Page 140 of Mine to Worship

“Really? What a coincidence! Mine, too.”

Another contraction hits me, stronger this time. Kian slips the dress down my arms and helps me put on underwear.

“Do we have everything?” His eyes search the room, then we go downstairs.

“Yes, you, me and... fuck the bag.”

He speeds up the stairs, returning with my bag, and I never thought he would be this off balanced.

The guards rush over to us, but I squeeze Kian’s hand and he dismisses them.

When we’re in the elevator, I call Dr. Lopez and text everyone. As I climb into the passenger seat, an avalanche of messages roll in.

“How are you feeling?” Kian asks me.

“Extremely calm, on the verge of freaking out,” I say, caressing my stomach. “I guess she’s had enough of being inside. I can’t believe she’ll be here in a few hours.” Emotions choke me. Kian’s clammy hand takes mine and he kisses my knuckles.

“We’re going to be parents.”

“Yes, we are.”

I have another contraction before we get to the clinic and it feels like my stomach is in the grip of a medieval torture device. A nurse is waiting at the emergency entrance with a wheelchair. Kian carries me out of the car and places me in the chair. I fall in it and when Dr. Lopez appears, Kian rushes to say, “The contractions are happening every fifteen minutes. Her water broke. What now?”

Doctor Lopez chuckles.

“First-time parents are the sweetest,” she says.

“Next time, we’ll be less sweet and more prepared,” he says through gritted teeth, but the doctor ignores him and turns her attention to me.

“Ellia, how is your pain?”

“It’s bearable.”

“Let’s bring you up to your room and see how dilated you are.”

Once we arrive in my room, I change into a hospital gown and climb into bed. The nurse takes my blood pressure, then the doctor checks my cervix.

“You’re about six centimeters dilated. Maybe in a few hours, she’ll be ready to come out.”

“Let me watch, angel”

“Kian!” I yell and he stares at me.

“I want to see.”

“No, you don’t.”

Both the nurse and the doctor battle with suppressed amusement.

“Oh, I will see the moment my daughter comes into this world,” he states and my mouth shuts and opens. “You won’t look at my vagina when your daughter tears it apart.”

He leans into me, and whispers in my ear, “That’s my pussy, angel.”

There has to be something wrong with me if I’m thinking of sex in this moment. My ears heat and the doctor says, “We’ll leave you alone for a bit. If you have another contraction, press the call button.”

When Dr. Lopez and the nurse leave, I hide my face behind my palms while Kian sits down next to me.

“Vagina?” he asks, suppressing his amusement.

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