Page 88 of The Way We Score

He starts to protest when my phone buzzes again, and I lift it expecting Jack. Instead, what I see makes my blood run cold.

Liv

Something’s wrong—I need you!

I don’t waste time texting. My thumb is on the call button, and my heart stops when I hear her voice. She’s crying. Correction, she’s sobbing.

Grabbing my duffel off the bench, I’m practically running to the exit before her first words are spoken. “Garrett?”

“What’s wrong, babe?”

I can’t stand to hear her crying. A fist is in my chest as I jump into the waiting car.

“I don’t know.” She hiccups a breath. “I went to the bathroom and… there was blood.”

Fuck. My stomach plummets, and I wave at Fred. “Teterboro airport. Fast as you can.”

My old driver hops to it. “Yes, sir.”

It’s a gamble, but Logan’s dad had a private jet service at Teterboro when Logan lived here. I have to hope he still does, and he’ll let me use it.

“We should never have told anybody.” Her voice wavers, and my heart breaks at the fear in her tone. “Now what will we do?”

My throat hurts like I swallowed a bone turned sideways.

“Is your mom there?” Forcing myself to think, I swallow air. “Are you cramping? Having contractions?”

What the fuck did that book say about this?

“Mom’s taking me to the hospital. But Garrett…” Her voice breaks, and she exhales another brief sob. “I’m scared.”

If I weren’t in a car, I’d be on my knees.

“I’m going to hang up and call Logan.”

“Don’t tell them about this!”

“I’ll only say what I have to. I need to see if his dad’s jet is available. It’ll take me a few hours to get there, but I’m coming, Liv. Hang on, okay?”

Her soft hiccup rips me in two. “Please hurry.”

“I’ll be there tonight. Try to be strong. We’re going to be okay.”

I want to say I love you. I don’t want to hang up the damn phone, but I have to call Logan.

“Okay.” Her voice is small.

“I’ll keep you posted. I’m coming.” And I press the button.

19

Olivia

I’m lying on my side in the dim-lit hospital room. A band is around my stomach, and stickers are on my chest, stomach, and wrist. Quietly beeping monitors surround me.

As soon as we got to the emergency department, they took us back. Mom held my hand, her eyes round and blinking fast the whole time. Every now and then, I’d catch her saying little prayers under her breath.

A blond male in magenta scrubs took us to a smaller room to run an ultrasound. Lying on the bed, all I could think about was that day in Birmingham when Garrett and I heard our baby’s heartbeat for the very first time.

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