Page 116 of Pinch

“I guess I hadn’t thought much about the actualbirthingpart of the process before tonight.” Her face is in a sort-of cringe. “I’ve got to get this baby out through my vag.”

To be honest, I haven’t spent a lot of time thinking about that part either. Up to now, the only time I think about Haddy’s vag is when I’ve got my mouth on it or when I’m filling it with my cock.

“Are you saying your Gavin-shaped hole might get a little bigger?” I’m going for humor, but apparently that is thewrongapproach.

Her lips twist, and she shoves my shoulder almost like she’s mad at me. “It’s like pushing a watermelon through a toilet paper roll. It’s going to rip it to shreds.”

Damn.

“I guess I hadn’t thought about it that way.” Clearing my throat, I ditch the humor. “Think you should talk to your mom? She had you… maybe she can give you some tips? At least she’ll help you to feel better. She did it.”

“Of course, I’ll talk to Mom, but don’t think that lets you off the hook.” She crosses her arms like she’s still kind of pissed.

“I… don’t.” I’m not really sure how I’monthe hook, but I know better than to argue with a pregnant lady. “I would never think that.”

Sounds like I’ll be talking to her dad, although he wasn’t there when Haddy was born. Still, he’s known them both a lot longer than I have.

We’re at the house, but before we get out, I lift her handto kiss the back of her fingers. “You can do this, Princess. You’re the smartest, most capable person I know. If anybody can figure out the best way to have a baby, it’s you.”

Her lips press together, and her forehead crinkles. Oh, shit, I know that look.

“I’m sorry, Gav.” Tears pop out onto her cheeks. “I guess I’m feeling a little panicky all of a sudden.”

“Hey… Hang on.” I hop out of the driver’s side and jog around to open the passenger’s door. Rotating her growing body to face me, I pull her into a hug. “This is a big deal. Of course you’re feeling panicky. But I’ve got you. We’ve all got you. You’re not alone in this.”

Her head is on my shoulder, and I feel her nodding as she sniffs. “When that girl said that tonight, I realized… I never told you.”

I place my hand on her back, rubbing up and down. “Told me what, honey? What do you need to tell me? You already know I love you.”

She sniffs, sitting up and wiping her nose with the back of her wrist. I open the glove box and grab a napkin from some fast-food place Mav visited. It’s not the best, but it’s better than her hands.

“I lost my scholarship.” She dabs her face as my throat constricts. “They took it all away. I have to box up my sash and my crown and everything and send it all back within thirty days.”

“Haddy, no…” My stomach churns. “What can I do?”

“We can’t do anything, it’s over. It’s all been decided and announced. That’s why Karen called me.” She sniffs again, dabbing her face, and the pain in my chest twists hard. “She said it was to comfort me, but after a while, I realized it was just to unload on me.”

“In true narcissist fashion.” It’s a low growl. “Haddy, I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay.” She shakes her head, doing her best to smile. “I knew it was coming. We’re all over social media. How could they not find out?”

“Bastards. They’re losing a lot doing this to you.”

This time she reaches out to cup my cheek in her slender hand. “It was more important for you to be at those appointments with me. Lucy is more important.”

“But it meant a lot to you. Your feelings matter, too.”

“Not as much as my family.”

This girl. This “regular girl.” She has no idea.

Holding her hands, I help her out of the Rover. She leans on my arm as we walk to the door, and I kiss the top of her head as I open it. I wish I could think of something to say. I wish I could make it all right and give her back her crown.

We’ve just stepped inside the house when familiar, squeaky barks greet us, coming closer as we stand in the doorway.

“What…?” Haddy cries softly as a cinnamon-colored tiny bundle of fur bounces towards us, squeak-barking with each bounce. “Patsy?”

She’s on her knees, and I look up as Gigi hops off the couch, running to us, smiling ear to ear. “She’s home!”