Page 28 of The Club Princess

“That’s okay, we’re okay. Remember what the lady taught us? Breathe in through your nose–”

“No! I don’t remember anything. Why aren’t you here?!”

“Mikayla,” I rasp, my chest caving at her defeated tone. My hands tighten on the steering wheel. I shoot through the last intersection before the neighborhood, uncaring if it’s a red light. Horns blare around us.

“Gage! You getting into an accident won’t help her right now,” Dodge hisses.

“I’m sorry,” She sobs over the phone. “I’m scared, Gage.”

“I’m almost there, princess. Take some breaths for me,” I tell her, my throat aching from trying not to succumb to the fears filtering through my mind.

She’s silent as we pull into the driveway. I barely manage to put it into park, and then I sprint to the house. She’s leaning over in the kitchen, hands braced on the counter. She moans as I rush upstairs, kicking myself for not moving the hospital bag closer to the door.

Grabbing the duffle bag, I hurry back downstairs, and she’s waddling towards me. “Want me to carry you to the car?”

“No,” She snaps, rubbing at her stomach. “Don’t touch me, just hold me.”

My mouth opens and closes, unsure what she wants. Dodge whistles from outside as I open the door, and he holds up the car seat.

“Put it up front for now. I’m getting in the back with her,” I tell him as her hand comes to grip my arm with a strength I didn’t know she possessed.

I look at her, and the fear swimming through her watery eyes has me pushing my own away. “Bag, check. Car seat, check. Babymama, check. I think we’re good to go.”

Mikayla lets out a small laugh. “You would be the one to forget me.”

“Probably,” I say, walking her to the truck and helping her into the backseat. I climb in after her.

Dodge is backing out as soon as the door closes, grabbing the bag from it and shoving it in the front seat. “How you feeling, Mik?”

“Like something the size of a watermelon is trying to tear through my vagina.” Her eyes squeeze shut as her nails break the skin of my arm.

Dodge grimaces. “Shaw texted and said he’s heading to the hospital.”

Mikayla breathes out loudly. “Good, good. That’s good.”

I glance at the dashboard, clocking the few minutes before she’s ripping into my arm again. I kiss her temple. “You’re doing so good, princess. A little less than five minutes apart now.”

Dodge meets my eyes in the rearview mirror, knowing we’re a good twenty minutes from the hospital.

“How long have you been having contractions, Mik?” He asks, pressing a little harder on the pedal.

She shakes her head. “I don’t know. All day? My water broke right before I called you.”

My head feels like it’s splitting with all the information I’m trying to remember at the same time. I wish I had written it down for easy access because it’s drawing a blank now. I just know five minutes apart is hospital time.

“Anything else you guys need while you’re there?” Dodge asks, trying to distract both of us.

“Nah, I don’t think so.” My mind is still too scattered to think clearly.

Dodge shrugs. “None of us will probably leave the hospital anyway.”

“You don’t– no one has to. Labor can take a long time,” Mikayla grits out as her contractions start again.

He smiles. “I know, my lady was there for almost a full night before she brought baby girl into the world.”

“They all want to be there for us, for you,” I tell her gently.

Mikayla’s watery eyes blink up at me. “Thank you.”

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