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It was a fucking stage.
Well, the bed area looked like one anyway. Okay, technically it was more like a dais with the three stairs to reach the wide pallet of blankets and pillows. Music, full of chimes and chants, filled the air and Ian was wearing about three different religions worth of medallions on his person.
Were those linen pants?
He looked like he was getting ready to go on vacation, for feck’s sake. What the sweet Jesus?
“There you are, mate.” Ian’s false cheer was strained around his eyes and his smile was a little manic. He tucked a sweaty lock of lightning-colored hair behind Zoe’s ear. “She’s doing amazing.”
“If you say amazing one more time, I’m going to rip your lips off your face.”
“See?” The smile cracked a little. “Last time she said she was going to rip my—” He glanced at Zoe’s mother. “Well, it was an unmentionable part of my anatomy.”
“It was the part that got me in this state!” Zoe seethed as another contraction hit her. She grabbed for Ian’s hand and raked her nails down his arm. “I hate you so much right now.”
“Okay, Zoe, just breathe slowly.” The soothing voice of a third woman in the room seemed to instantly calm Zoe. Where Zoe was rounded with the end-stages of pregnancy and her hair was a wild mass of braids and curls, the other woman had sharp features and black hair shorn close to her skull. She wore scrubs like a true medical professional, which was soothing for me.
Not that it was of importance at this juncture, but it felt less like they were going to break out the crystals and start chanting to a goddess. Maybe Ian would be. He looked as if he’d escaped from the new age store and taken a side trip to Hawaii.
Zoe suddenly collapsed back against the pillows propped up behind her.
The woman in the scrubs checked under the sheet and I slammed my eyes shut. “There we go. Your contractions are getting closer.”
“Ya think.” Zoe grabbed a handful of ice chips and shoved them in her mouth and crunched loudly.
The woman just laughed. “Not too long now. Just take a breather.”
Ian kissed Zoe’s forehead. “I love you so much.”
“I’m going to murder you in your sleep.”
Ian sat on the edge of her bed and wrapped his arm around her. “It’s our love language.”
Zoe shoved him off and he fell onto the floor. “Go away for a few minutes.”
He popped back up, but instead of looking wounded—emotionally or otherwise—he kissed her again. This time, Zoe leaned in for a moment before pushing him away. “I love you too. Maybe. Just give me a second.”
Ian nodded. “Right. I’ll be right there.”
“I’m sure you will be.” Zoe leaned back into the pillows, holding her mother’s hand.
Ian rushed down the stairs and gave me a chest-cracking hug. “Thanks for coming, man. I’m so glad you’re here. Simon, Margo, and Raine are coming out on the next flight. They weren’t supposed to fly out until this weekend but the baby had other plans.”
I hugged him back. “You seem to have things under control here.” Sort of. My back was either still wet from the rain or slick with sweat for my friend. Or my future on display right before my eyes like a friggin’ play on a stage.
“She’s amazing. Anna got here a few hours ago and she’s kept us from killing one another. The first hour of labor was cake. This last one,” he glanced over his shoulder at Zoe who seemed to be sleeping, “Christ, I’m freaking out here.” He held out a shaking hand.
Impulsively, I gripped his hand to stabilize it. “Impatient much? I hear it takes a little while for a baby to come.” I tried not to look at Zoe and her setup. She was fully hidden from prying eyes, but it was still way too intimate for my taste.
I wasn’t sure how all this stuff worked yet. I only had movies to go by and I was the first to know that Hollywood took some liberties there. And I hadn’t gotten to this chapter in the baby book.
At all.
In fact, for my own sanity, I kept skipping the bad pages. The ones that explained complications and side effects because that rabbit hole was scary and I knew I’d never return with my psyche intact.
At least not yet.
I needed the sweet and wondrous part.
