Page 95 of See You at the Finish Line

“You should see your face,” Leah retorts, wincing. “Scratch that, apparently lying makes my insides ache.”

“I don’t think that’s medically accurate.”

“Are you inside my body right now? No, so you don’t get a say.”

My smile widens.

“You’re beautiful,” Leah whispers and then winces again. “Okay fine, you were right. It’s not lying, it’s talking that hurts.”

“You’re talking a lot for someone who says talking hurts.”

“Shut up.”

“I love you too,” I tell her, laughing. She tries to smile again but it doesn’t quite work. Her eyes move to Adam holding Levi and sheturns back to me, raising her brows. I sigh and shake my head. I’m not having this conversation with her right now.

Instead, I smack her as gently as humanly possible.

“Hey!” she says.

“That’s for nearly dying.”

“Sorry, I won’t do it again.”

“Damn right you won’t. I’ll wrap you in bubble wrap and lock you in the house if I have to.”

“Okay, Mom.” She sighs, worry filling her eyes as she looks back at Levi.

“He’s okay,” I reassure her. “No major injuries—just a few bruises that are on their way to healing. Your car seat stubbornness saved his life.”

“Damn right it did,” she says triumphantly.

A nurse pops her head in. “Okay, you’ve got to take Levi back now. He’s technically not supposed to be in here.”

“Can I hold him?” Leah asks.

The nurse looks apologetic. “I’m sorry, hun, but we don’t want to risk infection.”

“It’s okay, he’s comfortable right now sitting on all those muscles,” I whisper to my sister. I’m jealous of my nephew.

Leah tries to laugh, but that looks like it hurts more than talking.

“I’ll take him back,” Adam offers. I’m shaking my head, but he turns Levi away from me when I stand to take him. “Dibs,” he says.

“You can’t call dibs on a baby!”

“Uh, pretty sure I just did. Come on, little buddy, let’s give your mom and crazy Auntie some alone time,” he says to Levi, who’sdrifting off for a nap in those delicious arms. I don’t blame him, I did the same thing last night.

Daddy indeed.

What is happening to me?

As soon as Adam leaves the room, Leah blows out a breath. I turn back, ready for more joking, but her eyes are squeezed shut.

“Leah! Are you okay?” I try to soothe her but don’t know where to put my hands.

“Levi could have died.” Her breathing is ragged, and the heart monitor beeps faster.

“He didn’t. He’s okay.”

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