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Me: That’s great, babe. I’m proud of you.
Aurora: Thank you. I might have saved you one.
Me: You do love me.
Aurora: More than anything.
I never thought I’d see the day when a text message would make me all sappy and shit, but over the past few months, that’s exactly what happens. Aurora Steele has turned my world upside down.
Aurora: How’s Layla?
Me: Annoyed. LOL. I’ve been checking on her every five minutes.
Aurora: She’ll tell you if she needs you.
Me: I know, but I would never forgive myself if she needed me, and I wasn’t there.
Aurora: You’re a good man, Grant Riggins.
Me: So I’ve been told.
I follow it up with a winking face emoji and an arms shrugging emoji.
Aurora: So modest. Get back to work, slacker.
Me: See you tonight.
Her reply is a thumbs-up, making me smile. She knows I’ll keep texting her because no matter how much time I get with her, it’s never enough. It will never be enough.
Tossing my phone on my desk, I try to get back to work, but my concentration is complete shit. It’s just one of those days, I guess. Standing from my chair, I stretch before grabbing my phone and sliding it back in my pocket. It’s been almost an hour since I checked on Layla, so it’s time for that. I know that I’m annoying her, but she’ll get over it. I can’t focus on work, so checking on her at least makes me feel productive.
I’m almost to the door when my desk phone rings. Walking back to my desk, I reach over the front of my desk and grab the handset. “Grant Riggins,” I say, trying to lean over the desk and see who’s calling.
“Grant?” Layla asks.
“Hey, I was just coming to see you.”
“Okay. Well, I’ll see you in a minute.” I hear laughter in her voice, but it’s not an “I’m happy you read my mind” laughter. It’s more of an “I’m nervous about something” laughter.
Hanging up the phone, I make my way toward the reception desk where she is. “Hey,” I say, leaning against the counter. “What’s up?”
“Well, I was hoping I could ask you for a favor.”
“Anything.” I mean that. I would do anything for either of my sisters-in-law. I love them both and will continue to state that Sawyer and Layla are the best things to ever happen to Owen and Royce.
“Don’t freak out.”
“Layla, you can’t tell a man not to freak out and not tell him what he’s not freaking out about.” I run my eyes over her, where she sits in her chair, and she looks perfectly fine.
“I need you to take me to the hospital.”
“What? What’s going on?” My feet are moving, and I end up behind the desk, bending down beside her chair so that we’re eye to eye. “Are you hurt?”
“No. But my water broke.”
My water broke. “Fuck. Okay. Um, yeah, let’s get you to the hospital. I love you and my nephew, but I don’t want to deliver him.” I take a deep breath. “Are you okay? What do you need?”
“I’m fine. I don’t need anything but a ride and for someone to call my husband. We have time. I’ve been timing my contractions all morning. They’re still fifteen minutes apart.”
“All morning? Layla!” I scold her.
“Oh, hush. I’m fine. You and I both know that if Owen was aware he would have made both of us stay home, and there is no point in that.”
“You’re awful calm for this to be your first rodeo,” I tell her, holding out my hand and helping her stand.
“That’s because I know everything is going to be fine. I’ve lived through the worst, and this is far from that. This is special, and I’m too excited to be worried. I get to meet my son. A piece of me and a piece of Owen.” Her smile is wide and sincere.
“You’re one of a kind, Layla Riggins.”
“I love that. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing it.”
“Well, Mrs. Riggins, let’s get you in the car and call your husband. He’s going to flip his shit, so I’d like to tell him you’re safe and on your way to the hospital before I call him.”
“Thank you, Grant. I’m glad it’s you.”
“What?” I ask, leading her to the elevator.
“I’m glad it was you who’s here. Marshall watches me like a hawk after all that went down, and Conrad, I have a feeling he wouldn’t be this calm, and Royce either. You’re just the right amount of worried and calm for this kind of situation.”
“Well,” I say with a laugh. “I’m glad I’m here too.” With cautious steps, I guide her to my SUV.
“Wait, I can’t sit on your seats.”
“You can, and you will. It’s leather. It will clean. We’re not waiting a minute longer to get your ass in this car,” I tell her, my hands on my hips.
