Page 145 of Bae

B put his face in the corner. “Some things a BBFL don’t need to see.”

Ivy moved up beside Rimmel’s head, and I did the same on the other side.

The doctor did her thing and announced Rimmel was almost ready to push. “We’ll be back in just a little while, hopefully to have a baby!” the OB declared, then left the room.

The nurse adjusted her pillows as I glared at her, and Rim smiled sweetly. “Is he always like this?” she whispered, leaning down to my wife.

Rimmel giggled. “Sometimes he’s worse.”

“I heard that,” I muttered.

“It’s okay, Dad,” the nurse remarked on her way past and patted me on the shoulder.

Dad.

Holy shit. I was going to be someone’s dad.

Two things:

1.) I was going to be one sexy dad.

and

2.) I didn’t know how to be a father.

When the nurse was gone, Rimmel was taken over by another fucking round of pain. I gave her my hand again, and she squeezed it until I thought my bones might break.

When it was over, I eased onto the side of the bed to take her stomach in both my hands. “You and me, we need to have a talk,” I said. “Now I’m your daddy, and I say it’s time to come out of there. Your mother has had enough.” I leaned down a little closer. “Between you and me, I don’t like the looks of the nurse, so you’re gonna have to do some of the heavy lifting here. Don’t worry. I’ll be here when you get out.”

I felt the stare of both girls, and I looked up. “What?”

They rolled their eyes.

I turned around to look at Braeden. He nodded. “That should do it.”

“You two are idiots,” Ivy muttered.

“I think I need to push,” Rimmel said, her voice strained.

I leapt off the bed and yelled at B. “Go get the damn doctor, man!”

He rushed from the room. Ivy grabbed Rimmel’s hand. “I’ll wait in the hall. Give you two the first few minutes alone. Come get me when I can hold my niece or nephew.”

She stopped and hugged me on the way past, then disappeared.

“Sometimes I thought this day might never come,” Rimmel told me, holding out her hand.

I took it, kissing her palm. “It’s here.”

“I love you, even though this kinda really hurts.”

“I’d take the pain if I could,” I vowed.

“It’s going to be worth it.”

I leaned down and kissed her head. Her breaths came in short gasps now. My heart hammered in my chest, and my palms were starting to sweat.

The doctor and nurse came back into the room, closing the door behind them. After a look downtown and the second Rimmel’s face pinched in discomfort, she encouraged her to push.

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