Page 161 of It's Always Us

The smell! I begin to panic, trying to look around my belly, BUT I CAN’T SEE ANYTHING!!

Then, it hits me. “Wind!!!”

His cheeks turn pink as he continues to spread shop rags around me.

“Good . . . shit, man.” Carson waves his hands in the air to try to get it moving as Slade steps away to breathe.

“Sorry. I can’t help it when I get nervous.”

“What the hell are you nervous about? Are you birthing babies? They’re probably suffocating in there with your ass air.”

I take two steps, and all four guys take two steps, following me with their arms outstretched like these babies might literally drop right out on the shop floor. I pull my phone from my pocket and dial Mark.

It takes two rings.

“Hey, baby. I’m heading into—”

“Mark, I need you to come back . . . right now.”

There’s nothing but distant voices on the other end, and if one more man, the most important one, freaks the hell out, I’m going to lose my shit.

Finally, he speaks, and for once, he’s the calm one. “Like right now, right now?”

What the hell is happening?“Yes.”

“Peyton and Eli?”

I think it’s a question. “I’m pretty sure my water broke.”

“Ok.” He’s still way too calm. “Ok. I’m . . . I’ll be there. Just don’t let anything happen until I get there. Ok? I’m coming. Right now.”

“Uh . . . ” Here I am, standing in the middle of the shop. My shorts are soaked, and I’m staring at three grown men and one sweet almost man, who looks two seconds away from putting on nitrile gloves and rolling over a creeper just in case.

I hear Mark’s muffled voice and a commotion on the other end. Then, some skidding like he might be running.

“Uh . . . Mark?”

“Baby, I’m coming.”

“Ok. Please hurry. You’re the one who read about this part.”

“Shit yeah! I read this chapter! I’ll be the best damn birthing coach that hospital has ever seen. Just hang on. You tell Peyton and Eli it’s not game time yet.”

I take some deep breaths, trying not to panic or cry when my hero walks through the door.

“What in Sam Hill is going . . . ”

I see the moment it registers, and he calmly walks to me.

He takes my arm from Slade. “Come on, Pal. It’s time to go.” And we’re on the move. “Wind, get the rags. Slade, her keys.” I look at him, his gray eyes meeting mine. “I love you, but you aren’t leaking that shit onto my seats.”

I laugh, and tears fill my eyes. I have Grandpa, but I need Mark, and he needs toget here . . . soon.

Chapter 53

MARK

Next time they run sprints for time, I’m in to get clocked. I’ve never run so fast in my life. My lungs burn, and I’m pretty sure my legs are about to fly off. I’m not even sure if I said anything to my Uber driver before I flung myself out of the car.

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