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Her huge brown eyes roved around the room, then back to Michael. “Figures our girl would give me trouble,” she said on a sobbing laugh.
“My girls always give me trouble.” Michael locked his hand around hers. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
West backed against the wall. The love was so clear and strong in the room. Michael would do anything for his wife, even swallow down an ocean of fear. He’d seen it in his eyes in the waiting room, but now there wasn’t a trace of it. Because he loved her.
Because his strength was what she needed.
The exact opposite of what he’d done for Lauren. West had let her see every ounce of fear and anger in him. And he’d run like a fucking bitch.
“Mr. Shawcross, we need to prep your wife for surgery.” The two nurses came around the bed and unlocked the wheels.
Michael didn’t even look at the doctor. “I’m not leaving her.”
“You can come in the room with her, but you need to let us do our jobs first. I’ll come and get you in a few minutes.”
Chloe blew out a breath and held onto her distended belly. “I can do this. If you’re with me, I can do this.”
“They’
d have to pry me away from you.” Michael’s voice never wavered. West saw his best friend’s hand shaking by his side, but the one in Chloe’s hand was rock steady.
The two nurses pushed the hospital bed toward the door. Michael wouldn’t let go of her hand until she went through the door.
West stepped behind him and squeezed his shoulder. “She’s going to be fine. They’re just being careful. Besides, the C-section incisions aren’t even noticeable to a bikini line these days.”
Michael snorted. “Oh, yeah. That’s Chloe—worried about the bikini.”
“She rocks a bikini,” Juliet said with a wobbly smile. She launched herself into Michael’s arms and he hugged her tight.
The three of them left the room. Elle and Molly were in the waiting room playing a game of Go Fish. Mal was sitting on the edge of a chair white-knuckling his drum sticks as he watched a baseball game on the large screen TV.
Everyone stood as they came into the room. West glanced around the corner where the vending machines were, but didn’t see Ryan. Just a sign for a nondenominational chapel.
Molly flew at Michael and hugged him. “Is she okay?”
Surprised, Michael patted her shoulder. “She’s holding steady. They’ve decided to do a C-section.”
“Oh, wow. Well, they do wonders for the incision site.”
Michael and Juliet laughed.
“What?” Molly frowned. “Why is that funny?”
Jules shooed her back. “I just said the same thing. I think it’s time I trounce you at Rummy.”
“No. I like Go Fish.” Molly pouted.
“Because there is no need to use strategy.” Jules went over to Tristan and Sparks and hugged them both, then the five of them hunkered down around the small end table.
Mal glanced at Michael, but didn’t make a move to go to him.
The two of them were so damn stubborn. Michael started prowling, looking at his phone every three minutes. Finally, West couldn’t take it anymore. “Let’s go.”
Michael looked up, then shook his head. “I’m good.”
“Obviously not. Let’s go.” West nodded to the door. “There’s a little somewhere quiet around the corner.”
“The doctor is coming here to find me.”
