Page 89 of Storm

Four men…

Just considering the situation I’m in is unreal. It’s like one of those deep down, dark fantasies a girl might think about, but itdoesn’t happen in real life. Although, Susanna found her three guys, so maybe it’s not totally out of the realm of possibilities.

Trickles of thought that we’re only here because of Gabriel attempt to work their way into my head, but I shove them away faster than they arrive. Richard told me he loves me. Ezra and Tatum don’t know, but I overheard them speaking about how they felt while carrying me back to the house a few weeks ago. I know they have feelings as well, if their actions didn’t make it obvious.

And Kevin?

I tilt my head to look at him as the opening scene flashes on the screen of the TV. He’s not watching the movie. He’s watching me and when we lock eyes, everything he’s feeling is written right there for me to hold on tight to. Pressing my lips to the underside of his jaw, I show him that I feel it all for him as well.

With a happy hum as his hand grips me tighter, I relax against him and let myself focus back on the movie. A few hours later, I hear murmured whispers as they all adjust me to lie back on my pillow, bodies piling around me as I drift back to sleep.

Not a single person leaves my bed tonight.

CHAPTER 41

MIRIAM

“Miriam?”

I blink up at Dr. Belle, static noise filling my ears.We’re going to have a baby today, Miriam. I don’t think we should risk pushing your blood pressure any further. It’s too high, and I’d rather not keep pumping you full of meds for just another week.

Another person calls my name. “Miriam!”

I drop my chin to my chest and breathe deeply in an attempt to keep my panic from taking over.

“Mi pétalo.” Ezra’s pleading tone finally snaps me out of my spiraling thoughts. Lifting my head, I blink at him and when I see his worry, I crumble.

Kevin pushes his way through those crowding me, placing his hands on my shoulders until I peer up at him with watery eyes. He cups my cheeks and presses a soft kiss to my lips.

His forehead rests against mine. “Deep breaths. We’ve got this.”

I nod against him, ignoring the arrival of more nurses chattering away as they bring in a wheelchair to take me up to labor and delivery. Dr. Belle places a hand on my shoulder, drawing my attention to him.

“Miriam. You’re going to do great. I’m going to let them get you settled, and we’ll start you on Pitocin right away to get things moving along. Your baby is doing well and considering you’re over thirty-seven weeks, I see no complications on our horizon at the moment. You do your job and I’ll do mine. Agreed?”

Things move fast over the next few hours. All of the guys are allowed to be in my labor room, which I’m glad for because there’s no way I’d have been able to choose who could stay and who needed to leave.

Every time a nurse came in to check on me, every single one of them stood back along the wall to give them room. All of them except for Kevin. He never moved from my side, sitting by my head with murmured words of strength and support.

Blessedly, I was already starting to dilate before Dr. Belle had me induced, so as soon as I had my IV and Pitocin was started, things progressed rather rapidly. It was only about six hours before I was transitioning from regular contractions to those that took my ability to speak away.

Poor Ezra, unsure what he should be doing, continues to bring me styrofoam cups filled with shaved ice. He offers each one with hesitation. I do my best to show him my appreciation, but every time a contraction hits me, I fold in on myself and he breaks apart with me.

Dropping to his knees when I keen in pain, he panics. “Mi pétalo. My love. How do I help you?”

I clench my teeth against the pain as Tatum rushes to Ezra’s side. “Ez. Breath through this contraction with her.” He looks at me and takes a deep inhale. “Like this. Breathe in, hold it for a couple of seconds, then blow it out slowly through your mouth.”

Both Ezra and I do it together and I honestly think Ezra gains more from the methodical steps than I do. Watching him suck in air and hold it with his cheeks puffed out, then nod his head ashe blows it out as he counts is so adorable, Ialmostforget about the pain.

Richard has been sitting at the side of my bed, holding my hand every time I contract, letting me squeeze the fuck out of it without one complaint. He’s never shown any worry since we started, only confidence.

Dr. Belle comes into the room and checks where I’m at. I grit my teeth and fight the urge to push when the next contraction wracks my body.

“Alright Miriam,” he says, snapping his gloves off and reaching for the computer to type notes in. “Are you ready to meet your little guy?”

My eyes flick to Tatum in fear, and he nods his head in encouragement. “Now?” I ask, panicked that we’re already here. Crying out, I grab at any hand available to me. “I’m not ready!”

Kevin moves behind me, helping me sit up as the nurses with my doctor get everything ready for my baby. My vision narrows, focused on Tatum and Richard moving in next to my legs. The nurses tell them how to hold them while I push and Ezra slides his body behind everyone at the foot of the bed to watch what’s happening.

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