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I step back to give her room while Goldie shifts her hips, totally unbothered thanks to the waist-down numbness.

Sarah checks her monitors, does her exam, and then pauses, looking up with a bright smile. "Well, look at that. You’re at a ten, plus one station. It is time to push, mama."

Goldie blinks, completely caught off guard. "Wait. Really? Right now? I literally feel like I could take a nap."

"The epidural is doing its job then," Sarah says, moving to the foot of the bed and hitting a button that starts transforming the bottom half of the mattress. "But baby is right there and ready to go. Let me page Dr. Evans."

The reality of what’s about to happen drops into the room like an anvil.

Behind me, Colston makes a choked, panicked noise in the back of his throat.

I turn around. All the color has drained out of his face again, leaving him looking slightly green. He jumps up off the couch and backs up toward the door, his hands raised in surrender.

"Okay. Nope. I’m out," Colston stammers, his eyes locked on the ceiling so he doesn't accidentally look at the lower half of Goldie's bed. "I love you, Goldie girl. You're a badass. Shamu, text me when the fluids are contained and the baby’s wrapped in a dry, clean blanket. I’ll be in the waiting room. Good luck. Goodbye."

He practically sprints out the door, letting it slam shut behind him.

Goldie bursts out laughing, shaking her head. "I can't believe he flies into hurricanes for a living but is terrified of a little blood and amniotic fluid. That’s second best friend behavior, Maverick."

I don’t dare tell her that I’m a little freaked out about what I’m about to see, too. Shit-talking Colston has been a good distraction to this point.

But the smile fades from my face as the room suddenly kicks into high gear. The lights click up to a brighter setting. A cart of medical instruments is wheeled in with a couple of nurses, and Dr. Evans walks through the door tying a sterile gown behind her back.

It’s happening.

I move to the head of the bed, sliding my hand around the back of Goldie’s neck while my other hand completely swallows hers. Her fingers are cold, trembling just a little as the adrenaline starts to override the chill vibe she had two minutes ago.

I look down at her, and the absolute gravity of the moment hits me as our eyes meet.

For years, I’ve wanted this. And when it didn’t happen, I mourned the loud, chaotic family I thought I’d never have.

And now here’s Goldie.

Fierce, sarcastic, unapologetic Goldie. The woman who let me drag her out of a dive bar and into a hotel room to take a leap with me. The woman who turned my entire life upside down, handed me her whole heart, and made a home with me.

Here she is, about to give me a child.

Half her, half me, and hopefully the first of many.

My throat locks up. A hot, stinging pressure builds behind my eyes, and my chest expands until it feels like my ribs might crack. Her eyes flick back and forth between mine, and I know everything I’m feeling, she’s feeling it, too. It’s right there, reflected back at me. So much love.

The sheer, overwhelming gratitude I feel for this woman is a living, breathing thing inside of me. I love her so fucking much it terrifies me.

"Hey," Goldie whispers, her eyes searching my face. Her thumb sweeps across my knuckles. "You okay, Maverick?"

I swallow hard, forcing the massive lump in my throat down, and press my forehead against hers. I breathe in the scent of her skin, grounding myself in the warmth of her body.

"I've never been better," I tell her, my voice thick with emotion. I kiss her forehead, lingering there for a long second before pulling back to look her right in the eye. "I love you. You ready to do this?"

Goldie blows out a long, shaky breath and gives me a determined nod. "Yep. No problem. I’ve got this."

Dr. Evans takes her seat at the foot of the bed, snapping her gloves into place. "Alright, Goldie. When the next contraction peaks, I want you to grab behind your knees, curl your shoulders forward, and bear down. Let's see how fast we can get this baby out."

Goldie grins at her. "Don't tempt me. I am highly competitive."

I let out a short, tight laugh, sliding one arm behind her back to support her shoulders. "Show 'em how it's done, baby."

Sarah speaks up a few seconds later. "Here it comes. Deep breath."