Page 25

MERIT

I yawn so wide it hurts my jaw.

I guess I should get used to sleepless nights, we have a baby on the way. But I just hope that the future sleepless nights will be a little less eventful than they were last night.

Instead of walking straight through the living room to get to the Children’s Wing, Holt turns and walks up the stairs. I shift my head on his shoulder. Of course, he refused to let me walk and is, once again, carrying me. “Where are we going?”

“To our bedroom. After last night, we’re never sleeping apart again. Not as long as there is air in my lungs and a heartbeat in my chest.” He licks his lips. “Oh, and by the way, starting tonight, I’m sleeping with my cell phone by the bed.”

I lift an eyebrow. “But if I’m sleeping with you, I won’t be calling you. It’ll be a moot point.”

“Ah, but one day Daire will be sixteen years old and out driving by himself late at night. What if he gets a flat?” I watch as his forehead crinkles. “In fact, I think I’ll surgically attach my cell phone to my hand,” he says.

I catch myself smiling, despite the lingering pain and soreness in my side. It’s nothing now. Nothing at all compared to what it was. Fortunately, the pain meds and anti-inflammatory have already kicked in.

Round ligament pain.

Evidently, it’s a thing. And it’s real.

Really real.

Round ligament pain occurs when the ligaments supporting the uterus stretch to accommodate the growing belly. The pain can be sharp and severe, but it usually resolves itself quickly, and the damage to the ligament is mild.

Well, not in my situation.

The doctor said it was one of the worst cases he’s seen. He classified it as a Grade II tear.

Most of the time, round ligament pain occurs gradually throughout the second trimester, but since our son decided to save all of his growth spurts for the last trimester, my body is having to adjust at a rapid speed. So, I’ve been given medicine and a maternity support belt. It’s a huge, Velcro garter belt for my stomach. I feel like a complete spaz wearing it, but at least I can wear it underneath my clothes.

Plus, it does help with the pain. And my sore back.

And the bleeding?

The doctor said it looked worse than it actually was. Bloody show. He said my body is just preparing for birth, and that bloody show can happen several weeks before it’s time to actually have the baby.

I don’t know who was more relieved with the news—me or Holt. If I had to guess, I would say Holt. Apparently, he thought the imaging process was taking too long because he came barreling down the hallway of the OB floor, screaming my name like a lunatic. Fortunately, Dr. Skinner arrived quickly and went right to work, to not only calm our nerves but ease my pain. By the time the Emergency Department gave us the discharge papers, half of the waiting room was filled with a hodgepodge of our family—Ray, Teresa, Raylee, Ella, Ridge, Dana, and Marcum.

Well, technically, I guess they’re Holt’s family.

But they feel like my family too.

Early morning sunlight creeps into the bedroom from behind the blinds. The bed is rumpled and unmade—just the way we left it. The second my body hits the mattress my eyes start to close.

“I should really take a shower,” I say, fighting another yawn. “Wash the hospital off me.”

Holt lovingly brushes hair off my forehead. “You can do that when you wake up. Right now, you need to rest.”

“And I need to get out of these hospital-issued panties. It feels like I’m wearing papier-maché lingerie.” Exhaustion can’t stop my giggle. Or my snort.

Holt rolls his eyes. “You can burn your underwear when you wake up. Sleep,” he orders.

Burrowing into the blanket, I watch as he walks away. “Come to bed. Aren’t you tired?”

He turns, leaning in the doorway. I love it when he does that. It’s so mysterious and sexy.

He smiles softly. “I’ll be up soon. Your parents and grandmother should be here in less than an hour. I know we already called to tell them what the doctor said, but I just wanna make sure they know everything is gonna be okay.”

I should wait up for them too, but I can’t. I’m too damn tired.

I’m already falling asleep when his whisper tickles my ears, the sound low and rumbly like thunder. “Tell me.”

Butterflies flutter in my stomach. It was so easy so say those three little words in the hospital, in the middle of our panic. When I was worried something could go wrong and I’d never see him again.

But now?

Now, I’m nervous. Because I’m putting myself out there again. Making myself vulnerable. Opening myself up to heartache.

But none of that is of any significance. Because I never really had a choice in the matter.

My love for Holt will never stop. It’s constant and pure and unequivocal.

I don’t have a choice.

If I want my heart to beat, I have to love Holt Hill.

So, I answer him. “I love you.”

He stares at me, soaking it in. The joy and adoration etched across his face is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

He gives me that sexy little wink, teasing me. “I’m glad I won that battle.”