Everyone except for Abi and Hayat tensed for a moment, before appearing to forcibly relax.I didn’t call anyone out on it.Sammy was someone I cared about, but I’d done plenty of research on her.People didn’t walk softly around her because she was delicate like glass—they tiptoed because she could detonate like a bomb in a heartbeat.
“I’m fine,” Abi dismissed, waving her cup in her sister-in-law’s face.“Refill, please.”
“You didn’t answer Vay’s question,” Hayat pointed out, sweat popping out on her own brow, her face ashen beneath her many healing bruises.“How far apart are the contractions?”
“They aren’t consistent.”Abi shifted to find a more comfortable position, her fingers absently twirling a few of Hayat’s wild curls.
“Let’s trust Abi to know her own body,” Mila said, though she side-eyed the redhead.With the exception of Sammy and Hayat, everyone else in the room was or had been pregnant at least once.Although I’d heard someone whispering that Hayat was pregnant earlier in the week.“Who thinks Ward is a total douche cannon for accepting Nadia’s version of what happened and not letting Brynn explain anything.”
“Ugh!”Delaney complained.“These stupid MMCs with girl best friends are making me rage.Maybe it’s the hormones, but I couldn’t make it past chapter ten of this new book.Someone please tell me that Brynn kicked his butt to the curb and saw the light with the second MMC.There was chemistry there, but Brynn wouldn’t let herself admit it.”
We all stayed silent, a few people shaking their heads.As much as I had been hoping for the same outcome, it hadn’t happened.
Delaney threw her hands in the air.“I am so done with this girl-BFF micro-trope.”
“The fact that the second MMC has chemistry with Brynn tells me that having a bestie of the opposite sex isn’t realistic,” Everly commented.
Lexa took a sip of her mocktail and huffed.“With Ward, what aggravated me the most was that he claimed to love Brynn instantly.But he wouldn’t even try to trust her.”
“I didn’t finish the book either,” River admitted.“I skimmed a few chapters, but I didn’t actually read the last thirty percent of it.”
“What are we reading next?”Nishia asked.“I’m with Del.The whole girl-best-friend trope has been in the last three books we’ve read.We need something different.No other woman drama of any kind.”
“Let’s go back to reverse harem,” Monroe suggested.
“Extra points if it’s a fairy-tale theme,” Demi spoke up.
“There’s this one omegaverse that I’ve been wanting to—” Abi broke off, breathing hard, her fingers tightening in Hayat’s hair and pulling as she rubbed both hands over her lower belly.
“Call my brother,” Sammy snarled, jumping to her feet.If she’d had the strength, I was sure she would have lifted Abi into her arms and carried her out then and there.
Jumping into nurse mode, I rushed to help Abi outside once her contraction passed.But before we could get to her SUV, she had to pause as another one hit.It passed, and she let out a relieved sigh.Two steps later and her water broke, leaving a huge puddle on the sidewalk in front of the boutique.All the other women were talking animatedly, throwing out suggestions on who should drive and who should call Vaughn.No one seemed particularly eager to make the call, though.
Hayat and Sammy put their arms around Abi and used their combined strength to carry her to the car while she had yet another contraction.That was way too fast and definitely not consistent, like Abi had said earlier.
“Get in,” Sammy ordered, but I was already climbing behind the wheel.All our friends were diving into their own vehicles, following behind us like a caravan.
“Did someone call Vaughn?”I asked, driving as fast as possible, while being safe.Driving was still relatively new to me since I’d grown up in a city where it was economically smarter to walk or take the bus.Parking alone had been a nightmare and cost as much as my rent.
If I got pulled over, I hoped Lexa could talk her husband or one of his deputies out of giving me a ticket.
Abi snorted a laugh.“He knows.”
“Who called?Lexa?”I guessed.Of everyone in our book club, she was the group leader.Her husband was the sheriff, and after meeting her mother, I was under the impression the woman was more influential than the mayor in Creswell Springs.Raven Reid’s name alone held power with every citizen.
“Doubt anyone called.But he knows.”Hayat had her own phone to her ear.“Hey, Poppy.Can you drive Mom and Kin to the women’s center?Yeah, things are moving fast.”
“Amala,” Sammy gritted out.
“Oh, make sure Mini is with Elias.Please confirm that she is in his arms before you leave.”In the rearview mirror, I saw Hayat glance at Sammy, who was clutching at Abi’s hand desperately, as if she were the one in agony.“Actually, send me a picture once Mini is with him.Just to make everyone less tense.I’m sure Anya is already on her way over, but we gotta cover all bases.Safety first, am I right?Thanks, Poppy.You’re the best.”
“How did I forget how much this shit hurts?”Abi whined when yet another contraction hit.“Oh fuck!There’s pressure.Vaughn, you better fucking be at that birthing center when we get there.I amnothaving this baby without you!”
I double-checked her in the mirrors to see if she or one of the other women was on the phone with her husband.They weren’t, yet a deep, accented voice filled the speakers, startling me.My own baby kicked excitedly in my belly.Although, we were in Abi’s vehicle, so it shouldn’t have surprised me.
“I’m almost there, wildfire.Breathe for me,zhizn moya.Slow and steady.”
Abi did as he instructed, a small whimper leaving her along with her exhale.“You were right.Two kids is enough.I don’t want to do this again.Never-ever, ever.”
