Page 74 of Keeping Promises

I’m shutting down my laptop and gathering my belongings when Lexi races into my cubicle, Ben hot on her heels. “I know, I’m going. I just had to grab my shit.”

“No, I just got a call from Hadley. She’s not at the salon. She’s at St. Augustine’s Hospital—”

I barrel past her and out the door, ignoring whatever else she was saying. Ben shouts my name behind me, but I don’t look back; I just move. Hadley and our little girl are all I care about and focus on. In the elevator, I pull up the Uber app on my phone, and of course, none are close. St. Augustine’s isn’t far from here, only a few blocks. I need to get to her as fast as I can. Why didn’t she call me?

I race out the lobby doors, and no cabs are sitting by the curb. Fuck it; I’ll run.

I’m coming, baby. Please be okay. I’m on my way.

Dodging through the crowded streets of Willow Creek, I run past strangers. They yell and nearly trip me as I run toward the hospital. Sweat coats my skin. Note to self—don’t run a 5K in polyester pants and a long-sleeve dress shirt.

I stop just outside the main hospital entrance when I see Hadley standing there wiping her tears. Her arms are wrapped around her, resting on her swollen belly. My breath hitches as I take in her appearance. She looks physically okay, but why is she crying? I cautiously approach her as not to scare her, but I am drawn to her like a magnet.

She looks up as if she could sense my presence before she saw me.

“Asher.” My name never sounded more perfect on her lips. We race to each other—well, she more so waddles—and I pull her into my arms, aware of her belly keeping more of a distance than I want, but this way, I have both my girls in my arms.

I don’t know what this means, but she allows me to hold her for a moment. It has to be a good sign that she hasn’t pushed me away and told me to fuck off. I’m not sure how much time has passed before she looks up. Her eyes are swollen from her tears.

All that matters is that she is okay. I swipe my thumb under her eye to catch the still-falling droplets.

“What are you doing here?” Reality begins to set in, and she steps out of my grasp.

“Lexi said that you called and you were at the hospital.” I ignore her fleeting retreat and step closer to her and cup both of her cheeks. My thumb swirls circles on her soft skin. “Are you okay? Is everything all right with the baby?” I keep one palm on her face while the other drops to rest on her belly.

“I’m fine. A client was rushed to the hospital with chest pains, and I rode with her so she wasn’t alone. I called Lexi because I needed a ride. How did you know?”

I let out a breath, knowing that she is okay. “I was actually coming to see you when she got the call. All I heard her say was your name and hospital, and I ran out of the office. Hell, I literally ran here.”

Her gaze widens in shock. “You ran?”

I chuckle. “Yeah. I needed to get to you, and this was the fastest way I thought of.”

My adrenaline high may be retreating, but the reason for my hands trembling isn’t me—it’s Hadley. She’s shaking in my arms.

“I can’t believe you ran here.” She laughs in between her tears. When her eyes meet mine, the emotion behind them threatens to drown me in her baby blues. I’m ready to get down on my knees here on the pavement and beg her for forgiveness.

“I’d do anything for you, baby.” She winces at my choice of words, and I’d be lying if that didn’t cut deep within. I swipe a piece of hair off her face. “And that includes standing here, begging you to forgive me. Begging for you to trust me, for us to be us again. I’ve missed you so much.”

Hadley glances down at the ground for a moment, and something in the air passes between us.

“Asher,” she whispers.

“Nothing happened. I refuse to let you push me away anymore. You and this baby—”

“Asher, I don’t have time for this right now,” she says sternly. Her face and neck are flushed.

“Damnit, Hadley Kincaid. Now you’re going to listen, and we’re going to fix this.”

“For fuck’s sake, Asher, are you done?”

“No, not even close. I’m not leaving here until you’re mine again.”

“Well, that’s not going to fucking happen. As I said, I don’t have time for this.” She begins to back up toward the main entrance.

“And why the hell not?” I raise my voice louder than I planned to. People are congregating on the sidewalk, now turning to face us.

“Because, you asshole, either I just peed my fucking pants, or I think my water just broke.”

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