Page 133 of Igniting Sparks

“Get to the hospital. It’s time.” My brother sounds calm, but I hear the undercurrent of emotion in his voice. “Looks like the baby is coming a few weeks early.”

“No shit. Alright, we’ll be right there. Give us thirty minutes.”

“Ori wants Mina to bring her some blanket. I don’t know. She’s requesting it, and I’m pretty much doing anything she asks at this point.”

I snort. “Isn’t that you most of the time?”

“Shut up, but yeah. Anyway, I’ve got to get her some ice chips. See you soon.”

I click off the call and turn to Mina, her hands balled in a prayer position. “We need to go to the hospital.”

Her eyes widen as she rips off her apron. “Is Ori in labor?”

I nod. “The baby decided to come a few weeks early.”

“Oh my God. The baby is coming,” she squeals, clapping her hands together. “Let me call one of my instructors and have them cover my class. I’ll meet you in the truck.”

“Ash mentioned a blanket?”

“On it.” Mina beams at me, her smile lighting up her entire being.

You’d swear it washerbaby, not her best friend’s.

And then it hits me, how much I want that with Mina. How much I wanteverythingwith her.

She meets me in the truck ten minutes later, a bag of goodies in her hand. “Let’s go. I can’t wait to meet their baby, Braden.”

“Me too.”

Hey, Iamexcited. It’s a new chapter in our lives. We’ve graduated from late-night bar crawls to late-night bottle feedings.

But that’s how it goes, right?

I’m here for all of it.

Mina grasps my hand, her long fingers tracing over my skin. “Maybe that could be us soon.”

I swear, this woman is a mind reader.

Glancing down at our conjoined hands, I see the ring sparkling on her finger.

The one I bought for her when all of this was just a ruse.

The one I gave her back the day she returned to Sparkwood.

I told her then that we’d figure it out—no timeline required.

But as soon as she mentions us starting a family, I know it’s a perfect next step.

I free my hand, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I was thinking the same thing.”

A soft smile dances across her lips. “Really? Like soon, not in a couple of years.”

I chuckle, claiming her hand again and pressing a kiss to her fingers. “Like right after we get home from the hospital. Unless that’s too soon for you.”

“Braden Hammond, I’ve been waiting onyou.”

And then I realize I’d been waiting my whole life for her, too.

The End