Page 47 of Gunner

“It’s lookin’ that way,” Gunner tells her. She stops us, pulls me into a hug, and tells me everything is going to be okay. I hug her back, but I don’t agree. Something is wrong; I can feel it.

“Thanks, Kiki,” I tell her as she pulls back. The guys all gather around and tell us good luck. It’s nice to see everyone is so caring.

“Where’s Rick?” I ask, looking around for him.

“He’s at the shop. I’ll go get him and bring him to the hospital,” Locke says. I nod my head, knowing I can’t do this without him. He’s been there for me through everything. I need him there for this, too.

Gunner fist-bumps Hodge and then leads me out of the building. He opens the truck door and helps me inside before reaching across and buckling my seatbelt for me. But then he just stands there, staring at my stomach, before he finally reaches up and touches it.

“I’m not gonna fuck this up,” he says, and I don’t know if he’s talking to me or the baby. Then his head turns, and he tilts it up to look at me. “I mean it, Nat. I’m not gonna fuck this up.” Warmth spreads through me at his words. I know he’s doing everything he can for me and this baby, and I don’t see that changing.

“I know that.”

“How do you know?”

“You’re a good man, Gunner. Look at the two you already raised. They couldn’t be any better,” I reassure him. He smiles and leans in pressing his lips to mine before closing the door and rounding the truck. He climbs in, and we quickly take off toward the hospital.

I watch out the window as we drive, wondering how all this is going to turn out. We saw how my parents were. They were willing to sell me to the highest bidder and no one but Gunner seemed to care. I couldn’t do that, not to my child. I look down at my stomach and rest my hand on it, knowing I have to be better than they were.

“You thought about names? I know we talked about a few.”

“I don’t know, Gunner. I just want to make sure everything is okay first,” I tell him. He reaches across the seat and grabs my hand in his, squeezing reassuringly.

Chapter 21

Gunner

I hate to see her in pain. I hate to see her look at me the way she is. Rick just got here, and she’s been holding his hand the whole time. I feel a little useless.

I know this is all new to her, and she’s scared, but I would have at least liked for her to come to me, to look to me for help and comfort. Instead, she and Rick talk in low tones as I sit off to the side, wondering what the hell to do here.

The doctor tells her it’s time to push, and that has me on my feet. Her eyes flick to mine, and I wait.

“I can’t do this without you,” she says. Finally! She finally needs me. I smile as I walk over and grab her hand in mine, watching Rick take a backseat to all this now. Her nails dig into my hand as she pushes and follows the doctor’s orders. It seems like forever, but it’s only a matter of minutes. My girl is stronger than she gave herself credit for.

“I see the head,” the doctor announces as Nat squeezes tighter. I let her hold on as tightly as she needs as I watch my baby be born.

“Push, Natasa. I need one more good one,” the doctor tells her. Nat does just that. She pushes, putting all her strength behind it. And then I hear it. The tiny cry that turns louder. Nat gasps as the doctor brings the baby up to her chest. He offers to let me cut the cord and I do so with tears in my eyes.

“He’s perfect,” the doctor declares.

“He. You were right,” Nat tells me as I look down at my son. I never in my life thought I’d be doing this again. Looking at a small life the way I am right now. It’s the best thing in the world.

“He’s perfect, Nat.”

“He is, isn’t he?” She cries as I lean down and press a kiss to her forehead.

“You’re amazin’, baby girl.”

“Thank you, Gunner. For everything.” I smile and nod as they take the baby to clean him up. Nat motions for me to go with him so I do. I pull my cell out as I stand and watch them clean him up and snap pictures to send to everyone. I hear Rick whispering something to Nat and turn to look at the two of them. Nat has tears pouring down her cheeks when she turns her head and looks at me. Our eyes lock, and everything else seems to fall into place.

“Seven pounds and six ounces. Twenty inches long,” the nurse announces, pulling my attention back to the baby. They wrap him up and pass him to me, and that’s it. I fucking melt. My son. This is my son.

I walk back over to Nat and offer him to her, but she shakes her head.

“You hold him.”

“He’s so damn cute, Nat. Looks a lot like Hodge,” I tell her.

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