“Nah, I only wanted ice. Let whoever Amber is harassing keep an eye on her for me,” I joked.
We both laughed until our eyes met one another’s—and it was like we both got lost. Whatever this zone was that hoveredbetween time and space was euphoric, and I didn’t want to leave it.
We stayed like that—quiet, steady—until a strange pressure pushed low, deep, right into my center.
I winced.
Gage froze, spoon in hand.
“I thought you said there was no pain,” he said, voice tight.
“It’s not pain,” I breathed. “It feels like… like— Auuuhhh!” I moaned. “Like she’s falling out!”
He blinked, startled by both my words and the sound leaving my throat. For him to be a genius, he was having a really hard time processing what I clearly described I was feeling. And the uncomfortableness was causing me to be easily irritated.
“Falling out? The fuck does that mean?” he asked, panicked.
“Go get a nurse. Or Amber. They’ll know.” I said, my tone was very short.
The moment he disappeared through the door, the pressure intensified—deep, heavy, undeniable. As if something was descending and my body was opening, whether I cooperated or not. I’d delivered enough babies to know exactly what was happening, and my instinct was rising above explanation.
My body was ready.
I adjusted the bed and braced myself into the birthing position. I closed my eyes and pictured her: tiny fingers curled around mine, one day little hands pressing piano keys; her laugh twirling through the house, skirt swinging from her private school uniform.
I’m planning your whole life already, I thought. And you don’t even have a name.
The door burst open. Amber came in first, then Krista and Tiana, then Elle. Gage floated in milliseconds later, wiping his hand down his face, his skin pale beneath the brown.
“Auuuhhh—what the actual fuck!” I yelled, body tightening as I arched against the bed.
“That’s the sound I want to hear, Dr. St. James,” Elle’s voice was calm, steady, grounding.
Amber squeezed Gage’s shoulder. His ass was still clearly confused.
“It means you’re about to meet your daughter, Mr. Blaque.”
Elle washed her hands, snapped on gloves, and lifted the sheet to check me.
“You don’t even gotta feel around down there—that pussy wider than all outside,” Amber announced as she looked down at my vaginal area like she was the doctor.
Everyone laughed—because of course she would say that right now.
Elle looked up at me. “Time to push.”
I nodded, gripped the rails, and summoned every muscle I had to bring life into this world.
One push.
Then two.
Then three.
“Uggghhh! If I push any fucking harder, I’m going to shit on myself!” I complained.
“One more,” Elle said, voice firm but kind.
“You saidone morefive pushes ago,” I snapped, half-crying, half-laughing.
