Page 159 of The One I Hate
I’ve been awake for that entire time, because every time I close my eyes, another contraction hits. You know, just to keep me honest. They are getting closer together now, and I’m becoming very uncomfortable, to say the least.
And then there’s Simon. Passed out on the couch in the clothes he was wearing when he got here last night. I’m sure if I walked over to him—you know, if I could walk—I could get drunk from the smell of whiskey coming from him. I should wake him up, but not yet. He needs all the energy he can muster for the fact that he’s about to be pushing out a human.
Oh wait. That’s me.
“How we doing?”
I look over to see Amelia walking in with a duffel bag in her hands.
“Still pregnant.”
She stops in front of Simon, just as he lets out a little snore. “How long has he been out?”
“Since you left,” I say. “He told me something about diapers then passed out.”
She tries not to laugh. “At least he’s here. My ex went MIA when Luke was born. He showed up the next morning like he didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Wow.” I look over to Simon, who looks somehow comfortable on what surely is an uncomfortable couch. I mean, I can’t be mad. I told him to go out. I told him to have fun. Who knew I was going to go into labor early? “Oh! Shit, shit, shit!”
Amelia drops the bag and rushes over to me. “You okay?”
“Yeah…contraction…big one…”
Amelia gives me her hand, letting me break a few bones as I let out a primal yell.
“Bug? What? Baby? Here.”
I look over to see Simon shoot up from the couch, and since he’s still probably drunk, he promptly falls to the floor. I’d normally laugh, but I can’t right now. I’m too busy trying to breathe through the longest contraction I’ve had.
“Simon. Go shower.” Amelia’s words are firm and take charge. “I brought you clothes in that bag. You fucking stink. And when you get out, I think we’re going to start having a baby.”
He pops up from the floor. “Really?”
“No. I made everything up. Just go shower.”
He nods. “Yes ma’am.” He turns to go to the shower, but quickly runs back to me, kissing me on the forehead. “I love you. I’ll be right back.”
“I love you. Please shower. You just got me drunk.”
“Got it.”
Simon bolts through the suite to our bathroom, nearly falling again, which I’m now so glad has a shower.
“Is it really time?”
Another contraction hits, and yeah…those two were very close together.
Amelia nods, fixing my pillows. “I think we’re getting there. Let me go get the nurse and I’ll be right back.”
I nod and give her hand a squeeze. “Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. You’re family. This is what we do.”
Amelia leaves the room, and it hits me just as hard as this next contraction.
Family.
For so many years, I thought my family was going to be small and tight. Just me, Connor, and Lila. That’s all I needed. That’s all I thought I’d ever have.
