my tears, and my stomach rolls. “Are you sure?” I ask, swallowing hard to keep from losing what little I have managed to eat today all over myself and the floor.
“We’re sure,” all five of them chorus.
“Thank you,” I say, wiping at my tears.
“Easy does it,” the EMT, whose name I didn’t catch, says as they help me stand. “We need to put you on the stretcher.”
“No.” I look at Bellamy and plead with her. “Can you drive me? I promise I won’t put up a fight. The stretcher isn’t necessary.”
“Is she well enough for me to take her?” she asks the EMT.
I want to roll my eyes, but I know it’s just because she’s worried about me.
“She is. Just assist her while walking to prevent another fall, and ma’am, we’ll need you to sign a paper that you insisted on going on your own.”
“I’ll sign.” I nod while the other EMT moves a chair closer for me to sit. They produce the paper. After I sign it, Bellamy and the EMT help me to Bellamy’s SUV without further incident.
Once in the car, I close my eyes and will the nausea to subside. At least the ER should be able to give me something to help with that.
“I just need to let Reid know I’m leaving.” I can hear her fingers tapping on the screen of her phone before she drops it into the cup holder.
I should text Will, but I don’t want him to worry.
I’ll call him after the game and tell him what happened.
Surely, I’ll have some answers by then. It’s only the start of the second quarter, or at least it was.
I don’t know how much time has passed. The car starts to move, and my stomach rolls.
Closing my eyes, I focus on deep, even breaths for the short five-minute drive to the emergency department.