“Ahh!”I call out, grabbing onto the desk in front of me and clenching the edge tight.
“What’s wrong, Peyton?”my dad questions, running into my office with Cedric on his heels.
Before I can answer, my water breaks.Looking down, I find a puddle on the floor at my feet and panic fills me.We still have no clue who my stalker is and where they’re hiding out.This isn’t the ideal time for me to go into labor at all.It’s the worst possible time but there’s nothing I can do about it.
“Where’s Matt?”my dad asks, rushing up to my side and noticing the puddle of fluid on the floor at my feet.
“He ran over to Brick and Kimber’s house for a minute.She made more food for us and he just went to pick it up so she didn’t have to walk over here with a ton of dishes.Her car’s in the shop right now,” I answer him, my breath coming out in sharp pants as the pain starts to subside.
“Okay.I’m gonna give him a call and let him know you’re in labor.Cedric, you know where the bag for Mommy is.Go in her room to grab it.Grandma will be right here.She’s gonna stay with you and Caydence while we take Mommy to the hospital,” my dad says, his voice remaining calm and gentle as he starts to rub my back.
My eyes squeeze shut as I listen to my dad talk on his phone and I know it’s Matt on the other end of the line.I can hear his deep voice and I’m immediately filled with a sense of peace and safety.I’ve never experienced just hearing someone’s voice and feeling completely at ease no matter what’s going on around me.It only ever happens with Matt and that’s how it’s been since high school.I should’ve listened to my gut back then and given him a chance instead of pushing him away the way I did.
“Come on, Peyton.Let’s get you to the room so you can change.Matt will be right here,” my dad says, helping me stand when the contraction ends and leading me from the office.
I enter my bedroom to find Cedric with the bag as he leaves.My dad leads me to the bed where I lean on it and wait for Matt.There’s no way in hell I can dress myself right now.Between how huge I am and the pain from the contractions, there’s no way I’m moving from this spot until I absolutely have to.Instead of staying with me, my dad goes out to open the door for my mom and sister.They have a key and everything they need to enter on their own, but never do.With how afraid I am, they always knock on the door and wait to be let inside.The last thing they want to do is cause me more pain and trauma with everything going on.
“I’m here!”Matt calls out, his voice full of panic as his loud steps fill the house.
Matt enters the bedroom and rushes to my side.He checks me over from head to toe before rushing to the closet we share to grab clean clothing for me.I don’t have to say a word as he helps me strip out of the dress I put on this morning and heads to the bathroom.I listen as the water runs and know he’s going to clean me up before helping me into the clean clothing.I don’t have to say a word and he knows exactly what I need.
“I got you, Tutor.Let me clean you up really quick and then we’ll get you in fresh clothin’.How ya doin’?”he asks me, his voice gentle as I look up at him.
“I’m okay.It only hurts when I have a contraction,” I answer him honestly.
“Have you been havin’ them all day?”he questions me, a knowing look in his eyes as I try to look away from him.
“Not really.I thought they were Braxton Hicks contractions like I’ve been having,” I tell him, not exactly lying to the man I love.
“Liar,” he states simply, a sexy smirk on his face as I get lost in his eyes.“Let’s get you ready to head to the hospital so we can meet our kids.”
“We never did have a gender reveal party,” I say, realizing I’m trying not to think about what’s going on right now.
“I know.We’re all gonna be surprised when our babies enter the world,” he returns, a small laugh falling from his lips as he finishes cleaning me up and tosses the washcloth toward the laundry basket.
It doesn’t take long for Matt to get me dressed.The second he’s done, I’m lifted in his arms as he leaves our bedroom and makes his way through the house.My mom and sister are sitting in the living room as my dad waits for us at the front door.
“We’ll bring the kids over when it gets closer to the twins being born,” my mom says, stopping Matt long enough to give me a kiss on my forehead.
Matt carries me out to his truck and I’m loaded in the backseat with my head in his lap.He runs his fingers through my hair as my dad gets in the driver’s seat and starts the engine without hesitation.In seconds we’re pulling away from the house and surrounded by bikes.Kimber must have made the call to everyone the second Matt heard from my dad.I love that woman.
***
Waking up, I’m in asmall room with someone holding my hand.Looking to the side, I find Matt resting his head on the bed next to me with his eyes closed.I can’t stop the smile from forming as I try to reach forward to place my hand on his face.It’s too hard to move.My entire body feels as if it’s not attached to my head for some reason as I try to remember what the hell happened.
I was in the office when my dad showed up.That’s when my water broke and the first contraction hit me.Well, the first one I couldn’t blame as being a Braxton Hicks contraction.Matt got back from Kimber and Brick’s house and cleaned me up before redressing me and bringing me to the hospital.That’s when everything went to hell.
Dr.Matthews told us one of the twins had craniostenosis.It’s a condition where the soft spots on the baby’s head start to close too soon.Our son’s or daughter’s head isn’t formed correctly and more than likely will need to have surgery to repair it sooner rather than later.My heart shattered into a million pieces and I started to blame myself because of the stress and everything I’ve been dealing with for most of my pregnancy.Dr.Matthews tried to assure me it wasn’t my fault, but I wouldn’t hear it.
“Tutor, what’s runnin’ through your head right now?”Matt asks me, his voice full of sleep as I blink my eyes and turn my attention to him.
“This is all my fault, Matt.If I didn’t let this stalker asshole get to me, our son or daughter would be fine.Where are the babies?”I ask him, fear filling me as I look around the room once again and realize the twins aren’t here.
“Calm down, Baby.The twins are in the NICU right now.They’re bein’ checked over and will come back soon.We have a baby boy and a little princess.Ya know, we still have to think of names for them,” he tells me, trying to lighten the mood because he knows I’m getting lost in my head again.“And as for this bein’ your fault, that’s not true.This could happen to anyone for any reason, Peyton.The stress of the stalker had nothin’ to do with this.There’s nothin’ we can do except support our baby and give him the strength he needs from us as we wait to see what happens next.”
“How can you say that, Matt?”I return, my sobs turning hysterical as I think of what our baby is going to have to go through.
“I say it because it’s true.Dr.Matthews already told you it wasn’t your fault and she knows the entire situation you’ve been dealin’ with, Tutor.Wewillget through this and be there for the baby no matter what happens or is needed.We’re not alone in this either.We have everyone in the club and your family.My mom and dad are on their way back from their trip as we speak.I’ve also let Callum know what’s goin’ on and he’s workin’ on comin’ home,” Matt informs me as I try to calm down a little bit.
