“Your hubby is killing it out there,” Logan said after Frasier blocked another shot.
I grinned, glancing down at my rings, loving the way the two diamonds complemented each other. They were tight on my swollen fingers, but I hadn’t wanted to take them off. Now I couldn’t take them off even if I’d wanted to.
As the game paused for a commercial break, my mind flashed back to that day. Frasier and I had gotten married about a month ago in our backyard. Georgia had helped me find a beautiful dress that was simple, elegant, and surprisingly sexy. And she’d done my hair and makeup, standing witness at the ceremony along with both sets of our parents, my sister and her husband, and only our closest friends.
I’d never forget Frasier’s expression as I walked down the aisle toward him—the love and tenderness and devotion that had shone from his eyes. I’d carried a bouquet of flowers from our garden, and he’d worn a new suit that had shown off hisathletic form. The day had been absolutely perfect and exactly what we’d wanted. Small, intimate, and meaningful. We might have another, bigger celebration later. But I was just happy to be Frasier’s wife.
After the ceremony, we’d celebrated with dinner in a private dining room at 76, one of the Huxley Grand LA restaurants. The night had been full of laughter and love. Frasier had surprised me by renting one of the suites at the hotel. And he’d proceeded to spend the evening showing me just how much he loved and cherished his wife.
Another contraction hit, knocking me out of the memory and into the present. As it gained strength, I bent forward, groaning.No. No. No. No. No!
I did not want to leave now. It was the middle of the game. Maybe if I just…stayed calm and breathed through it, baby would sit tight a little longer.
“Bryn,” Georgia said in a calm voice. “I think we should get you to the hospital.”
I waved a hand through the air, even as my teeth were gritted against the pain. “They’ll probably just turn me away since my contractions aren’t close enough yet.”
My friends and sister eyed me skeptically, but I ignored them to focus on the game.
I could feel the next contraction building, and I tried to slow my breathing. In through the nose, out through the mouth. In… I ground my molars, the pain becoming more intense. I breathed through it, trying to focus on the game as the pain eventually crested and then waned once more.
“Okay. Let’s go,” Allie said in a no-nonsense tone.
I shook my head. “Who’s the medical professional here?” Though I was a little concerned with how quickly the contractions were coming. Since this was my first pregnancy, I’d thought it would take a little longer to progress.
Allie rolled her eyes. “Frasier would kill me if he knew you were in labor and I didn’t take you to the hospital.”
“I just…”Ugh!I wanted to watch this game. I wanted him to be there for the birth of our child. I looked to Logan for support. “Back me up here, Lo.”
Even Logan seemed hesitant to side with me. But ultimately, she said, “Bryn’s tough. She knows what she’s doing. Give her until the end of the period,” she said to Allie and Georgia.
Georgia frowned. “I don’t like it.”
“Neither do I,” Allie said, but she didn’t fight me on it.
The game continued, and Kovi raced down the ice. I tried to follow the puck as I kept an eye on my watch, monitoring the contractions. They were getting more intense. Coming closer together. And then, close to the end of the second period, I felt it. Pressure. The most intense need to push.
I squeezed my eyes shut.Oh shit.
In that moment, I knew… “I’m not going to make it to the hospital.”
Allie looked toward the rafters and sighed, muttering something to herself. Logan looked like a deer caught in the headlights, but Georgia sprang into action. She was talking on the phone, but I wasn’t paying any attention.
“Okay,” Georgia said as the buzzer signaled the end of the second period. “We’re going down to the ice. One of the team doctors is going to meet us there and assess the situation in the medical room. There’s an ambulance waiting outside.”
“Damn,” Logan said, clearly impressed.
Allie and Logan helped me back down the stairs since we were closer to the rink than the exit at the top. By that point, people had started to notice that something was going on. Logan growled at anyone who dared to take a photo, and I was just trying to hold it together until we’d made it to the med bay.
Georgia smiled at security, and they waved us through. Some of the maintenance staff brought out carpets, laying them down on the ice so we could safely cross it to the medical room. Inside, a female doctor was waiting. I blinked a few times, trying to place her.
“I’m Dr. Thorne,” she said, putting on her gloves. My eyes widened. Coach’s daughter? “How close are your contractions?”
I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the next one as Allie said, “Too close.”
Someone cameinto the locker room and whispered in Coach’s ear. Whatever it was made him go stock-still.
“Holmes,” he barked.
