“It feels great to have fresh blood on the team. I think our defensive players are strong,” Declan mentions as he drinks from his water bottle.
I chuckle from his comment. “I’ve never seen an owner so involved. Normally a team is their hobby, and they only show up for games, when the board of governors need to vote, or when shit hits the fan with the general manager or coach.”
He smiles proudly. “I’m not a normal owner. I played for far too many years to make me sit still. Likewise, for you. That’s why we’re a winning formula.”
I lean into my elbow. “A good philosophy to have.”
“I kind of need a break from team talk, it’s been nonstop for the past few days. Ready for fatherhood?”
I chortle a sound. “Hardly, but not much I can do about that. Timing isn’t on my side.”
“Fate may be. You were moving to Lake Spark before you discovered the happy news. Now it just means that you get both without complication,” Declan notes.
My brows raise up then down. “Uh, not exactly, but I guess it will figure itself out.”
He chuckles in understanding. “That tends to happen to a lot of people. Violet and I eventually came to our senses and maybe one of you will too. There is always someone in a relationship who gets there first, yet it’s not a race.”
I scratch my chin, internally agreeing. An answer doesn’t come to me, partly because our bedtime fun the other night may have taken us off track.
My thought is broken when a flight attendant arrives and whispers something in Declan’s ear. His eyes nearly darken then he winces. When the attendant walks away, Declan looks straight at me.
He claps his hands once, as if we’re about to enter a team huddle. “So, here is the thing. The pilot got a message, and it seems that Isla has gone into labor.”
“What?” My voice raises an octave, and apprehension drops straight to my stomach. “She should have another week or two!”
Declan touches my arm. “The baby can also come early.”
“Not while I’m on a plane she can’t.” I grip the armrests with full strength, trying to figure out if it’s fear or worry that’s the prominent emotion flooding me.
“We’ll be back in an hour then get you straight to the hospital,” he promises.
I shake my head. “This can’t be happening… I haven’t even read the baby book yet.” I’m stressing now. “Not to mention, I’ve only known that Isla is pregnant for barely a millisecond, and now she’s delivering a baby?”
Declan looks at me with a strained expression. “To be fair, nothing goes to plan like those books.” He slaps my shoulder. “Besides, the first baby is normally a long labor.”
Blowing out a breath, I rub my face. “I’m not sure what to do right now. I’m going to go out of my mind. Isla’s in labor, and I’m not there.”
“In an hour you will be. Try to relax because it could be a long day ahead. What’s important is that you show up for her.”
“Christ, I knew I should have listened to the daddy preparation podcast. Fuck, first I miss an entire pregnancy, and now this? Someone upstairs hates me.” I tip my head to the sky, only to grumble a sound because we’re already in the damn sky, as in not on the ground, more so as in I can’t drive like a maniac to the hospital.
“Just stay calm.”
I give Declan an unamused look because his advice is absolutely impossible.
I’m not ready for this. I thought I had a little more time to adjust. Hell, I didn’t even get a gift yet for this kid. And coaching Isla through this? Holy hell, all I know is to pat her back, except she isn’t some animal who gets a treat.
She’s Isla.
The mother of my child.
The woman who has flipped my world upside down.
And I have an hour to switch my mind and be there for her.
* * *
Runningdown the hall of the hospital, I recognize Briggs pacing, and his head whips up at my arrival. He quickly stomps in my direction before grabbing my shirt and pinning me to the wall.
