Page 99 of Isla

Alarm bells go off in my head. Did I just say that out loud? Did I really imply I'm going to have kids with them when we haven't even had that talk yet?

"Yes?" I drop my head into my hands, peeking up at him through my fingers.

His grin sets my heart racing, a curious fluttering starting in my stomach—like butterflies, but deeper, more profound.

"I love you, Isla MacLeod," he whispers, emotion thick in his voice as he gently closes the door and rounds the truck to the driver's side. The tires squeal as we pull out of the driveway, his foot heavy on the accelerator. "Hang on, baby.”

I shriek as he drifts around corners, my heart in my throat. Ten exhilarating minutes later, we pull into the small community hospital. Theo drives right up to the emergency entrance, ignoring the no-parking signs. "Go!"

"Thank you, Theo." I give him a quick kiss, but he captures the back of my head with his palm, deepening it for just a few moments, like he can't bear to let me go.

"I'm going to go get Dylan and Henry," he says roughly. "We'll be in the waiting room when you need us."

I nod, giving him one last kiss before jumping out of the car and racing inside. The woman at the counter recognizes me from the gym, slaps a visitor sticker on my shirt, and points me toward the correct room. I push open the thick wooden door, poking my head inside the room. Charlie sees me before I see her.

"Isla, you better get your ass in here right now. I need you." Herauburn hair is plastered to her face, her cheeks rosy, blue eyes sparkling with excitement and fear. I rush to her side, ignoring everyone else as I squeeze her hand.

"The guys are useless," she says, wincing as a contraction starts.

"Good, Charlotte. Breathe through it. The doctor is almost here, and then you can push."

I glance over, noticing the nurse standing between her legs for the first time.

"Push?" I feel the blood rush out of my head, and I sit heavily on the edge of the bed. "How long did you wait to call me?"

"We only got here thirty minutes ago," Lach says from where he's standing by the window. "Somebodythought it was Braxton Hicks contractions when she was actually in active labor."

"Jesus Christ, Charlie. What do you need me to do?"

"Just stay by my side and don't faint."

I look up at the guys then, taking in their pale faces, absolute terror mirrored in their eyes. "You three better get it together," I say, giving them hard looks.

"Fuck!" Charlie gasps, her chest curling forward as a contraction grips her in its clutches. I push her hair away from her face, keeping my eyes locked on hers as I guide her through her breathing. Once it passes, I pull her hair to the top of her head, tie it into a messy bun, and then hand her the cup of ice sitting on the table by the bed.

"What else do you need?" I ask her, wanting to do anything possible to ease her discomfort, trying not to think about everything that could go wrong.

"All I want are the four of you by my side when this baby takes its first breath."

We all turn toward the door as it opens, staring down the older woman wearing a white coat who hurries in.

"Hello, everyone! Hello, Charlie! Today is a great day to have a baby!" the doctor sings, a wide smile on her face. The snap of her gloves echoes in the room, and I let out a startled giggle, which promptly results in all of us laughing until the doctor sobers us up bysitting between Charlie's legs and telling her she can push with the next contraction.

Charlie nods, squeezing my hand in a hulk grip.

"You have this, beautiful," Jack murmurs, taking her other hand. Lach approaches my side of the bed as Cam stands next to Jack. We all stare at the monitor in complete silence. It feels like the whole world is waiting for this baby with bated breath. As that little black line starts to climb, we all turn back to Charlie, watching as she takes a deep breath and pushes with everything she has.

"Good," the doctor says. "Again." Charlie takes another breath, holding it as she bears down. "Perfect. Now rest until the next one. You're so close, Charlie."

I swear my heart grows tenfold as I watch Charlie trade loving glances with all three of her men. This baby is going is going to be the luckiest kid alive.

"You're fucking amazing," Lach says, dropping to his knees by her head and tracing the sweep of her jaw with one finger. The next contraction starts, and we all tense as she pushes, like we can somehow lend her some of our strength.

"Perfect, Charlie," the doctor beams. "You'll meet your baby with the next push."

Tears start running down Charlie's cheeks, and then I'm sniffling, blinking quickly, trying to hold myself together.

"Who wants to put the baby on Charlie's chest once he or she is born?" the doctor asks, looking between us.

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