Pulse - McHugh Gail - Страница 76
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Trevor smirked. “Sis, you are and will always be a nut.” Olivia rolled her eyes and Trevor walked over to Gavin, shaking his hand. “Give us a few to wake up, and we’ll meet you at the hospital. Born on the fifth of July. Cool birthday. Congratulations, bro.”
“Thanks.” Gavin smiled and walked Emily to the door. After hugging everyone goodbye, she stepped out into the dewy night air, making her way toward Gavin’s car.
As Gavin went to rush after her, Colton caught his arm. “Just remember, little man, do whatever she asks. Don’t take her threats or name calling personally. She still loves you. She just won’t like you for the next few hours. At all.”
Chad chuckled, slapping Gavin’s back. “I can’t say I disagree with your brother. Linda Blair from The Exorcist comes to mind, but she’ll calm back down.”
Lillian swatted Chad’s arm and pulled Gavin in for a hug. “Ignore your father and brother. Everything will be fine. Love you, baby boy. We’ll be there soon.”
Gavin kissed his mother goodbye and stepped from the house. Anticipating a full blown demon, he was surprised to find Emily casually leaning against his car. She still looked stressed, but he expected wicked. As if he had willed that demon into existence, he watched her face go from relaxed and loving to all-out pissed as she hunched over, grabbing her stomach.
“Jesus, Gavin, can you just open the door already?” she hissed, her fingers curling around the side mirror of his BMW.
Gavin nervously fumbled with his keys to unlock the door. He helped Emily into her seat, slammed the door, and shot around the vehicle. Once in, he looked at her, his heart sinking. “Breathe, baby. Remember the breathing techniques they taught you.” He watched her toss her head back, and he heard some kind of grunt rumble up her throat.
She whipped her head around, glaring daggers at him. “I know how to breathe, Gavin. You just worry about getting me to the damn hospital so I don’t give birth to your son on these leather seats. Got it?”
Yep, she was scaring Gavin. Throwing the car into reverse, he figured he’d speak only when spoken to for the remainder of the ride.
As lights along the darkened road came and went, so did the contraction possessing Emily’s body. It left her feeling terrible, though. Sitting on her knees, she leaned over the console. Cupping Gavin’s face as he stared at the road, she started raining kisses along his temple, hair, and jaw. Anywhere she could kiss, she did. “I’m so sorry.” She kissed his nose, neck, ear, cheeks, and lips. She cried again. “You were dead. You were gone. I love you, Gavin. You’re my Yankees-obsessed, bottle cap-giving wiseass. I’m so sorry. I love you so much.”
Gavin’s mouth twitched into a nervous smile. “This bottle cap-giving wiseass loves you, too.” He paused and wiped a tear from her face, unsure whether or not he should say what he was about to. Her hands were tiny, but he knew his girl could throw a pretty powerful smack. “Um, sweets, you need to sit back down, okay? Get your seatbelt on for me.”
Emily nodded. As she reached for the belt, her belly started to ball in pain. As it simmered, anchoring through her muscles, she felt a little pop. Still on her knees, warm liquid trickled down her leg. She pulled in a fast, harsh breath. “Oh… my… God,” she cried out, her eyes wide with panic. “My water just broke. You need to drive faster, Gavin. Now.” She turned to him, her face twisted in pain as she held her stomach. “I’m not kidding. I know you know how not to drive like a grandfather. Get that big foot of yours to press harder on the gas. I. Am. Not. Kidding.”
Gavin blinked, swallowed, and brought his eyes back to the road. With Linda Blair’s twin sitting next to him, he didn’t say a word as he gunned it. Though the love of his life was a bit scary, Gavin would never deny, when telling his grandchildren of this very night, he liked Emily giving him permission to drive like a bat out of hell.
In a matter of minutes, he had them screeching to a stop in front of the hospital. Jumping from the car, he fumbled for, well, he didn’t quite know what he was fumbling for. But he was. Swiping a nervous hand through his hair, he swung open Emily’s door and helped her out. By this time, she’d calmed down, exhibiting signs of severe bipolar disorder as she kissed him repeatedly. Breathing heavily, Emily cried her apologies as she clung to his arm while walking into the emergency room. He couldn’t help it, but in that moment, Gavin wondered where she’d been all his life. God. He loved this woman, and she was about to give him the greatest gift ever, bipolar or not.
After a quick conversation with a nurse, Emily was seated in a wheelchair and whisked into an elevator. Destination: maternity floor. Emily shivered as she thought about the nightmare that’d plagued her sleep. Holding Gavin’s hand, she looked at him, tears welling in her eyes. “I don’t even want you here with me right now,” she whispered, her body shaking. “I mean, I do. Of course I do. But I’m worried something’s going to happen to you.”
Gavin popped a brow, a grin smoothing across his mouth. “You know you’re about to give birth to our child, right?” Emily nodded, and Gavin leaned down, brushing his lips along her forehead. “Emily Cooper, let me do all the worrying about you right now. Nothing’s going to happen to me. Okay?”
She nodded again, gripping his hand tighter as another contraction slowly started to build. Its predecessors had nothing on this one. Breathing faster, Emily curled her fingers around the arm of the wheelchair. She swore her nails scraped the leather right off. “How many more floors?” she bit out, her eyes pinned on the nurse. From the look on Gavin’s face, Emily swore she’d cut off circulation in his hand. “I’m not going to make it through this. I know I’m not.”
The nurse patted her back, her twinkling eyes holding a wealth of knowledge. “I said the same thing with my first, second, and third. You’ll be fine.”
Hell no. Emily blew out a breath, completely, unequivocally, one hundred percent convinced she’d never let Gavin touch her again. When the elevator doors slid open, she was wheeled into a private room, her contraction easing its attack by the time she stood. The nurse handed her a hospital gown, and Emily made her way into the bathroom to get undressed. After changing and cleaning herself up, Emily stared at her reflection and her stomach.
Sighing, she started to relax. Gavin was fine. It was only a nightmare. Although what she was about to endure would be nothing short of torturous, at the end, not only would she have Noah, but Noah would have his father. A blizzard of emotions hit her when she heard agonized cries from a woman in the room next door. She swallowed, stared at herself for a long moment, and walked out of the bathroom praying she could handle this.
“Hey,” Gavin said, helping her over to the bed. “You okay?”
She gazed into his baby blues, his love evident. “Right now I am.” She pushed up on her tiptoes and kissed his soft lips. He held her, his embrace warm. “I’m apologizing now for the way I might act during…” Her voice trailed as another contraction started to erupt. Backing away, Emily held her stomach and sat on the bed. Eyes narrowed and breathing harsh, she stared at Gavin. “Oh God. Say something to keep my mind off the pain!”
Gavin’s heart melted. Somewhat afraid to touch her, he gently ran his hand over Emily’s stomach, praying she wouldn’t take a swing at him. “I hope he looks like his mother.” He kissed her forehead, pushing her hair away from her shoulder. “I hope he has your beautiful green eyes.” He grinned and kissed each eyelid. “He’ll have the ladies all over him if he does.”
As the nurse adjusted a maternity belt over her stomach, Emily did her breathing exercises, convinced her back was slowly breaking. “My eyes? I was hoping he’d have yours.” She tossed her head against the pillow and rolled to her side. “Keep talking. God, keep talking, Gavin,” she cried out. “Twenty questions, and don’t you dare bring up anything sexual.”
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