Page 84 of Nanny for the Bikers

As I grab my backpack from the Jeep, my mind drifts to the first time I met the guys. I had been so guarded then, mywalls built high from years of disappointment and betrayal. But somehow, they had seen past my defenses, offering me a chance at something real.

My phone buzzes insistently in my pocket, jolting me out of my reverie. I pull it out, expecting a text from work or maybe a meme from Jamie. But as I read the message, my heart plummets to my stomach.

IN LABOR. COME TO THE HOSPITAL. NOW.

I’m running back outside so fast that I’m out of breath. “Guys!” I shout, my voice cracking with urgency and fear. “Jamie’s in labor! We need to go now!”

Everything turns to chaos, as the guys drop what they’re doing, their faces morphing from relaxed contentment to serious determination in an instant.

“What? Now?” Kip asks, his blue eyes wide with shock.

“Yes, now!” I exclaim, my hands trembling as I grab my keys. “She just texted me. We have to hurry!”

Teller is already in motion, snatching up his jacket and heading for the door. “Let’s go,” he says, his voice calm but authoritative. “Clay, you drive.”

I’m moving on autopilot, my mind a whirlwind of fear and excitement. This is really happening. Jamie is about to have her baby, and I’m about to become an honorary aunt.

As we pile into the Jeep, I catch a glimpse of Clay’s face in the rearview mirror. His jaw is set, his eyes focused on the road ahead. But I can see the concern in the tense set of his shoulders, the way his fingers grip the steering wheel just a little too tightly.

Kip reaches over from the passenger seat, squeezing my hand. “It’s going to be okay, Ayla,” he says softly. “Jamie’s strong. She’s got this.”

I nod, trying to breathe past the tightness in my chest. I know Kip is right. Jamie is the toughest person I know.

It doesn’t take long for Clay to pull up into the parking lot. The tires screech as Clay whips into the hospital parking lot, barely throwing the Jeep into park before we’re all scrambling out. My heart races, pounding against my ribs as if it might burst free at any moment.

“This way,” Teller barks, already striding towards the entrance with long, purposeful steps. Kip and I exchange a glance before hurrying after him, Clay bringing up the rear with Piper in his arms.

Inside, the hospital is a hive of activity. Nurses rush by, charts in hand, while worried family members pace the halls. The sterile scent of disinfectant mingles with the distant beeping of machines, making my stomach churn.

I grab the sleeve of a passing nurse, my words coming out in a desperate rush. “Excuse me, we’re looking for the maternity ward. Our friend, Jamie Collins, she’s in labor.”

The nurse’s expression softens, her eyes filling with understanding. “Of course, dear. Take the elevator to the third floor and follow the signs. You can’t miss it.”

“Thank you,” I breathe, already moving towards the bank of elevators.

As the doors slide shut behind us, I lean against the wall, trying to steady my racing thoughts.

I wonder if the baby is here yet.

Beside me, Kip reaches out, his fingers twining with mine. “We’re almost there,” he murmurs, his thumb brushing soothing circles over my knuckles. “Just breathe, Ayla. It’s going to be alright. You’re not the one giving birth.”

I roll my eyes at him, drawing in a shaky breath as the elevator dings and the doors slide open. We step out into a brightly lit hallway, following the signs towards the maternity ward.

We round the final corner, and there it is - the nurses’ station, the waiting room filled with anxious fathers-to-be, the distant sound of a newborn’s cry. This is it.

I burst through the door of Jamie’s hospital room, my heart hammering against my ribs. “Jamie!” I call out, rushing to her bedside.

She looks up at me, her face flushed and glistening with sweat, but her eyes are filled with fierce determination. “Ayla,” she breathes, reaching for my hand. “You made it.”

I nod, swallowing past the lump in my throat as I take in the sight of her - the monitors beeping steadily, the IV line snaking into her arm, the way her belly rises and falls with each labored breath. “Of course I made it,” I murmur, brushing a damp strand of hair from her forehead. “Wild horses couldn’t keep me away.”

Kip appears at my side, his brow furrowed with concern. “How you doing, Jamie?” he asks softly, resting a hand on her shoulder.

She laughs, but it’s cut short by a grimace as another contraction hits. “Oh, you know, just fine,” she grits out, her fingers clenching around mine. “Just peachy.”

Despite the tension crackling through the room, I can’t help but smile. That’s just so... Jamie. Always ready with a sarcastic quip, even in the midst of labor.

“You’ve got this,” I tell her fiercely, holding her gaze.

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