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Chapter Forty-Six

Savannnah

Snow is coming down hard outside, and I’m trying not to lose my shit. My breath comes in short bursts, and I clutch my belly like I can somehow will the pain away.

“It’s too early,” I whisper, staring at the three men in front of me like they might have all the answers. “Two months early. It’s too early.”

Troy’s already by my side, his hand gripping mine. “Sav, look at me. It’s gonna be okay. We’re gonna get you to the hospital.”

“Right,” Jared mutters, shoving his phone into his pocket. “The roads are bad, though. We’ll need chains on the tires.”

Jamie’s pacing like a lunatic. “Chains? Who the hell even has chains? Just drive slow, man!”

“Slow? In a damn blizzard?” Jared shoots back.

“Guys!” I snap, my voice shaking. “Now’s not the time for a dick-measuring contest!”

They both shut up immediately, and I groan as another contraction hits.

Troy kisses my forehead. “Breathe, baby. We’ve got you.”

“You keep saying that,” I hiss through gritted teeth, “but I’m the one about to push out three tiny humans!”

The next fifteen minutes are chaos. Jared and Jamie are outside, arguing about the best way to proceed, while Troy stays with me, rubbing my back.

“They’re idiots,” I mutter, gripping his hand like a lifeline.

“You’re not wrong,” he says, his lips twitching.

“Don’t laugh. This isn’t funny.”

“I know, Sav. I know.”

By the time they get the car ready, I’m sweating and cursing under my breath. Jamie practically kicks the front door open.

“Let’s go! Car’s ready!”

Troy helps me to my feet, and I nearly double over as another contraction rips through me.

“Fuck,” I bite out, tears stinging my eyes.

“Easy, Savannah,” Jared says, swooping in to take my other side.

“Don’t ‘easy’ me. Just get me to the hospital!”

Jamie’s already at the car, holding the door open. “Sav, I swear to God, you’re gonna be fine. The babies are gonna be fine. Just hang on, okay?”

“Hang on? That’s your advice?”

“Yup. That’s all I’ve got.”

The drive is a nightmare. Snow piles up on the windshield faster than the wipers can clear it. Jared’s driving, his knuckles white on the steering wheel, while Jamie and Troy sit in the back with me.

“I hate this,” I whisper, clutching Jamie’s hand. “What if…”

“Nope,” Jamie cuts me off. “Don’t go there. You hear me? These babies are tough, just like their mom.”

Troy leans in from my other side. “He’s right, Sav. You’ve got this. We’ve got this.”

I nod, swallowing hard. “I’m scared.”

Jamie squeezes my hand. “I know, baby. But we’re not going anywhere. We’re here.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

When we finally get to the hospital, it’s like something out of a bad movie. Jared skids into the parking lot, Jamie jumps out to grab a wheelchair, and Troy practically carries me inside.

A nurse meets us at the door. “How far along are you?”

“It’s too early!” I snap. “Two months too early!”

He doesn’t even flinch. “Let’s get you checked in.”

The next thing I know, I’m in a bed with monitors strapped to my belly, and a doctor is standing at the foot of it.

“Well, Savannah,” she says calmly, “it looks like these little ones are ready to make their debut.”

“No,” I whisper, shaking my head. “It’s too soon. They’re not ready.”

“They’re safer out,” she says gently. “Trust me on this.”

I glance at the guys, who are hovering like nervous bodyguards.

“Jamie?”

He steps forward, taking my hand again. “Yeah, baby?”

“I don’t think I can do this.”

“Bullshit,” he says, his voice steady. “You’re the strongest person I know. And these kids? They’re Christmas miracles. They’re gonna be okay. We all are.”

Hours pass in a blur of pain and panic. Troy wipes my forehead with a damp cloth, Jared whispers reassurances in my ear, and Jamie keeps making terrible jokes to distract me.

“What’s the first thing a snowman orders at a bar?” he asks, grinning like a fool.

I glare at him. “If you tell me a fucking pun right now, I will end you.”

“Chill beer.”

“Oh my God. I hate you.”

“No, you don’t.”

When the doctor announces that the first baby is on the way, I start sobbing.

“I can’t do this,” I choke out.

Jared leans in close. “Yes, you can. Look at me, Sav. You can.”

“Jared…”

“Just breathe, okay? In and out. That’s it. You’ve got this.”

Minutes later, the room erupts into activity. The first cry breaks through the chaos, and I lose it completely.

“It’s a boy!” the doctor announces, holding up the tiniest baby I’ve ever seen.

“A boy,” I whisper, tears streaming down my face.

Jamie laughs, loud and relieved. “Hell yeah, a boy!”

“He’s perfect,” Troy says, his voice thick with emotion.

“He’s so small,” I whisper, staring at the tiny bundles in the nurse’s arms.

“He’s so strong,” Jared counters, brushing a kiss against my forehead. “Just like you.”

Jamie grins down at me. “Christmas miracles, right?”

I nod, too overwhelmed to speak.

“Okay mama. You are doing so well,” the doctor says. “Get ready to push again.”

The room feels too bright, too loud, and too quiet all at once. I’m exhausted, my body feels like it’s been through hell, but I do it.

I push.

Troy squeezes my hand, tears in his eyes. “You’ve got this, Savannah.”

“Here’s the second,” a nurse announces. “Another boy.”

This time, it’s Jared who leans in close, his voice soft in my ear. “You’re incredible, Sav. Look at what you made.”

I glance at the second tiny bundle, and my heart feels like it’s about to burst. “Two boys,” I whisper. “They’re so small.”

“They’re perfect,” Jared says, brushing a kiss to my temple.

“And here’s the third,” the nurse says again. She’s smiling now, holding up the last baby like she knows how much this means to us all. “A girl.”

“A girl?” Troy’s voice wavers, and when I glance at him, there are tears in his eyes. “We’ve got a girl?”

I nod, tears streaming down my face. “A girl.”

The nurses are moving around quickly now, cleaning the babies and checking them over, but I can’t stop staring. They’re so tiny.

The doctor steps closer, her expression gentle but serious. “Savannah, the babies need to go to the NICU. They’re here early, and we need to monitor them closely.”

“No,” I whisper, shaking my head. “They just got here.”

“You need to rest too,” she says softly. “This is the best thing for all of you.”

I look at the guys. “Go with them,” I say, my voice breaking. “Don’t let them out of your sight.”

“We won’t,” Troy promises, his hand squeezing mine.

One of the nurses wheels the incubators closer so I can see them before they go.

“Do you have names for them?” the nurse asks.

I freeze, panic flooding my chest. “No,” I whisper. “Why didn’t we pick names? What were we thinking?”

Jamie crouches next to me, cupping my cheek. “Hey, it’s okay. They’re perfect, Sav. We’ll name them when you wake up, all right?”

I nod, sniffling. “Okay. But...what if I don’t wake up?”

“You’re gonna wake up,” Jared says firmly. “You’re too stubborn not to.”

I manage a shaky laugh. “Asshole.”

“Yeah, but I’m right.”

The nurse clears her throat, glancing between us. “About the birth certificates. Will we be doing paternity tests to determine whose name goes where?”

“No,” I say quickly, my voice stronger than I expected. “Just put all three of them down. One per baby. You guys choose which ones.”

Troy looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Are you sure about this, Sav?”

“Perfect math,” Jamie says with a grin, nudging Troy’s shoulder. “One for each of us. It’s fate.”

Jared leans down, brushing his lips against my forehead. “You did so well, Savannah. They’re here because of you.”

I blink back tears, overwhelmed with gratitude. “They’re okay. That’s all that matters.”

Troy nods, his hand steady on mine. “You’re amazing, Sav. We’ll take care of everything. Just rest.”

The nurses wheel the babies away, and for the first time, the room feels too empty.

“You’ll stay with them?” I whisper.

Jamie leans down, kissing my cheek. “Always.”

As my eyes start to close, I hear them murmuring to each other, their voices a mix of love and awe. For the first time, I believe them. We’re a team now.