Page 180 of Not Another Yesterday
“What the hell was that?” I whisper into the dark.
A moment later, I feel a different kind of pressure, lower. I shift in bed, ready to climb out and head to the bathroom when suddenly,oh no, a warm gush floods between my legs. I freeze.
Something’s wrong. Something isverywrong.
I fling the blanket back and my breath catches in my throat. Blood. Bright, red blood, pooling between my thighs and soaking the white sheets beneath me.
“Oh god,” I gasp, my voice barely registering past the rising panic. My hand shoots out and grabs Ronan’s shoulder, shaking him.
“Ran, wake up,” I say, voice trembling.
He stirs, groggy, voice thick with sleep. “What’s wrong, baby?”
“I’m bleeding,” is all I manage to say.
It hits me then—how clammy my skin feels, how my shirt is soaked with sweat. I’m freezing and burning at the same time. Ronan jolts fully awake, immediately reaching for the light. When it flicks on and his eyes land on the blood, I see the panic flicker across his face—but his voice stays steady.
“Are you having any pain?” he asks, already climbing out of bed and coming to my side.
I start to shake my head, the wordnoalready forming—when another wave of pain tears through me. I suck in a breath so sharp it cuts, every muscle in my body locking up as the contraction hits.
“Baby,” Ronan says, dropping to his knees beside me and taking my hand. His grip is warm, grounding, while I try to breathe through the storm inside my body. I’m only halfway through this pregnancy. I haven’t taken any classes, haven’t learned how to breathe for labor—I’m just trying to survive this moment.
“I think…” My voice shakes as the pain fades again. “I think I’m losing the baby.”
The words make the fear real. My vision swims. I feel faint.
“I need to lie down,” I whisper, collapsing back into the pillows, my fingers still tangled in his. “I’m really tired…”
“Don’t you fall asleep right now!” Ronan snaps.
The sudden command slices through the fog in my head.
“Get up.” His voice is fierce, unrelenting.
I frown at him, tears welling.I can’t.I’m too weak. Too tired. My body hurts in places I didn’t know could hurt.
“Ran, please,” I whisper.
But he’s already pulling me upright. “I’m taking you to the hospital.” He scans the room, frantic. “Do not lie back down.” He points a finger at me before sprinting to the hallway. “Shane! Wake the fuck up! I need your help!”
He’s back a moment later, yanking open his closet. He tugs a plain white shirt over his head and grabs a pair of black sweats.
“Come on, baby,” he says, his voice gentler now. He kneels in front of me again, steady hands guiding mine. “Let’s get these on you.”
He threads my legs carefully into the oversized pants, his hands brushing against my knees, his eyes never leaving my face like he’s willing me to stay awake, to staywith him.
“What the hell is going on?” Shane asks, suddenly standing in the doorway in just his boxers, his chest bare and his face still puffy with sleep.
“I think Cat’s hemorrhaging. I need to get her to the hospital right now,” Ronan says, urgent but level.
Shane’s eyes dart to the bed, to the pool of crimson blood. “Holy shit.” He doesn’t hesitate. “What do you need from me?”
“Grab my keys. Help me get her to the car.”
Ronan sweeps me into his arms, cradling me like a baby. I cling to him, barely holding on.
“You sure you don’t want me to call an ambulance?” Shane asks as he dashes out of Ronan’s room ahead of us.
