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“You’re gonna be a grandma, River! Feelin’ old yet?” Amelia asks.
They’ve been friends since Mom started working at the hospital after Riley was born. Mom laughs and tells me and Dad to stay in the waiting area as she checks on Riley and Zoey. We sit, and the anticipation nearly kills me. Dad’s a bundle of nerves too.
Moments later, Mom returns. “They’re checking to see how dilated she is. She’s having some intense contractions already, so it shouldn’t be too long.”
I let out a sigh. “She needs to hurry up and push that baby out already.”
“Rowan, it’s barely been two hours since her water broke. They’re not going to pull the baby out by his head. He’ll come when he’s ready.”
Patience isn’t one of my strong suits. I try to busy myself and play on my phone, and text Riley every twenty minutes until he tells me to stop bothering him. Instead of listening, I keep up my annoying little sister act that I’ve perfected over the years, but he straight up ignores me. It’s deserved, though, because I’m sure he’s helping Zoey with whatever she needs.
More family members arrive until the entire waiting room is full of Bishops. All I know is I’m going in and seeing my nephew first or I’ll be throwing fists. After four hours, Riley comes out, and he’s grinning wide. Pretty sure he’s shedding some tears too. He tells us everything went great, and they’ve moved Zoey into a regular room so we can visit now.
I quickly text my cousins and let them know the baby is here. Riley’s bombarded by everyone, but I hurry and follow my parents through the hall to see Zoey while he explains that all went perfect with no complications.
When we enter the room, she’s nothing but smiles as she holds her little bundle of joy. I rush over to her, and my emotions get the best of me when I see Zach for the first time.
“Oh, Zoey,” I whisper. “He’s beautiful.”
She sees my eyes well with tears and chuckles. When she looks down at his sweet little face, it’s obvious how much love she already has for him. “Do you want to hold him?”
Mom and Dad stand behind me, and we all admire this adorable tiny human in my arms.
“Hey, buddy,” I say. “I’m your aunt Rowan, and I’m going to spoil you so much.”
Though I want to be greedy with him all day, I eventually pass him to Dad. Riley enters, and we’re all beaming. Considering there are so many family members here, I give my brother a congratulatory hug, then tell Zoey and Zach how much I love them before leaving so others can visit. As soon as I make it to the waiting room, Grandma and Grandpa excuse themselves to go in next.
“So?” Kenzie prompts as Maize stands next to her. “How are they doing?”
“They’re great! But I don’t know how my brother made such a cute baby.” I chuckle. “Newborns typically look weird, but not Zach. He’s absolute perfection,” I tell her. “Where’s Elle?” I look around.
“She said she got stuck at work and would be here as soon as she could,” Kenzie explains.
“You got baby fever yet?” Maize pops an eyebrow.
“You kinda need a partner to have baby fever,” I retort.
“That is true,” I hear a husky deep voice say over my shoulder. Turning, I see Diesel’s wide grin. I give him my well-practiced groan and go to hell look.
“Mind your own business,” I mutter and ignore him. Maize tilts her head as Diesel moves closer to us, forcing himself into our conversation. I turn and look at him. “What?” I challenge, needing him to go away.
He shrugs and tilts his cowboy hat toward me. “If you really want a baby…I can help you with that. Big D is at your service.”
I look at him like he’s lost his mind, then roll my eyes. “What’s wrong with you? Do you have brain damage or something? Eat too many paint chips as a kid?”
Kenzie snickers. “It’s all the cow shit he’s sniffed over the years. Affected his critical thinking skills.”
Diesel arches a brow, smirking. “Man, are all the Bishop women this quick on their feet? Hopefully that means the same under the sheets.” His eyes pierce through me, and I’m ready to clock him right in the jaw as a blush hits my cheeks.
Uncle John walks up, and my other uncles Evan and Jackson are behind him with their wives. Usually, when all the Bishop brothers are together, it means trouble or a celebration. Thankfully, this time, it’s the latter. As soon as he sees all of my uncles, I see the fear of God in Diesel’s eyes as he wonders if they overheard him or not. He quickly leaves and sits in a chair against the wall on the other side. It takes everything I have not to laugh at how quickly he cowered. My uncles are mighty intimidating, especially Uncle Evan, but I think it’s because he’s a doctor and has an arrogant air about him.
