Page 99 of Gamers' Omega

He reached into the tub and squeezed my knee. “Good.” He then dipped his hand into the water. “Let me warm it for you. That way you can relax until Freddie and Tony are home. Then we’ll get you ready to go to the hospital.”

“Ok.”

Ian let out some water, then added more hot. The warmth immediately seeped into me.

We sat in comfortable silence. His presence was more reassuring than any words. It was only my next contraction that broke the spell.

“Ten minutes,” he said softly.

I nodded and forced myself to relax again. Soon I could hear noises from the hall as the others arrived home.

Ian leaned in and kissed my forehead. “I’m going to go talk to everybody, then I’ll be back to help you out.”

“Mm-hmm.”

I listened to the footsteps in the hall as my mates went back and forth between the garage and the house. I couldn’t make out words, but the tones of their voices were measured.

None of my mates were freaking out. They were doing what they did best: communicating with each other so that everybody was on the same page.

I loved them so much.

There was a knock at the door. I opened my eyes to see Ian walking in. He glanced at his phone on the counter.

“Do you want to wait for your next contraction?” he asked. “Or do you want to get out now?”

“How long?” I replied.

He shrugged. “Probably a minute or two. It’s too soon to know if they’re regular yet.”

“Wait,” I answered.

He nodded and took a seat on the lidded toilet. “Everything’s ready as soon as you are.”

“How are you all so calm?”

He laughed. “Oh, Sweetheart, I’m not calm. I’m panicking inside. My mind is racing, wondering if I forgot something, worried that I won’t be a good dad. But that doesn’t help you, and right now, you’re my focus.”

“Really?”

He nodded. “Really. And I’d be willing to bet that the others are much the same. Our lives are about to change. That’s a terrifying thing. But it becomes a lot less scary if I only look at what needs to be done right now. One step at a time, you know?”

I considered his words, then nodded.

Ian smiled.

The noise outside the bathroom stopped. My mates were waiting for me.

There was a knock at the door, then Tony stepped in, a towel draped over his arm. “It’s nice and warm, and I’ve got another still in the dryer if it gets cold before you’re ready.”

I sniffled. These wonderful men were about to be dads to our babies.

As if summoned by the thought of my mates being dads, my next contraction tore through me, making me double over.

Ian took my hand and breathed with me. “You’ve got this, Sweetheart.”

I slumped back against the tub once it was over and caught my breath. I nodded after a minute. “I’m ready.”

“Ok,” Ian replied. He pulled the plug to let the water out at the same time he turned the faucet on. He checked the temperature, then helped me up. Once I was standing he used the shower head to rinse me off.