“Mack, are you okay? You were in a daze.” Jordan looks slightly terrified as I finally snap out of the past.
“Remember when you came to Homecoming and danced with me junior year?”
“How could I ever forget? That’s the only time we’ve ever danced, until tonight.”
“The song. The song—it’s the same one.”
“Yeah, it is.”
“Why did you leave right after that dance?” He looks down at me, a frown marring his face as he gathers his thoughts.
“I thought I could be the good guy and show up for you as a friend. But as soon as I had you in my arms, I wanted to hold on forever. I had to leave before I did something stupid—like kiss you or steal you away until I made you mine.”
My answering kiss brings the handsome smirk back to his face and we continue dancing until the song ends. As we walk back to the table, I freeze in place with a pain so intense it nearly takes me to my knees.
“Baby?” Jordan wraps his steadying arms around me.
“Jordan, something’s wrong.”
JORDAN
I rush Mackenzie to the ER right after she almost collapsed in my arms. On the drive to the hospital, she had a few more pains that brought tears to her eyes. Seeing her like this kills me. I’d do anything to never see her in pain again.
Once we’re checked in and settled, we call her parents to let them know what’s going on. The doctor comes in and tells us that Mack has gone into preterm labor at thirty-two weeks. She’s gripping my hand so hard I think she’s going to break bones, as the doctor goes through the care plan.
Tears prick her eyes as the next few hours are crucial to keeping the baby from premature delivery. I’ve never felt so helpless in all my life. She’s given medication to help stop the contractions, as well as steroids to accelerate the baby’s lung development.
As we sit and wait, I see her worry grow.
I stroke her hair, tucking a stray lock behind her ear. “Mack, it’s going to be okay. The doctors will get things under control and you’ll make it to full-term.”
“You don’t know that. I thought I was resting and controlling my blood pressure and now this. I’m afraid, Jordan. I’m so scared that the baby is going to come too early and they won’t… they won’t…” She doesn’t have to finish the sentence for me to understand what she’s thinking.
“We will do whatever it takes to make sure you and the baby stay healthy. I’m here. I won’t leave your side.” The tears she’s been holding fall into two rivers down her cheeks. I take my thumbs and gently wipe them away.
“Thank you, Jordan. For not just being the man that I want, but for always being the man I need.”
CHAPTER
THIRTY-TWO
MACKENZIE
I’m officially thirty-six weeks pregnant, with no more contractions or preterm labor scares. I’ve been diligent in keeping my blood pressure down and resting, so my doctor signed off on hosting the baby shower at Jordan’s apartment in Charlotte.
I don’t know who’s been more stressed about it—Reagan or Carter. You see, my bestie was planning the shower when Carter decided Jordan needed one too. Instead of trying to do his own ‘sprinkle,’ he convinced Reagan this needed to be a co-ed celebration. Reagan is the most organized person I know and Carter, well, he’s just Carter. It’s been hilarious watching their visions collide. I laugh to myself thinking about the frantic phone calls I’ve received this week.
“What’s so funny over there?” Jordan and I are on our way to his place. To say that I’m happy to be out of the house is an understatement. I cried tears of joy when he came to pick me up.
“I’m just thinking about all the phone calls from your sister this week about Carter.” Rolling his eyes, Jordan picks up my hand that was resting on the center console, kissing the center of my palm. He does that often and every single time, I feel butterflies take flight.
“He’s been driving her and me crazy. I had to let him sleepover last night so he could have first dibs on setup. My sister was not thrilled when she showed up at seven and he’d already started.”
“Oh, my word. This is going to be insane, isn’t it?”
“Nah, Reagan will keep him reined in. She knows how to handle Carter.”
Pulling into his reserved parking spot in the garage, he opens my door, helping me down. My belly feels like it’s doubled in size over the last few weeks and I can barely see my feet.
