Page 66 of Pick Me This Time

30

DAPHNE

After pacing the waiting room for almost an hour, I finally sat down, stressed, exhausted, and worried. Rachel was in active labor and they’d let me stay with her after I’d brought her in, but eventually, the nurse had suggested that I should leave and let her get some rest between contractions.

I’d been hesitant to go, but my friend had assured me that it was okay. I hadn’t wanted to go too far though, which was why I was still here. I wasn’t planning on leaving this hospital anytime soon either. At least not until Eric tracked Jake down, but probably not until after the baby was born.

My palms were sweaty, my heart racing, and my knees numb. If they track Jake down.

Where the hell is he?

Despite my brother’s assurances that they were doing everything in their power to find him, I was worried as hell. It was very unlike him to disappear, and completely unlike him ever since he’d found out that his wife was pregnant.

The worry was like a living thing inside me, chewing its way through all my organs. Sliding my hands into my hair, I bunched it between my fingers, inhaling and exhaling deeply. As I sat there staring into space, the door suddenly opened and my heart jumped into my throat when Sterling walked in.

With his black hair damp and the bottoms of his jeans soaked, he’d clearly been outside but he smiled when he saw me, evidently not too worried about being wet. “We found him. Jake’s here. They’ve already taken him to Rachel’s room.”

Relief crashed into me, so intense that it sucked the air right out of my lungs and I slumped over. “Thank God! I was so worried. Where was he?”

“Benson,” Sterling said, those dark eyes locked on mine as he lingered in the doorway for a moment before he started toward me. “His truck broke down and he was waiting for a tow. The storm knocked out their reception, which is why none of us could get a hold of him, but he’s okay.”

“Thank God,” I repeated, tracking Sterling’s movements as he crossed the room and sat down in the chair directly next to mine.

We were the only two people in the waiting room. There were at least a dozen other chairs he could’ve chosen, yet he’d decided to sit as close to me as he could get. My heart soared while my brain kept trying to remind itself that we weren’t getting ahead of ourselves.

Either way, I turned to smile at the guy. My insides felt all warm and tingly when he returned it. “Who found him? Eric?”

“Nope, I did,” he said, settling in with his arm on the shared rest between us so that it was pressed against mine.

Sparks shot through me at the contact, and I briefly wished we hadn’t both been wearing long-sleeved shirts. I was craving skin contact, but this was hardly the time or the place. “You went out there in the storm to find him?”

“Of course, I did,” he said easily. “We might not be as close as we once were, but the guy is still my friend and he’s having a baby. Nothing would’ve stopped me from finding him and dragging his ass over here, but especially not just some rain.”

Gratitude took hold of my heart, making it swell to epic proportions. “As Rachel’s best friend who is still as close to her as we once were, thank you. I know how much it means to her and it means the world to me too.”

He smiled, lifting his hand to give mine a soft squeeze. It lingered there for a moment. Then he sighed and pulled it away. “How is she?”

“About to have a baby,” I said, missing the feeling of his hand on mine already, regardless of how brief the contact had been or how new it was that he touched me that way at all. “She’s pretty much exactly like you think she is, but having Jake here is definitely going to help. Thank you for finding him.”

He inclined his head at me, leaning back in the chair and looking around the room. “Is there a cafeteria in this place? Or somewhere we can grab a coffee?”

“I’m not actually sure,” I said, realizing that I hadn’t even thought about it. “Coffee would be nice now that I know Jake is safe, though. I was too stressed about him, Rachel, and the baby to find out before, but I guess we’re in it for the long haul now. Unless you’re leaving?”

“Nope,” he said, folding his hands over his stomach and stretching his long legs out ahead of him. “I’m here until she’s born. Then I’ll help Eric to get Jake’s truck sorted, and then I’ll come back if they need anything before they’re discharged.”

My heart gave a weird squeeze. “I guess you really are back, huh?”

“Yep.”

For now, anyway, I thought, but I didn’t say it out loud. We were all very aware of the fact that he wasn’t staying, but at least he would be here for the birth. Rachel and Jake would both appreciate that.

“Should we go find that coffee?” I asked, already scooting to the edge of my chair. “I’m sure there has to be some somewhere. This is a hospital. I don’t think it could operate without caffeine being available twenty-four hours a day.”

“Let’s do it,” he said, standing up and reaching a hand out to help me stand. I didn’t need it, but I took it anyway, twining my fingers through his and holding on tight for the brief moment I could.

Sterling didn’t let go of my hand right away either. He held it until we left the waiting room, and when he let go, he did it slowly. Almost like he was reluctant to.

Just down the hall, we found another waiting area. It was larger than the one we were in, with a few more people milling around it. Against the wall was a refreshment station with a coffeemaker and some cups next to it.