Page 122 of Samuel

A brilliant smile filled her face. “I still can’t believe we’re engaged.”

“Believe it, Bluebell. You’re stuck with me forever. Now, tell me why you aren’t cuddled up with me in bed right now.”

She groaned, and a pang of worry shot through Sam’s chest. “I’m sorry. Couldn’t sleep. Figured why wake you up flopping around like a beached whale trying to get comfortable.One of us should be able to get some good sleep tonight. So, I made you a batch of chocolate chip cookies. They’re cooling on the counter.”

“Evie. You should be resting. I thought our celebrations would tucker you out until the morning.” His eyes slid over to the stove, where two dozen cookies sat on cooling racks. He’d definitely eat a couple of those once his coffee was done brewing. “And I want you to wake me up. Is it heartburn again?”

He bent into the fridge to look for his creamer. Might as well start the day since they both were up.

“Heartburn. Jellybean doing calisthenics. Contractions.”

Sam felt awful. She’d been suffering with the worst heartburn the past few night and?—

He stood straight up. “Did you just say contractions?”

“Yeah. I can’t be sure. But something feels off.”

His eyes bounced to her hand, resting against her belly, then back to her eyes.

“Something feels off and instead of telling me right away, you decided to bake?” He slammed the door to the refrigerator and walked over to her.

“I can’t be sure what it is.”

He grabbed both her hands. “Evie! Get up. I’m taking you to the hospital.”

“No,” she laughed. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”

“You just said it could be contractions!”

“And it could just be indigestion. Or the baby is uncomfortable and hitting a nerve in my back when she’s moving around. I don’t know. We’ll see in a little bit.”

Fuck. That plan did not make sense to him. His heart went into overdrive as he watched her continue to roll her hips around on the damn birthing ball.

“You’re just going to roll on that thing until she comes out, aren’t you?”

“It’s making my back feel better. You want me to be in pain?”

“God, no, Bluebell.” Sam dropped to his knees, his hands going to her hips. “Of course I don’t want you to be in pain. That’s why I want to get you to the hospital. Just to make sure nothing else is going on.”

“We have to be sure. I don’t want to make a fuss for nothing. And you don’t have to worry, when the time comes, I want drugs. All of the drugs a country hospital could possibly provide. I wouldn’t say we should stay home if I really thought she was coming.”

“Alright, well, let’s take a break from all those hip circles. It’ll be just our luck that locks her into the perfect position and she shoots out like a cannonball fifteen minutes from now.”

Evie’s laughter filled the living room. “That image was not something I ever needed. You’re quite the bundle of nerves right now, aren’t you?”

“When it comes to you and Jellybean, nothing is more important to me.”

“I know. We’re good. Just uncomfortable.”

“Let’s get you to the couch.” Sam placed his hands under Evie’s arms and hauled her up into his side. “I’ll rub your feet while we finish that god-awful Christmas movie we started.”

“I hardly think a sweet movie about a town where Santa secretly vacations each summer is awful.”

“That goofy golden retriever reminds me of Shep. And I’ll never admit this again, but I’m enjoying it.”

She smiled as she put her hands out for him to grab. “I know, Cowboy. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”

The movie was funny, but Sam couldn’t concentrate on it. His eyes kept flashing over to Evie, who winced and moved to get comfortable every few minutes.

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