Page 123 of Tell Me When It's Over

“What’s the smile for?” he asks, sitting back in his seat, my lips tingling from even the briefest brush of his.

“Just thinking,” I whisper.

He reaches for my hand, and I stop thinking altogether.

Mia’s grip on my hand tightens the closer we get to the hospital, and I’m not sure who’s whiter right now—me or Dylan.

My weekly visit with her was cut short when her water broke, and in the rush to get everything they’d prepared, Mia safely to their waiting car, and me in the back seat where she was crushing my hand, we hadn’t gotten to discuss whatever she’d called me about. At the moment, whatever it is doesn’t seem so important even though she said it was.

“Did you text Kyler?” Mia asks through her rough breathing, one hand clenching her stomach while the other stays wrapped around mine. Dylan is weaving through traffic so fast I’m getting nauseous, but I managed to type out a quick text after getting into the car.

“Yes.”

“My mother?”

I’d used Dylan’s phone when he shoved it into my hand and said, “Tell everyone it’s happening.” Since he didn’t give me a list of who that is, I figured he’d meant family. “Your mom is on her way and so is Harry.”

Her eyes grow soft despite the obvious discomfort she must be in. “Thank you, Lenny Lou. Have I told you recently how much I love you?”

I smile. “Not recently.”

“Well I do.” She sucks in a breath and shoots her gaze toward her husband. “I swear to Jesus if you don’t get us there in time and I have to deliver this fucking baby in the car, I will cut off your dick to make sure you never do this to me again.”

Dylan cusses, his foot pushing down on the accelerator. “Shit, babe. Deep breaths, remember? Like the Lamaze instructor said.”

Mia starts breathing, and I start sweating, and I’m pretty sure Dylan is shooting out a string of curse words that haven’t been invented yet.

I’m surprised when Mia turns to me. “We didn’t get a chance to talk like I wanted.” Her expression pinches with pain.

“We’ll have plenty of time to talk later,” I reassure her.

“But I wanted to talk about you and Ky.”

My face pales. “About…?”

She exhales a long breath, “Don’t think I haven’t noticed that—” A sharp groan escapes her parted lips. It takes her a few moments, a few silent, counted breaths, before she peels her heavy eyelids open again to look at me. “Just because I’ve been distracted with this little fucker doesn’t mean I haven’t noticed how you two have been. He actually goes out now.”

“Babe,” Dylan says with hesitated caution in his tone. “Do you think now is the best time to bring that up?”

“I’m using the distraction method, babe.”

If Dylan could raise his hands in surrender from where they white knuckled the steering wheel, I’m sure he would.

I meet Mia’s eyes, as she goes on. “The press is having a field day with all the pictures of you two together. I’m not sure what’s going on between you guys, but I wanted to thank you.”

“Thank me for—”

“Oh my God. How much longer?” Her head dips back against the headrest as Dylan speeds up.

“We’re almost there.”

“Mia?” Worry licks my tone, but she shakes her head and tries controlling her breathing.

Eventually, she picks her head up and rubs her stomach. “Why did I ever want to be a mom? This is awful. Dylan, remind me to buy my mother a shit ton of flowers when this is over.”

“Got it,” he murmurs from the front.

I see the hospital ahead, and squeeze Mia’s hand. “We’re about to pull into the emergency room entrance. Are you okay?”

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