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She rolls her eyes. “Nice try, but no.”
“I’m just sayin’. Twins run in the family.”
“I’ve noticed.”
Just as I’m about to suggest we get going, Harper’s face distorts as her brows pinch together. She puts a hand on her lower back and makes a noise.
“You alright?”
“I think that was a contraction…but like a big one.”
“Is it time?” I ask in a panic, unsure of what to do. Though we’ve talked about the birth plan excessively, I’m still nervous.
“It’s probably Braxton Hicks. I felt some earlier too.” She blows out a breath as if the pain dissolved. “Yeah, I’m pretty—”
We both look down when we feel liquid at our bare feet. It’s not a lot, but it’s enough to know it’s not just Braxton Hicks.
“Is that your…did your water just break?”
“I think it is! I read that it can leak out slowly. It’s not always a gush.”
“Well, shit. Let’s go to the hospital then.” My heart races in both anxiousness and excitement.
“Can you bring a couple of towels? And my bag!”
I help Harper into the truck after covering the seat with a towel. Once we have everything, I jump in the driver’s seat, and we head toward the hospital. She calls her doctor and tells her we’re on the way.
Leaning over, I take her hand in mine and squeeze. “We’re gonna have a baby today.”
“I can’t believe it.” Her eyes tear up. “So excited to meet him.”
“Me too, love.”
* * *
HARPER
After six hours of labor, Hayden Scott Bishop was born.
A full head of dark hair and pure perfection.
I’ve never been more grateful for modern medicine than I was today. As soon as the contractions were coming every couple of minutes, I got an epidural. I only pushed for thirty minutes before he was here. Grateful and blessed are an understatement.
On our way to the hospital, Ethan called his parents, and I called mine. Then I sent out a mass text to everyone else to let them know since most of them would be at the bachelor auction anyway. Though I’m sad I missed the event, it’s nothing compared to holding my son for the first time.
“He looks so much like you,” Ethan says, standing next to me.
“He’s got my dark hair, but he’s definitely got all the Bishop features.” I rub my finger over his soft cheek.
“So proud of you, babe. You made it look so easy.”
“Well, let me reassure you, it wasn’t.” I snort.
Ethan leans down and kisses Hayden’s head. “He’s eating so good.”
“I can’t believe he latched right on. Hopefully, he continues because I’ve been warned. Mostly by your mother.” I chuckle. With her being a doctor, she was my pregnancy bible through all of this.
“Speaking of which, they’re on their way up. Even though I told her visiting hours were over, she said they didn’t apply to the grandmother.”
“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” I laugh. Considering she works here, she’ll probably have no problem getting in.
After spending two days in the hospital, I’m relieved to finally be home and in my own bed. I told Hadleigh she could come over since she could only drop in for a few minutes on her breaks the next day.
“I brought goodies,” she sing-songs as she struts into my bedroom. “Now gimme the baby.”
“Nice to see you too,” I mock dryly.
“Sorry, mama.” She gives me a hug. “You look good. How ya feelin’?”
“Like I birthed a watermelon.” I look down at Hayden and smile as I wrap him like a burrito. “So worth it, though,” I say in a high-pitched baby voice.
“Yeah, that sensation will go away…eventually. Just keep spraying your hoo-hah with the numbing spray.”
Ethan covers his junk. “Thank God I’m a guy.”
“Pfft. Men could never,” Hadleigh says.
I chuckle. “Alright, he’s all ready for you.”
Hadleigh picks him up, then sits back on the bed.
“So tell me what I missed at the bachelor auction,” I say.
“Oh my God. So much dirt.”
“Yeah, I hear you bid on both Knox and Kane?” I raise my brows.
“Yep, but some bitch outbid me on Kane, and after spending two-fifty on Knox, I didn’t have enough cash on me to keep going. Kane’s pissed.” She shrugs as if she’s not that bothered by it. “I tried, though.”
“So when are you and Knox going on your date?”
“Probably never. Between my work schedule and his, we’ll never have the same night off.”
“Then why’d you bid on him?”
“Because I didn’t want to make either of them feel bad if I didn’t. What other choice did I have? Plus, Kane will be fine. Some chick named Sarah won.” She rubs her nose against Hayden’s and makes baby coo noises at him.
“Sarah who?”
“Cooke, I think? I think she graduated a year before I entered high school, so it’s weird she’d bid on a younger guy.”
“Sarah Cooke? Oh shit.” Ethan shakes his head, smirking.
“Who’s she?” Hadleigh and I ask at the same time.
