Page 215 of My Rules

Contractions are five minutes apart.

My water just broke.

See you on the other side.

xoxo

Chloe replies.

Ahhhh, I’m so excited.

Good luck baby.

I quickly reply.

You’re going to be such a great mom.

It’s your baby’s birthday.

Ahhhhhh!

I wait for the reply. It doesn’t come.

I take the stairs two at a time and run into the bedroom to find Blake lying down peacefully with his eyes closed. “What are you doing?” I stammer.

“What does it look like? I’m going back to sleep.”

“How can you sleep at a time like this?” I gasp.

“I close my eyes.” He snuggles in to get comfortable.

“Shouldn’t we do something?”

“Yes, come to think of it.” He flicks back the blankets. “We should have sex.”

“Oh my god, how can you think of sex at a time like this?” I splutter.

“Because tonight we are celebrating vaginas. Let’s go.” He smiles sleepily and pulls me down on top of him.

“But Juliet . . .”

“Is fine.” His teeth go to my neck, and he smiles against my skin. “Now, where were we?”

Blake and I sit at the table and sip our coffee in silence. It’s 8:00 a.m., and the night has felt never ending.

We haven’t slept a wink and haven’t heard from Henley and Juliet either.

“What if something’s wrong?” I frown.

“Nothing’s wrong.” He takes my hand over the table. “These things take time.”

My heart is racing, and I have that sick nervous feeling in my stomach. “Poor Juliet ... this is too long.”

Blake’s phone rings. “Hello.” He smiles. “Okay, hang on.” He hits the speaker button.

“Hi, guys,” Henley’s voice says.

“Hi.” I screw up my face. “The anticipation is killing me.”

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