“I really hate and love you right now,” Jane cries, grits through her teeth, and laughs, all in a span of seconds as Garrett and Annie help get her into a pushing position I can help more with. I attempt to hold in my amusement.
“You’re beautiful.” Garrett chuckles against her forehead.
“Jane, that was actually pretty kind considering some of the things I’ve heard over the span of my deliveries. Garrett, take it for the win,” I mention cheekily as I snap on my gloves and roll to the end of the bed. Hey, I said I was attempting to hold in my amusement. I failed. I’ll at least hold back that, by this point, obscenities and vows of castration are decently common.
“I need Holly in here!” Jane pleads before blowing through another contraction. I eye Annie, and she nods, running for the door. Seconds later, Holly’s peeking in.
“Get in here!” Jane pants when she notices her. “Garrett’s great–and all, but if he passes out, I know you’re solid!”
I openly snicker, watching an array of emotions pass over Garrett’s face.
“Point for me, Gare Bear,” Holly taunts with a wolfish smile as she comes in and sidles up next to her friend. “Don’t you dare pass out. She’ll never let you live it down, and now there are more witnesses.”
“No pressure,” Garrett shakes his head, teasing back with a smile while probably pep talking himself. I’ve seen a fair share of strong men drop like a bag of bricks.
“How you feeling about this, Momma?” I ask over the sheet, assessing Jane’s emotional state while connecting on a more personal level other than just being all up in her business. It’s time. I want her to know that she’s doing excellent and that both of them are safe with me.
“Nervous. Ready.”
“Jane, I’m gonna say it. You’re a badass.” I feel comfortable she won’t likely balk at my admission.
“I’m a badass.” She repeats the affirmation, sweat beading on her brow.
Jane pants as Holly swipes a cool rag against her skin. She peeks down at me and smiles.
“Well, at this point it doesn’t matter.” Jane blows out a breath before ripping her sheet off. Nope, it doesn’t matter one bit. I’m quite surprised she still had it on to be honest. Birthing naturally isn’t all neat and proper like they show in the movies. “Let’s do this.”
“Thatta girl,” Holly says, grinning at her bestie.
Chapter 2
Holly
Iwatch in amazement as my unabashed friend rips off her sheet and settles down into warrior mode. She’s fierce. I’m so freaking proud of her. I can’t wait to meet this little one, which I will call mine. Blood or not, I don’t care. I will be the best damn auntie ever. Period.
I look down at Dr. Sexy, poised and ready between one of my best friend’s thighs, and all I can think is someday soon, Jane and I are going to get a good laugh about this. If only she knew the half of it. She would be begging for deets between contractions. I hold back a snicker, and Dr. Reyes’s,wait, Jaxon’s green eyes glance up at me for the briefest of seconds. Damn it, he’s pretty. Those forearms and all serious like this in his element? He must have an idea what I’m thinking so I lock it down, but it’s too late. A mischievous tip of his lips has me swooning and picturing them all over mine mere minutes ago. I haven’t even had time to wrap my head around that.
Jane catches it though and looks up at me with a searing look that says, “Bitch, you better tell me later or I’ll cut you”seconds before she sucks in a breath and Jaxon tells her to push, causing all her thoughts to center on the miracle at hand.
There’s only one close call with Garrett. When Jaxon tries to refocus Jane and asks her if she wants the mirror to see her little girl coming, Garrett looks like he might lose it when he gets a glimpse. I promptly snap my fingers to tell him he better get his shit together, and everyone laughs.
Jane declines the mirror but reaches down to feel her daughter’s head. A fresh wave of determination washes over her face, and with a few more contractions, our girl is here. Jane, Garrett, and I all cry as Jaxon grins, laying that beautiful little squish on Jane’s chest while telling Jane how wonderful she did.
“I’m so proud of you!” I kiss the top of my friend’s head. “Hello, little beauty! I’m Aunt Holly. I’ll hold you in a bit.” I snap a closeup of Jane kissing her tiny head, and another of Garrett and Jane kissing, then another of their foreheads resting together as they soak in the moment of this big change. My vision blurs as I back up to give them their time. This moment is everything, and Jane let me be a part of it. I’m beyond thankful. I look over at Jaxon as he starts in on the post-birth things, and he grins over at me and winks like he knows how I’m feeling right now.
“Thank you for taking care of them,” I say, fighting to choke back all the emotions welling inside me.
“My pleasure,” he says softly, just so I can hear, not wanting to interrupt their family bonding time.
Without another word, I wash my hands and slip out the door to go tell everyone our newest member of the fam is here.
???
“She’s freaking adorable, Syd, and Jane did sooo good! Jaxon, I mean Dr. Reyes, told her that she was a badass. That was like…highest compliments,” I ramble excitedly into the phone.
“I can’t wait to meet her! I’m assuming a name hasn’t been spilled yet either. Wait a minute, Jaxon? You’re on a first name basis with Jane’s doctor?”
“You would be correct,” I affirm about the name. “Just think, in five more months, two more will be here!”
