Page 60 of Trigger's Forever

The last ten minutes are supposed to be labor support demonstrations, but the nausea rolling behind my diaphragm is counting me out.

Trigger and Winnie both push away from the table, the legs of their chairs scraping against the floor as they round the table to the mat in front.

They both turn and look at me, still sitting in the same spot. I put my hands on my bump and shake my head. “I feel like I’m going to puke, and if I get on that floor, I can promise you I’m not getting back up. You two do it and I’ll just watch.”

Winnie shrugs before plopping herself right down on the floor.

I can’t help but laugh to myself as I watch Winnie get into the different positions Dr. Murphy instructs. Trigger stands by the whole time, listening intently and doing every single thing Dr. Murphy says will help the woman while in labor.

I can’t help but roll my eyes and laugh when he looks my way with a stern expression as he catches me not paying attention.

I clear my throat and watch closely as Dr. Murphy shows the men a simple massage they can do to help alleviate lower back pain. I sit up a little straighter when Trigger digs his thumbs into Winnie’s lower back, rubbing in circles just like Dr. Murphy shows him. I don’t dare admit it, but watching Winnie smile in pleasure at his simple back rub has jealousy flaring up.

I frown at Trigger’s hands as they move around her back. Even though this is just a demonstration, and I am the one that pushed them to do it instead of me, I can’t help the green eyed monster that settles deep in my gut, wishing his hands were on me and not her.

I let out the breath I was holding as soon as Dr. Murphy claps her hands, thanking all of us for coming to her class. “We will work more on laboring positions and relaxation techniques next week!” she says excitedly.

Dr. Murphy stops next to the table in front of me and smiles at me. “Are you feeling okay, Heather?”

I nod my head, pushing up from the chair. “Just a little freaked out and nauseous, but I’ll be fine.”

Trigger holds his hand out to me and I take it, letting him lead me around the table to stand in front of Dr. Murphy and Winnie.

“I’ll be seeing you soon, yes? We need to find out what these babies are!”

“Wednesday morning,” Trigger says before I can answer her.

“Are you guys going to find out? I’m still stuck, I don’t think I want to know yet. At first I did, but now I think I changed my mind. I think I want it to be a surprise!” Winnie smiles, rubbing her hand across her rounding belly.

“Most definitely. I have to know,” I say. I couldn’t imagine going all the way to delivery without knowing if the twins are boys or girls, or hell, even one of each.

Trigger puts his arm around my shoulders, pulling my back against his chest. “I think she needs to mentally prepare for the fact that she’s about to have two of me running around.”

“What if it’s two girls?” Winnie laughs.

I look back at Trigger’s face and giggle at the horrified expression Winnie’s question caused. “I’ll definitely have to buy more guns.”

We all laugh and say our goodbyes. Trigger leads us both out of the room and we follow behind him as he makes his way to the parking garage.

Once back in the SUV, Winnie perks up from the backseat. “Hey! You’re still planning to have an open house for your studio, right?”

I turn in my seat so I can see her face. She’s holding her phone up as she reads something on the screen. “I’m in a group online with a bunch of artists from the college, and there is a post here about a girl looking for work. She says she is a dance student at the university looking for night time work. She was an assistant teacher at her studio growing up and really needs the work.”

Trigger looks at me quickly before turning back to the road. “You should contact her, see what she's got. I think it’d be better to have at least one teacher under your belt before the opening.”

I think about it for a minute and then nod my head. “You’re right. Send me the post, Winnie.”

“I already messaged her! She’s meeting you at the studio tomorrow at eleven.”

I roll my eyes and laugh at my friend. “Of course you did, thank you Win.”

My phone pings in my lap with a text, and I smile seeing Lyric’s name on the screen.

When I open it up I see that it’s a group text between me, her and Bunny. Before I even read the text I click on Bunny’s contact, switching her name to Brenna.

SOS Pebbles we need you. We have a category 5 situation going on

I laugh to myself at Lyrics’s dramatics. I text back the address to my house, telling them to come over. I’ve been staying there the past few nights. No one has been over since the day Trigger and the guys brought my stuff. It’ll be nice to have some company for a change. I finally feel ready and at a place where I don’t panic at the thought of socializing.

---