“We’ll stay with the kids,” Ronnie tells Silas. “You and Cecilia get them to the hospital. Morgan said her bags are already in their car.”
“We’ll take Emma in her car,” Nancy says as Greyson and Andrew help walk her to the large SUV.
“Come on, let’s go.” Aubrey takes my hand and begins to pull me toward our cars parked along the sidewalk, but I stop her, noticing she’s shivering.
“Wait, where’s your coat?”
“Oh, it’s inside, let me get it. I rushed out and only had time to put my boots on.” She looks at me as she releases my hand and smiles sadly. “I’m really sorry about that, Shane…” Her eyes fall to my cuts.
“It’s okay, Angel. It’s not your fault.” I cup her cheek, rubbing my thumb back and forth along her cold skin.
“Isn’t it, though?” Her eyes gloss over with wetness.
“No, sweetheart. Don’t blame yourself for your brother’s anger. I’m fine and everything will be okay, I promise.” I bring her into my chest, kissing her crown as I repeat the words. “I promise.”
Chapter eleven
Shane
Written in the stars.
We all arrive at the hospital at the same time—Cecilia walks in before us all, getting a nurse as she explains everything very directly. “We have a thirty-six-week pregnant woman with twins in labor”—she points to Morgan, who’s now seated in a wheelchair crying through her contractions that seem to be getting closer and closer—“a thirty-one-week, also pregnant with twins that slipped on ice”—she turns her finger to Emma, who looks a bit in pain and holds her belly—“and he was in an altercation and needs to get his cuts checked.”
“Wow, okay.” The nurse stares with wide eyes before snapping into action, telling another nurse to take Emma while she goes to Morgan’s side. “Sir, just take a seat, someone will see you shortly,” she tells me, then speed-walks away with Clay and Morgan.
Aubrey and I take two chairs, while Silas, Cecilia, Nancy, and Andrew do the same. I can tell by the way my Angel looks down at her hands that she’s still blaming herself for what happened. And when she brings her thumb up to her mouth, it’s a direct confirmation.
I take her wrist before her finger can make contact with her teeth and bring it over to my mouth instead, kissing the inside of her wrist. “Angel, stop it. You did nothing wrong.”
She lifts her gaze to mine, eyes filled with unshed tears, and my heart squeezes. “What if we’re making a mistake… What if we’re rushing into things, or we’re just blinded by lust… I’ve never done all of this, Shane. I don’t know how to tell the difference.” A tear slips out. “What if we’re wrong about our feelings and we bring a baby into this world when we’re not meant to be forever?” she whispers, and my heart breaks with every new word falling from her lips.
Releasing her wrist, I stand from my chair and kneel at her feet, cupping her cheeks in my palms. “No, sweetheart. Don’t say that. Don’t even think it. This, what’s happening between us, is one hundred percent real. I’ve never felt anything more real in my life. I’ve never been more sure about anything in this world. Our baby is simply life proving to us that it’s real, that we’re meant to be.”
I lean in, kissing her wet, voluptuous lips that now hold a few more tears. “I believe our destiny was mapped out a long time ago, that every encounter we’ve had since we’ve met was supposed to happen. Don’t you see, Aubrey? We’ve been written in the stars for years.”
“Shane,” she whispers my name as her eyes close, and she lets out a breath.
“Don’t let this misplaced doubt and blame cloud your heart and mind on what you know is real. Because I know you feel it, Angel. Deep down, I know that you know it’s real.”
“I do,” she breathes against my lips. “I do.”
I kiss her a few more times until I feel a smile spreading on her lips. I know we have an audience, but I couldn’t care less. My girl needs some cheering up, and that’s all that matters to me at this moment. When I finally pull away and reclaim my seat, I find Nancy beaming at us as well as Cecilia.
“I think that was the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard,” Nancy tells me, placing her hand on my forearm.
“Hey, I say romantic things to you all the time.” Andrew frowns at his wife.
“Asking me to wash your clothes and to scratch your feet is not romantic, Drew. Stop trying to steal our girl’s moment.” She rolls her eyes at him before refocusing on me and Aubrey.
She removes her hand from me and reaches over for her daughter’s. “Sweetie, you have nothing to blame yourself over. This was a misfortunate event, but it wasn’t your fault. You’ve always known how your brother gets when he’s emotional, certainly when it involves you. Greyson loves you and only wants what’s best for you.”
“But this is it, Mom. Why can’t he see that?” she asks in a brokenhearted voice.
“Because he still sees you as the little girl you once were. Because he hasn’t seen how well you two truly fit together. He knows you both separately, but once he has a chance to see you together, he’ll see what we all see. That you’re soulmates.” She squeezes her hand.
“I hope you’re right,” Aubrey whispers, still looking a bit uncertain.
“Now, enough about that. I believe congratulations are in order.” Nancy’s grin widens as she rushes over from her chair and hugs her daughter. “Oh, I can’t believe my little girl is having a baby! I’m so happy for you two.”
