Page 54 of Rulebreaker

“Guys!” Aspen’s voice is quiet but filled with panic and the conversation skids to a halt as she says, “My water just broke.”

There’s a moment of startled silence before Briar whirls and hurries to the doorway. “Banks! We need you in here!”

“You should sit down,” I tell Aspen gently.

Aspen shakes her head. “No… I have to change my clothes. Oh my God!” Her hands fly to her stomach and she doubles over.

“What’s–” Banks comes in and he cuts off mid-sentence the moment he sees his wife. “Babe? What is it?”

“It’s time,” she says, her eyes meeting his.

“Are you sure?”

She nods. “My water just broke.”

“Oh, shit.” He freezes for a second, but Briar is at his side, hand on his arm.

“You have your guys’ bags packed, right?” she asks.

He nods.

“Go home, get the bags, and then head to the hospital. You have a plan. Don't panic.”

“I’m fine,” Aspen says softly, straightening and smiling at her husband. “And so ready to meet our little girl.”

“Right.” Banks reaches for her hand. “We need to go.”

“We’ll meet you there,” Briar says. “No way in hell we’re going to stay home. I just need to find a sitter.” She pulls out her phone.

“Oh, no, don’t do that,” I say quickly. “I’ll stay with Frankie. It would be a cluster fuck if I was recognized anyway, and I don’t want to draw attention away from Aspen and Banks. This is a big day for them. You guys go ahead and–”

“What’s going on?” The rest of the guys come into the kitchen.

“It’s time,” Banks says, pulling his keys out of his pocket.

“I’m going to stay here with Frankie,” I say hurriedly. “If it’s okay with you, Briar.”

“Of course!” She nods. “Let me just explain to her what’s going on.”

“We’ll see you guys at the hospital,” Aspen says. “But give us about an hour because I need a shower.”

Banks starts to protest but she shushes him as they walk out to their SUV.

“I’ll stay with you and Frankie,” Atlas says against my ear. “There’s no need for me to be at the hospital either.”

“Are you sure?” I ask, frowning. “I know how close you all are.”

“We are, but it’s not like I can help Aspen have the baby. I can help you take care of Frankie, though. And you and I don’t have a hell of a lot of time together.”

I smile.

Underneath the gruff exterior and shrewdbusinessman persona is an incredibly thoughtful and caring man–one I’m starting to have all kinds of feelings for.

Within thirty minutes the house empties and Frankie’s in her pajamas, ready for stories and songs. She has quite a detailed bedtime routine and though Briar warned her not to expect as much from Atlas and me as she does the others, she doesn’t seem willing to let us off the hook.

“Can you sing ‘Poinsettias and Peaches’?” she asks me after Atlas has read her four stories.

That’s a deep track from my Christmas album and I’m startled that she knows it.