Page 126 of Calamity Rayne Knocked Up

It was just like a man to put all the blame on a woman. “This is because Hale’s put a giant baby—owwwwwwwwdrivedrivedrive!”

He whipped around the corner and I scooted low. There was no comfortable position and his driving was making me motion sick. Pressure built at my hips as a web of fire burned from my back to my uterus.

“Should we call someone?”

“Ahhhhfuckfuckfuckaduck! Why the fuck does this have to be so painful?”When the contractions got so intense that my screams silenced, I knew something was truly wrong.

“Call Hale. Tell him we’re not going to make it.”

“The fuck we aren’t.” Xander pressed thegas pedal to the floor, but there was no driving through the midday traffic.

“Xander, call my husband right fucking now!” I shrieked.

He navigated the controls on his dashboard, and the car veered into oncoming traffic.

“Watch out!”

“Stop yelling at me!”He exited the GPS and fumbled with Bluetooth.

“Hello?”

“Hale. The baby. It’s coming.”

“Shit. Okay, Rayne, listen to me. I want you to use Xander’s phone and ping me your location. I’ll come to you.” The contractions were taking all of my focus and I didn’t see his actual phone.

“Rayne, baby, give the phone to Xander.”

“You’re on Bluetooth.”

“Hale!” Xander shrieked. “Man, your wife is about to give birth in my car! I did not sign up for this.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. This could not be happening. I did not manifest giving birth on the shoulder of the fucking road.

Xander quickly told Hale where we were. I moaned and turned, trying tofind any position that made this more bearable. I needed to get out of this car!

When I realized he was talking to the good people taking calls at Emergency 9-11, I wondered how I missed my husband saying goodbye. That was when I knew this wasn’t about Hale anymore. This was about survival—mine and the baby’s.

“I don’t want to die.”

“You’re not going to die! Everyone is going to be fine! I have a woman in labor!” he shouted. Any attempt at maintaining his cool façade was now long gone.

“Tell them to bring drugs!”

He sped into the parking lot of a strip mall as the operator recorded his responses. “Sir, are there any immediate complications or signs of distress?”

“She’s breathing really hard and she doesn’t look good.”

“Fuck you,” I hissed between breaths.

The operator realized I was right there. “Ma’am, have you had any prior complications?”

“No.”

“Sir, are you pulled over at a safe location and out of harm’s way?”

“Yes. We’re at a strip mall.” As Xanderdescribed landmarks, I reclined my seat and propped my feet up on the dashboard.

“What are you doing? Why are you lying like that?”

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