“Hi, I’m Dr. Sanchez.” She looks down at her clipboard as if that might help her figure out who I am.
“Ashton,” I hold out my free hand to shake hers.
“Nice to meet you, Ashton. And Luke is…”
“On his way,” I tell her. I called him from the car on the way here to make sure he got Emory’s text. I made him promise not to speed. The last thing we need is for him to get into anaccident. He seemed pretty frazzled, but I know he’ll be as safe as he can.
“Great. Well, Emory, let’s see how we’re doing, shall we?”
Em nods her head as Dr. Sanchez begins to examine her.
When she’s finished, she motions something to Kristi and changes out her gloves. “So Emory, you’re just about ten centimeters. It’s time to start pushing.”
“No!” Emory cries out. “Luke’s not here.”
Dr. Sanchez goes to say something, but I cut in. “Em, he’ll be here. You know there’s no way he would miss this.”
“Ashton, I feel like…I have to push. What do I do? I don’t think I can wait.”
“I’m here, Em. Partners in crime, remember?”
Her lips part, and she wipes the sweat from her brow. “Yeah, I remember.”
“Good. That’s good, Em. You can still trust me. I would never?—”
I’m not even sure what I want to say.Lie to you? Like I did to Allie?
Emory, being the amazing friend she is, or maybe she’s too focused on pushing a human out of her body, doesn’t make me finish the thought. She just smiles softly and nods her head. “I’m ready.”
Dr. Sanchez appears relieved that she didn’t have to get involved as the nurses set up a tray next to her. I move my eyes away from the suture materials. Emory doesn’t need another person passing out on her today.
I’m standing beside her head, grasping her hand and rubbing circles on her back when I hear a commotion outside the room. Emory’s eyes are closed, attempting to relax her body before it does the unimaginable.
“Sir, you need a visitor badge. You didn’t fill one out!” someone yells, and then the door bursts open, and Luke rushes over to the bed.
Emory’s eyes pop open. “Luke.” Tears spring to her eyes.
“Shhh, baby. I’m here,” he soothes her.
I let go of her hand, and he moves into my place.
“It’s happening,” she sniffles.
“I know,” he says, tears in his eyes.
No longer needed, I walk to the door to give them privacy, but Luke calls out to me. “Ash.”
I turn my head.
“Thank you,” he says, genuine appreciation shining in his eyes.
“Anytime,” I reply as I walk out, shutting the door behind me. An angry-looking employee goes to shove open the same door, probably to get Luke to fill out his visitor’s badge, but I stop him.
“She’s literally crowning, dude. I would maybe give it a minute.”
A look of horror washes over him, and he stomps angrily down the hallway.
As soon as I walk through the waiting room doors, I see Allie slumped in a chair, head between her knees, pressing an ice pack to her forehead. There’s a bottle of water and some graham crackers sitting on the table next to her. I run over and lay my hand on her shoulder, but she flinches and my heart breaks into a thousand pieces, knowing how uncomfortable I make her feel now. I move my hand and slide down onto the chair beside her.
