Page 95 of Omega's Fever

“Sounds good to me.”

“Oliver Warren-Hayes.” He tests it out, then smiles. “I like it.”

“Good, because I already had it embroidered on three blankets.”

“Of course you did.” He kisses my forehead. “What if it’s a girl?”

“Then we have three blankets to return.” I pause. A sharp pain makes me gasp, hand flying to my belly.

“What?” Kellen’s instantly alert. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Just Braxton Hicks probably.” I breathe through it. “I’ve been having them all day.”

“All day?” His voice rises. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because they’re practice contractions. Perfectly normal. I’m not due for two weeks.”

“Milo—”

“I’m fine.” But even as I say it, another pain rolls through me, stronger this time. “Probably just need to sit down.”

He practically carries me to the rocking chair. “Water?”

“Please.”

He’s back in seconds with a glass, hovering like a mother hen. “Should we time them?”

“They’re not regular enough to—” I break off as another contraction hits, this one strong enough to steal my breath.

“That’s it. We’re going to the hospital.”

“Kellen, I’m fine. First babies take hours. Sometimes days.We have plenty of—” My water breaks with an audible pop, soaking through my pants and onto the new carpet. “Oh.”

“Oh?” His voice cracks. “What do you mean ‘oh’?”

“I mean my water just broke.”

“Fuck.” He’s already moving, grabbing the hospital bag we packed weeks ago. “Okay. Okay, we’re ready for this. We practiced. Remember the breathing?”

“I remember.” Another contraction, this one making me double over. “Oh god, that’s... that’s really close to the last one.”

“How close?”

“Maybe... a minute?”

“Milo, that’s not right. First babies don’t—”

The doorbell rings.

We both freeze, staring at each other.

“Ignore it,” Kellen says.

But then Penelope’s voice carries through the door. “Hellooo!”

“It’s Pen,” I manage between panted breaths.

He’s already moving to the door.