“No.” Bax shook his head.
Wait. That wasn’t the right answer.
“Yes. I’ll help. No one sticks their hand up Courtney unless they’re me or a doctor.” Well, damn, that didn’t sound quite like what he’d wanted it to.
Irina headed their way, chugging her martini as she speed walked.
That seemed like a bad idea, given that they were headed to have a baby.
“What do we do?” he asked, relief filling him cleanup. She was here, and this is why she was there—so he could hand the reins to her.
“Uh.” Irina glanced at Knox like he’d know better what to do, but that was ridiculous because so far his suggestions had been medical gibberish. Except for the getting a car and going to the hospital part.
“Here’s the thing.” Irina wobbled as she leaned forward conspiratorially. “I’m actually not a traveling birth guide,” she said in a stage whisper. “I mean, I am because I did the job. But I’d never done the job before. Everything I know is from YouTube.” She held her hand out to him. “I’m actually Courtney’s best friend. You know that part. Honorary aunt to your child. You know that part, too.” She frowned. Then apparently remembered. “And a classically trained actress.” She bowed. Like she was onstage.
He stared at her, unsure what to do or say or think or be. “But I saw you in doctor clothes on Courtney’s wall.”
“Huh?” Irina slurred. Then a light seemed to dawn. Her eyes got wide as she said, “Oh, that was from an audition. I didn’t get that job.” She shook her head. “I don’t get a lot of the jobs.”
“Don’t discount yourself.” Knox came up behind her and squeezed her shoulders.
What the hell was going on?
Irina jerked her thumb toward Knox. “He also learned everything he knows on YouTube, so don’t let him catch the baby.”
That wasn’t even in the consideration box.
“Bax.” Courtney tore his attention away from the current house of cards crumbling in front of him. “Contraction. Maybe this is labor?”
“You cannot be in labor,” Babushka said. “I am not finished vith the blanket.”
“I don’t think the baby waits for that,” Bax said, because… contractions didn’t wait for crochet.
“Car’s here,” Linx said, gesturing toward the exit at the back where Chet waited.
Great. Car.
Baby. Coming.
“Let’s go,” he said.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Courtney
“Oh, hey. Everyone’s here,”Courtney said, walking through the door into the waiting room of the hospital with no baby in her arms and Bax at her side.
She’d decided to forgo a hospital gown and wore some super-comfy pajamas instead, but the admission band on her wrist and the IV stand she had to wheel around all screamed,I’m a patient!
Linx. Becca. Her parents. His parents. Knox. Mach. Tanner. Irina. They had set up a board game—the Game of Life—in the middle of the room.
Mom eyed Courtney’s still very pregnant belly.
“So, I have preeclampsia and had a few contractions,” Courtney said, way more cheerfully than she felt. “Yay! We’re having a baby tonight.”
“I’ll let Babushka know we’re gonna need the blanket.” Tanner stood and headed toward the hallway.
“If you’re having the baby, why are you here instead of having the baby?” Mom asked.
