Chapter 35 Brady
brADY
I’m in shock. That’s what this is, shock. I can’t hear anything around me, just the muffled moans coming through the phone.
“Sage? What did you say? Hurricane, talk to me.”
There’s a fumbling noise, and then a different voice talks. “Hey Brady, it’s Fiona. Yeah, so your daughter decided to come early. How quickly can you get home?”
“I’m in Idaho,” I say dumbly.
“I know that, how quickly can you get home?” Fiona repeats, sounding way calmer than I feel.
“I’m not sure. I’ll…I’ll figure it out. Is she okay? Is Sage okay?”
“She’s doing great so far, but she wants you here.”
“Tell her I love her.”
“I will. And I’ll text you updates from my phone. Let me know how you’re gonna get home.”
I hang up and turn to face my teammates.
We’ve just wrapped up a pregame meeting in a small conference room at the hotel where we’re staying.
Rafe just informed us he heard some scouts from a couple major league teams are watching this series of games, although no one knows who they’re here for. My money’s on Cal or maybe Foxxy.
“Sage is in labour. I gotta go.”
There’s a flurry of voices and activity, but I tune it all out. My mind is too busy trying to think about how quickly I can get to the airport, and how I can bribe an airline to get me on the soonest flight out of here.
A hand on my arm stops me at the doorway, and I look over to see Luca thumbing something out on his phone.
“Hold on, Dix. I’m getting you a seat on a private flight that leaves in…
two hours.” He pockets his phone and meets my stunned gaze.
“We’ll get you home quickly. I’ll have a car here to take you to the airport in ten. Okay?”
I nod, unable to speak.
He slaps my shoulder. “Good. Go pack up.”
It doesn’t fully hit me, the extent to which Luca went to get me home, until the small private jet is landing on a minor airstrip just outside of Cedar Creek just over three hours after I got the call from Sage.
I text Fiona as soon as I’m able.
brADY: I just landed. Be at the hospital in 30 minutes.
FIONA: Holy crap did you figure out how to teleport? We figured it would take longer.
brADY: Nah. Just a generous former team owner with deep pockets.
FIONA: Well he just made Sage cry. Again. At least it’s happy tears this time.
brADY: What’s wrong? Why is she crying?
FIONA: She’s fine. We’ll explain when you get here.
“Fuck,” I curse as I jog to the spot where they said I could get my luggage. Immigration was dealt with in Idaho, so as soon as I have my bags, I can hit the road.
It’s still not soon enough, and by the time I pull up at the hospital, I’m ready to explode out of my skin. I need to see Sage. To touch her and reassure myself she’s alright. And to apologize and beg for forgiveness for not being here earlier.
Fiona’s waiting for me outside of what I assume is Sage’s room, and I have to fight not to snap at her when she stops me from going in.
“Brady, Sage is fine, but she’s stressed.
Things stalled about an hour ago and she’s feeling really guilty for calling you.
Plus, Enid said to remind you that Sage’s emotions are going to be wild as she goes through labour.
So take a minute, breathe, and be ready to set all of your shit aside before you walk in there. ”
I impulsively pull her in for a hug. “Thank you for being here for her.”
Fiona pats my back. “No problem. I’m the best friend, it’s kind of my job.” She pulls back and folds her arms across her chest. “But you’re the dad, so now the job is yours. Don’t fuck it up.”
I flash a grin at her. “I won’t.”
She gives me a brusque nod and gestures to the door. “Get in there, she needs you.”
I push open the door slowly, hearing only Enid’s quiet voice and two sets of shuffling feet. Stepping around the curtain that offers some privacy when the door is open, I see Sage walking around the room in small circles, Enid right beside her.
“Hey, Hurricane,” I say softly. She’s wearing my jersey and what looks to be a pair of my shorts as well. Her gaze snaps up to mine as soon as I speak, and I take in her red-rimmed eyes and flushed cheeks.
“Brady.” Her voice cracks and I swiftly move to her and gather her in my arms.
“I’m here, Sage. I’m here. I’ll always be here for you, no matter what it takes.
All of our plans for the birth might have gone out the fucking window, but that doesn’t matter.
Because I love you. And that’s stronger than anything else.
” I continue murmuring as we sway back and forth and Sage cries into my shoulder.
I hear the sound of the door closing and then it’s just the two of us.
Well, three, if you count our little girl, who’s almost ready to make her entrance.
“C’mon,” I say, guiding Sage over to the bed so she can sit.
“No, sitting hurts. I need to walk. I’m so sorry I pulled you away from the team, I really thought it was going to happen and you wouldn’t be here, but now I feel even worse,” she blubbers, a fresh wave of tears falling.
I smile, wiping the moisture away with my thumbs. “Do you remember at the grocery store, back when you first told me you were pregnant, and you said you didn’t normally get so emotional?”
She nods and sniffles.
“Who would’ve thought it would get worse?” I wink so she knows I’m teasing, and it does just what I hoped it would: it makes her laugh.
“It’s not my fault, it’s the hormones. I promise I’m a lot more normal when I’m not pregnant.”
I lean in and kiss her forehead. “I can’t wait to see that.” Then, I turn her around so her back is to my front and reach around to lift her belly. “Does this still feel good?”
“Oh God, yes,” she moans. We stay like that, swaying once again, Sage leaning on me as I take the weight from her in the only way I can right now.
Her hand covers mine a couple of minutes later. “Contraction.” She winces, turning in my arms and wrapping her arms around my neck. She starts to moan, low and long. The contraction seems to last forever, and it’s a struggle to maintain my calm, seeing her in so much pain.
“I think you need to get Enid back in here,” Sage gasps when it finally passes. She steps back and puts a hand under her belly, on the front of my shorts that she’s wearing, and grimaces. “My water just broke.”
I get Sage to hold onto the end of the bed before hustling over to the door and calling Enid back in. Fiona’s in the hallway and walks over.
“I’ll stay out here, but is there anyone else you want me to call?”
“Yeah, can you text my brother and sister?” I rattle off their numbers as Enid goes to check on Sage.
“You got it.”
“Thanks.” A louder moan comes from inside, and my eyes widen. “I gotta go.”
Back in the room, Enid has been joined by a nurse, and Sage is on all fours on the bed as they check her.
“Things are moving quickly now, Sage. You’re almost fully dilated. It looks like your girl was just waiting for her daddy to get here.”
Sage’s gaze finds mine.
“She’s already a daddy’s girl,” I joke, stroking her sweat-soaked hair away from her face. “I can’t wait to meet her. I love you so much.”
“I love you, too,” Sage whispers, and I kiss the tears on her cheeks. Her face scrunches up again as another contraction hits. “Oh God, I can’t do this.”
“Yes, you can, little mama. Yes, you can. You’re the strongest woman I know, and our daughter is lucky to have you as a mother. And she’s ready to meet you.”
Not long after that, Ivy Dixon enters the world, screaming and crying, as if she’s the one who was inconvenienced by her early arrival, and not the rest of us.