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“Liam will appreciate you taking this class,” I pointed out. I was still the quiet one. It took a while for me to make jokes without flinching and waiting for someone to get mad, but my friends were patient with me and understanding.
Jo snorted. “Okay, you have a point there. Help me up. My buddy has been reassigned.”
We normally came here in pairs. Some of the breathing exercises were also good for childbirth. We all agreed that there would be at least one member of the MWC in each of the rooms to protect the nurses from growly husbands. Me and Elizabeth were almost always here. Sometimes Britney joined us if she didn’t have class. Amber was busier with a job she hated, though I heard Mateo mentioning offering her a job once the construction on their new tower was finished.
Jo’s partner used to be her bodyguard, Jaime. He was really friendly and easy going, like a golden retriever. He liked to make little comments during class that made us all laugh, and I think even the instructor missed him. But he got into trouble with Liam and got reassigned as punishment. The woman he got reassigned to was Liam’s new lawyer. She helped me with my divorce when Carson got some shifty people to help him. She was really nice, and Jaime fell for her, so Liam let him be her bodyguard permanently. That left Jo floundering sometimes, and I saw her frown a lot, so I switched between helping Mariana and helping Jo so that they both felt supported.
When she finally got to her feet, she grimaced. “I thought yoga was supposed to be relaxing.”
My brow furrowed. Normally, she wasn’t as uncomfortable afterwards. This teacher catered to any gestation of pregnancy, and she had work arounds for the things that were too hard this far along. Jo was the smallest, she still had several months to go. If anyone was going to be uncomfortable, I would’ve thought it’d be Gabi. She had days, and Mariana was right behind her.
When she grimaced again, I offered her a hand and led her to a nearby bench. “Did you want me to call Liam?”
She shook her head. “No, I’m okay. Can you pass me my water?”
“Sure.” Grabbing it from her backpack, I stood nearby in case she needed any help.
“Uh oh.”
We both turned to Gabi, frowning. She looked down at her lap, her eyes wide. “I think my water just broke.”
My mouth fell open. Uh oh.
The teacher hurried over and together she and Elizabeth helped Gabi sit on the bench next to Jo.
“Are you having any contractions?”
Gabi frowned. “I’m not sure. I’ve been kind of crampy, but nothing too bad.”
Mariana’s groan made my head whip around. She put a hand against her belly, grimacing. I shot a startled look at the teacher, who looked at her watch and grimaced.
“Shoot. It’s a full moon. I normally avoid classes on a full moon.”
“What? Why?”
She shook her head helplessly. “Because there’s a weird correlation of women going into labor with the full moon. Listen, do you all have rides, or am I going to need to call an ambulance?” Gabi, Mariana, and Jo all groaned together. “Or three.”
Shooting to my feet, I hurried over to my back, grabbing my phone. I nearly dropped it in my haste, but I pulled up Viktor’s phone number, bouncing on my toes as it rang.
“?????. I am on my way now. Wait inside and I will–”
“Uhh… you may want to call in backup.”
He hesitated for a moment before growling. “Why? What is wrong?”
Glancing at my friends, I bit my lip. “We need all hands on deck. It looks like at least two of them are going into labor.”
Jo cried out, curling over her belly.
“Shoot. Make that three. Hurry, Viktor!”
“I am down the block. I will get them to the hospital. Just give me a moment.”
After he hung up to call the guys, I hurried over to the little group. Gabi’s face was all red and Mariana’s lip wobbled. But Jo looked absolutely terrified. I’d never seen that look on her face before, and it scared me. I kneeled in front of her, taking her hands.
“Viktor is just down the block. We’re going straight to the hospital and he’s calling the guys now. It’s going to be okay.”
She shook her head quickly, grimacing against another pain. “It’s too early. It’s not time yet. I’m not due for another eight weeks.”
