Page 162 of It's Always Us

When Lex called, I was heading into a team meeting, and fortunately, when I told the group what was happening, one of the team jets was waiting on the tarmac.

Now, with the hospital in view, I’m racing up the sidewalk in the fading evening light rather than counting down until my last nerve jumps ship in backed-up traffic. Five blocks weren’t going to keep me from getting to Lex.

I hit the sliding doors, running until I get to security. It’s the same guy, and he grins as I stand, trying to catch my breath. Sweat drips down my forehead as his fingers tap keys, searching for Lex’s room number. He pushes the button and the doors buzz open.

“Good luck, man! Go, Big Horns!” he yells, as I take off in a jog to Room 16. When I see the number and closed door, I don’t even bother to wonder what’s happening on the other side. I bust through like a defensive end aiming for a sack.

The door clangs open, and my sudden burst and appearance stuns the room into silent stillness. Three pairs of wide eyes stare at me, and the only ones I care about belong to the woman lying in bed.

I glance around the room.No babies. My chest heaves in and out.I made it. I fucking made it!!!

I’ve had a lot of important moments in my life, but this was the only one I’d never be able to get over missing. Not ever.

I move to Lex, leaning over to grab her face and press a hard kiss to her lips, not bothering to wipe the sweat off first.

“You made it.” Her eyes fill with tears, and I kiss her forehead.

“Damn straight, I did. No way was I missing this.” I find her eyes again. “Baby, this is my time to shine.”

She laughs, as does her mom and the nurse standing nearby.

“The doctor wants to do a C-section. One of them is breech, so . . . ” She doesn’t say anymore, and I see the cold, hard fear in her eyes.

I sit on the edge of the bed, taking in her hand and pressing it to my damp chest. “We’re doing this together. All of it.”

She swallow hard as she nods.

Her mom stands, leaning over to hug Lex. “My work here is finished for now.” She smiles. “I think you two have this handled. I’ll keep the guys in line and from driving the nurses insane. I’ve got Bree tonight.”

She smiles at me. “I’m so glad you made it. Take good care of her.” She offers a hug, and it feels strange, but I hug her back. “I’ll be back to meet my grandbabies.”

As she leaves, Lex’s eyes flick to the nurse, who’s busy typing away on the computer, and then back to me. “I had to sign a bunch of stuff.” Her voice is soft, and her eyes filled with worry about what she agreed to.

I lean close, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “We’ll make sure we understand everything, ok?”

She nods as tears fill her eyes again, and she tries to blink them away. “I don’t know if I’m ready for this.”

I swipe a tear away. “Ready or not, here Peyton and Eli come.”

“Peyton and Eli, huh?” The nurse joins our conversation as she hands me a surgical suit. “You’ve got some busy boys in there, then.”

“They have power and attitude, just like their mom.”

Lex rolls her teary eyes. I love her so much I don’t even know how to hold it all in.

“Dr. Marshall is on her way, so we need to get you prepped.” The nurse moves around the room, grabbing things and unhooking others.

I zip up the paper suit, unable to believe that within minutes, I’m going to meet our babies. I ask a million questions, helping reassure Lex and wanting to know exactly what’s happening.

The minutes go by slowly but also quickly. It’s as if I’ve only blinked, watching every detail of the most miraculous thing I’ll likely ever witness. All I can think is that I do not deserve this. I’ve done nothing to warrant Lex’s unending love, trust, and devotion, nor the gift of these two lives it created.

Lex grips my hand so tight a pool of sweat forms between our palms as I stand and peek over the curtain as the doctor pulls one slime-covered baby free. When I hear the sound of its cry, I lean down and kiss Lex, my tears mixing with hers. A minute later, it happens all over again, and my blurry eyes stay glued to the two tiny babies who are pissed about being ripped from their safe, warm home.

I don’t blame them for screaming their tiny lungs out, and the amazement of it paralyzes my own. The only thing I know as I kiss my wife is that I will spend the rest of my life doing everything I possibly can to keep their world safe and warm. I’ll love them so hard, and they’ll never go a day without it because these two have had my heart since the moment I saw Lex’s small, rounded stomach.

Lex’s tug on my hand tears me away from my silent commitment and wonder. I lean over again, pushing her tears away with my thumbs as the stapler clicks away.

She sniffs. “You ready for this hot shot?”

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