Epilogue 2
LEE
Jasper zips through the kitchen, sees the fridge, and skids to a stop. He hisses an adorable little hiss at the fake mouse toy Elliot left for him under the table. His tail fluffs up, and then he does a sideways move to get out of the kitchen.
Julian sees him and laughs before walking to his office. Jasper trots behind him.
I’m huge. I haven’t seen my feet or my vagina in a month. Both are working though, so I guess that’s good.
My stomach squeezes, and I lean my back against the counter.
After a few minutes, it stops and I can take a deep breath.
I start digging for some gummy worms. Surely, I didn’t eat them all.
I rummage through the pantry, and when I crouch down to check one more hiding spot in the cabinet by the refrigerator, warm liquid runs between my legs.
I use the edge of the counter to haul myself up.
The water trickles out more. I look between my legs relieved it wasn’t pee.
Another contraction hits. Not the fake-out ones I’ve been having for weeks. This one wraps around my back and squeezes so hard I have to grab the kitchen counter and breathe through it.
I hear footsteps behind me.
“Lee.”
It’s short, but the sharpness forces a whimper out of my mouth.
“Julian!” he shouts, already yanking the hospital bag off the hook by the door. “Bag. Keys. We’re going. I’ll carry you.”
“I’m fine,” I try, but it comes out more like a groan. “I need to change. She’s not coming that soon. I love her, but she’s in no hurry. I can tell.”
Elliot looks at the water mess. He throws down the bags and runs to the bedroom. I see where Jasper gets it.
“We’re going,” Elliot says again. His voice has that tight, controlled edge it gets when he’s two seconds from losing it completely. “Here. I’ll change you.”
He crouches and pulls my yoga pants down.
“Come on, baby girl. We are all dying to meet you,” he says to my stomach before pressing a kiss to it. Next, he wipes me with a kitchen towel and throws a soft dress over my head. I’ve never been much of a dress person, but I’ve never been this pregnant before.
Julian appears from the hallway, calm on the surface, but I can see the way his shoulders are set. He’s at my side in two steps, one hand already on my lower back.
“Breathe, babydoll,” he says quietly.
“I am breathing,” I snap, right before another contraction steals the rest of my unnecessary sass.
Two more contractions and forty minutes later we are at the hospital. The loves of my life are bickering like two little old ladies.
By the time we get to the hospital, I’m pissed.
Elliot drove like a maniac and even put a fake cop light on the top of the car to help with traffic.
There was none, and my apartment is only ten minutes from the hospital.
Julian kept checking my pulse like I was about to flatline in the passenger seat.
And now I’m in a stupid wheelchair and Julian is threatening everyone in the hospital like he owns it.
Actually, I think his uncle might. Their name is on the wall.
Marge and Georgie are already in the waiting room when Elliot wheels me past. Marge has a giant container of cookies, and Georgie is holding a cute blanket, pale yellow with little stars.
“Lee, eek. We are so excited for you,” Marge says, standing up fast.
“Yep, you got this, girl,” Georgie adds with a fist pump.
“Tell them that,” I mutter, glaring at my two idiots as we’re pushed toward a room.
Georgie just smiles and hands the blanket and the baked goods to Julian. “Cookies for after.”
“Unless she kills you both. Then there will be more for us,” Marge says with a laugh.
We wave them off and head to our room.
I put on the hospital gown and get ready. Julian starts laying everything out for the baby on the counters and takes over the whiteboard.
Elliot hasn’t sat down. He’s pacing the small space between the bed and the door.
“Elliot,” I say between breaths. “You’re freaking me out more than the contractions.”
He stops. Runs a hand over his face. “I don’t like this.”
“Yeah, well, you liked it when you were all ‘take my baby batter, Lee. I want you knocked up.’”
Elliot turns and belts out a laugh and comes to my side.
“Baby batter never came out of my mouth,” he says and leans to kiss the top of my hair. “God, I love you. I don’t want you to hurt, Lee.”
Julian grabs a chair and sits at my side. His thumb strokes over my knuckles, steady and warm. He’s the calm one right now, but I can feel how tight he’s holding on.
Another contraction hits. I let out a string of curses just as the nurse sticks her head in and tells me I’m doing great. I tell her she’s a liar with my eyes.
When it lets up, Julian glances at Elliot. Something silent passes between them. Elliot nods once, jaw tight, and reaches into the inside pocket of his jacket.
My brain is foggy, so it takes me a second to register what he’s holding.
A small black box.
Julian shifts closer to the bed, still holding my hand. His voice is quieter than usual.
“We had a whole plan,” he says, his eyes glassy. “But then our baby decided she was going to come here today.”
Julian opens the box.
The ruby is huge. It's a bright-red oval cut, my favorite color, on a simple gold band.
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper.
“We can’t wait anymore,” Elliot says. His voice is rough, like he’s been holding it in. “You’re about to have our baby. We don’t want to go another second without you knowing you’re it for us. Both of us.”
Julian’s thumb keeps stroking my knuckles. “Marry us, Lee.”
I stare at the ring. Then at them. Elliot looks like he might actually pass out waiting for my answer. Julian looks steady, but his eyes are doing that dark, devastating thing that always makes me wet.
Another contraction starts building. I can feel it coming.
“Okay. Promise me it’s going to last forever.”
Elliot’s mouth twitches like he wants to smile but is too terrified. “Swear it, kid. I’m yours.”
Julian leans in and kisses my forehead, quick and warm. “Say yes, babydoll, so my pulse can kick back up again.”
When the contraction gets to its peak, I squeeze Julian’s hand hard enough to bruise and reach for Elliot with the other. He grabs it instantly, gripping like he’s terrified I’ll change my mind. As if I could.
“Yes,” I gasp, the word ripped out of me as the pain crests and shatters. “Obviously yes. I love you both. I’m yours.”
Elliot makes a choked sound. It’s half a laugh and half something that sounds like it hurts.
His hands shake as he slides the ring onto my finger, the ruby heavy and warm against my skin.
Julian keeps kissing my hair, my temple, my damp cheek, giving me praise I’ve gotten addicted to.
“That’s it, babydoll. Breathe. You’re doing so good for us. Just breathe.”
I do. I breathe because the ring is on and they’re both here and our baby is coming and nothing else exists.
Elliot looks like he might throw up every time another contraction tears through me. His jaw is locked so tight I can see the muscle jumping. Julian stays bossy on the outside. His voice is calm, but I feel the fine tremor running through him where our skin touches.
Two hours of pain and pushing and their voices anchoring me later, it’s almost over.
Julian’s between my legs now, sleeves shoved up, the doctor standing back and letting him take over like this was always how it was supposed to happen. I don’t have the breath to apologize to her.
“Ettie,” Julian says, and the way he says my name makes something in my chest pull tight. “She’s got your blond hair. One more push, babydoll. One more and she’s here with us.”
I lean forward, trying to see, trying to help. Elliot smooths my sweat-soaked hair back from my face, palm cool against my burning skin.
“I’m so fucking proud of you, Lee,” he says, voice rough and cracking. “God, you’re amazing. Thank you for giving me everything.”
The pressure builds until it breaks. Julian eases her out. I hold my breath, heart stopped, until she lets out a tiny whimper. She’s here and she’s real and she’s ours.
Julian’s hands are gentle as he checks her, clears her mouth, and clamps the cord. “She’s perfect.”
“She’s so beautiful,” Elliot whispers. Tears are tracking down his face. He takes her from Julian carefully, presses a kiss to her damp head, and then he’s placing her on my bare chest.
“Hey, there’s my baby,” I say. The love that flows through me is dizzying. Love for her, for my men, and the love they are going to give us for the rest of our lives.