Page 51 of My Three Hometown Firefighters (Aspen Springs #2)
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
Grayson
JULY
I’m supposed to be focusing on the game, but I can’t. My brain is far more concerned about the love of my life sitting in the stands with Hadley, Evelyn, and Jackson.
The last two weeks, I’ve been in a continual state of waiting for her to go into labor at any moment.
Her due date came and went yesterday without the little one making her appearance. Her doctor has scheduled her for an induction on Monday if she doesn’t go into labor naturally this weekend.
For some reason, I don’t think she’s going to make it until then.
A crack of a bat connecting with a ball hits my ears. I look around in confusion because I honestly didn’t even know someone else had stepped up to bat. The grounder heads toward first.
At least it wasn’t toward third. If it had, we wouldn’t be jogging back toward the dugout after getting the final out of the inning.
Instead of heading straight for the dugout, I walk over to the fence in front of the bleachers. My fingers lace through the fencing.
Sienna tries to mask the discomfort that’s clearly written all over her face. “Hey, handsome,” she says.
“Hey, love. Are you okay?”
She shrugs. “It’s just Braxton Hicks,” she says. She’s had them off and on for several weeks now. She’s never looked like this, though.
I lock eyes with my sister. She raises her shoulders, eyes going wide in an “I don’t fucking know” face.
“Do you want to go home?” I ask her.
“No, no… you guys finish the game. Then we can all go home,” Sienna says.
I look back at Hadley. “Take care of her. Scream at me if you need me. I couldn’t care less about this game right now.”
Hadley grins back at me. “Love looks good on you, big brother.”
I shake my head. “Did you hear a word I said?”
Her face is more serious. “I got her.”
“I’m right here,” Sienna says, waving her hands around.
“No one could miss you right now,” Hadley says good-naturedly.
Sienna smacks her on the shoulder. “Shut it.” She points at me. “Your team’s waiting. Go before Tucker and Warren come badgering me too.”
I turn to see them walking out of the dugout toward us.
“Fine,” I grumble, walking away.
“Love you,” she shouts.
I pause, looking at her over my shoulder. “Love you more.” I high-tail it toward the other guys before she can shout a retort at me.
“Is she okay?” Warren asks when I reach them.
“I don’t know. She says it’s just Braxton Hicks,” I say.
Tucker adjusts his ball cap. “You don’t think it is, though?”
“I have no idea.” I sigh. “Hadley’s keeping an eye on her.”
They both stare at her for a beat before we all walk into the dugout.
I honestly can't even tell you what inning we’re in or what the score is at this point. Sienna is the only thing occupying more than five seconds of my attention at a time.
She’s lying back against the bleachers, her hands rubbing over her stomach. Even Jackson and Evelyn abandoned the game they were playing to sit at her side.
I pull off my glove. Fuck it. I can’t stand here anymore. Quick glances at Warren and Tucker show they’re ready to bolt, too.
Taking two steps forward, I pause. My sister’s voice makes my head swing toward her. She’s standing at the fence, shouting my name.
I sprint toward her faster than I think I ever have in my life. Tucker beats me there. Warren quickly slides in behind me.
“She’s in labor. There’s no way this is Braxton Hicks,” Hadley says.
“I’m fine,” Sienna says, glaring at her best friend.
My sister glares right back. “No, you aren’t.”
“I…” Sienna’s voice trails off. Her face scrunches up in pain. She groans, letting her head hit the seat behind her.
Now I’m sprinting to the closest part of the fence I can hop over. I have tunnel vision. My glove is deserted somewhere along the way.
I slide onto the bench beside her, taking her clammy hand in mine. “Love, I’m pretty sure this is the real thing.”
Her eyes flutter open just as Warren and Tucker crowd around her.
“We need to get you to a hospital,” Warren says.
She looks at him and nods, trusting that he’s been through this before. She must really be in pain, though, because she doesn’t fight us at all as we start shuffling toward my truck.
“Is it baby time?” Miles says, leaning over the fence.
“Yes, sorry,” I say as we keep walking.
I’m shocked to hear Owen’s deep voice next because I’ve rarely heard the man talk over the last few years. “That’s more important.”
“We’ll finish the other innings some other time,” Miles hollers just as we reach the truck.
Sienna wraps Hadley in a hug. They’re both crying as they pull apart.
Warren bends down, giving Jackson a big hug.
“The baby’s coming?” Jackson asks.
Warren’s smile is big. “She’s coming. You remember what that means. Right?”
Jackson nods. His floppy brown hair bouncing around his face. “I get to have a slumber party with Evelyn.”
Warren kisses the top of Jackson’s head before walking toward Sienna. He and Tucker are ready to help her into the front seat, but Jackson grabs Sienna’s hand.
“I didn’t get to say goodbye,” he says.
“I’m sorry, bud. Come here,” she says, holding out her arms for him.
Tucker picks him up, so he can hug her. “I’m going to miss you,” she says, kissing his cheek.
“I’ll miss you too.” He squirms, so Tucker sets him back on his feet. Jackson presses a kiss to Sienna’s bump. “See you soon, sis,” he whispers.
Sienna’s hand flies to cover her mouth as a quiet sob breaks free. Fuck. This kid almost has me in tears.
He turns to walk toward Hadley and Evelyn. He pauses, looking at Sienna over his shoulder. “Love you,” he says.
“Love you too, bud,” she barely gets out while trying to get herself to stop crying.
Then her face takes a one-eighty. She leans into Warren’s side, groaning quietly.
Warren wraps his arms around her to hold her up. Tucker and I run our hands over her back.
When the contraction passes, all three of us share a look. We need to go… now.
“And I think that’s our cue to get you out of Dodge before we have to deliver this little one in a dusty softball field parking lot,” Tucker says.
Warren and Tucker help her into the truck. I walk over to where Hadley is standing with her guys.
“Keep me updated,” Hadley says, pointing a finger at my chest.
I nod. I look at my best friend. “Can you get all of our stuff?” I ask, pointing toward the dugout.
He laughs. “Yes, get out of here.” He pulls me in for a quick hug. “Go meet your little girl,” he says before pulling back.
Hadley wraps me in a hug before I can slip away. “I’m so happy for you,” she says. “Now go take care of my bestie, so I don’t have to kick your butt.”
Evelyn and Jackson laugh at her side.
“Bye, Jacks,” I say, jogging to the driver’s side of my truck.
“Bye,” he shouts back as I climb in.
Starting the car, I look over at Sienna.
Shit. This is happening.