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Nick
“Do you want me to pick up some breakfast? I know everyone will say they don’t need anything, but you all need to eat,” Leigh says as we wander down the hall. What else is there to do?
I shake my head. “No. I want you to go home.”
She stops and stares at me, her face a mix of anger and a sassy little pout. Leaning forward, I kiss her lips, then gently place my hand over her stomach.
“You have someone else to take care of, Señorita. I need you to do that. Take care of yourself and our baby. Go home, get some sleep, and then come back.”
She stares at me, then stomps her foot. “No. I want to be here for you.”
I run my fingers through her long caramel strands. “I’m a wreck right now. With you here when I know you need to sleep, I’m extra worried. Please. Do this for me. Then you can come back and keep picking up my pieces.” My voice cracks with vulnerability. “Please.” I press my hand more firmly against her stomach.
At that, she sighs and relents, her hand dropping over mine. “Fine. But I’ll be back by noon, and Abuelita and I will bring lunch for everyone. Got it?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
She wraps her arms around me and gives me a juicy kiss. “I love you. You call if you need me,” she instructs.
“I promise. I love you, too.”
One last kiss and she turns to go, my fingers slowly pulling from her stomach as she walks away. As much as I want her here with me, I need her to still take care of herself. She’s always been the type to burn herself out, going above and beyond for everyone else. More than ever before, I need her not to do that right now.
With an exhale, I turn to head back to the waiting room, only to see my father standing in the hallway staring at me. He raises his eyebrows.
Shit.
He strides over and takes me in, then puts his hands on my shoulders. “This isn’t the time or place for a conversation like this, but I need to know what I just saw.”
My eyes blink closed. When I open them again, I clear my throat and look him in the eyes. “Leigh’s pregnant. We wanted to wait a little bit to tell everyone. Now this—I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
He inhales deeply and nods. “Okay, then. So, she’s having the baby?”
I nod. “Yeah. That’s why I sent her home. I—I need her to take care of herself.”
My father’s mouth curves into a half smile. “That’s very thoughtful.”
“Are you mad?”
“No. No, I’m not.” He looks down the hall in the direction Leigh went. “It might sound strange, but I’m proud of you. I’ve watched you grow this past year, and seeing you with Leigh just now—I’m proud of the man you’ve become. You know your mom and I will support you, whatever you need.”
“I promise I’ll tell Mom—or you can—but we’re not ready for anyone else to know, okay?”
He nods. “Not ready for Abuelita to know.”
I bite back a laugh. Even he knows she’s a force to be reckoned with. “Exactly.”
We start walking back to the waiting room, but as we pass the nurses’ station, I hear a familiar voice. “And these donuts are for the staff.”
My dad and I turn to see Trevor standing there with Rae McKinley, surrounded by tons of containers of food.
“I’ll be over in a few, let me—”
“Sure.” Dad claps a hand on my shoulder and heads down the hall.
“Hey,” I say, strolling over to them. It’s just after six in the morning and I definitely wasn’t expecting to see them here. After I’d texted Trevor an update, he said he would wait and come up in the morning. I shouldn’t be surprised that he was planning something.
Rae stops mid-sentence and walks over, throwing her arms around me as she does. “How’s he doing? How are you?”
