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“Let’s go,” she said. “This could happen quickly.”
* * *
“What time is it?”Rory asked from the other side of the waiting room.
“Time stopped around three this morning,” I said.
“It’s 5:46,” Eric Alvarado said.
We’d been in a private waiting room for twelve hours now, empty pizza boxes stacked on a table and phones plugged into outlets to charge. Some people—like Jolie—were sleeping soundly, but most of us were just sitting here. Jolie was curled up on the love seat we sat on, her head in my lap. I’d needed to piss for the last few hours but hadn’t wanted to wake her up.
“You think everything’s okay?” Nash said.
Wes was our team captain. He was our leader. Our voice of reassurance. But he wasn’t there, and several seconds of silence passed as we all waited to see who would step in for him.
“Everything’s okay,” Kon said. “Wes told us when he came in a few hours ago that she’s just progressing slowly.”
“I have a friend whose first delivery took almost twenty-four hours,” Lucy said from beside him.
“The first one is usually the longest,” Sawyer said. “I’m here no matter how long it takes, so if anyone wants to go home and get some rest, I can text whenever there’s any news.”
No one said anything, and no one got up. After a few minutes, the door to the waiting room opened and Wes walked in. Everyone sat up straighter, waiting as he ran a hand through his hair.
“Not much to report,” he said, his voice weary. “She’s exhausted and trying to sleep between the contractions, but it’s hard.”
“Do you need anything?” Nash asked. “Coffee? Some food?”
Wes shook his head. “No, they’re taking good care of us. You think it’s going to be like in the movies, where a woman goes into labor and a few minutes later the baby is born, but…”
“Have they said anything about a C-section?” Lucy asked gently.
He nodded. “They said we’re not at that point yet, but it’s a close possibility. Hadley doesn’t want one unless the doctor says she has to have one, though.”
When his phone buzzed in his hand with a text, Wes looked at it. “Coach is canceling practice today.”
“Thank fuck,” I muttered.
“I’m not going on the road trip unless Hadley and the baby are here and doing well,” Wes said. “But you fuckers have to go, so go home and get some sleep.”
No one moved, and Wes put his hands on his hips, sighing heavily. “Guys”
“We’re not leaving,” Sawyer said. “Get back in there with your wife and come tell us when to break out the cigars.”
Wes nodded, looking at the floor. Two years ago, we had to find a new direction when our team captain, Ben Whitmer, and his wife died unexpectedly. The road was sometimes rocky, but we walked it together as a team.
“Okay.” Wes looked around at the faces in the room. “Thanks, guys.”
He left the room, and Nash stood up. “Who wants coffee?”
* * *
It was justafter nine in the morning when Wes walked into the waiting room, grinning widely.
“Aiden Benjamin Kirby,” he said. “Eight pounds, two ounces.”
Everyone in the room cheered and got up, crowding around him to hug and congratulate him.
“How’s Hadley?” Sawyer asked.
