Tank (Moonshine Task Force Book 2)(18)
“So, I think Alabama is playing. Should I turn it on?” Ryan asks, breaking the silence.
*
Blaze has abandoned us to go sit with my parents, but I think it’s because she knew Whitney was close. I’m watching this with complete awe and fear as I sit at my sister’s bedside. I can see her pushing so hard, straining against her contractions as she pushes like the doctor told her to. Ryan stands beside her, offering support, kissing her temple, wiping her forehead down. I’ve never seen either one of them like this, and more than anything, it drives home the fact they temper their PDA in front of me. These two love each other more than I even thought.
“With the next contraction, I want you to push, Whitney. Push against the contraction and we’ll get this baby out,” the doctor says from where she sits.
I’m on the edge of my seat. This is more nail biting than an Alabama football game, which I can hear in the background. We turned it on a while ago, and they’re now in the fourth quarter. I can hear “Dixieland Delight” when Whitney starts screaming and pushing for all she’s worth.
“C’mon Princess,” I can hear Ryan encourage her. He puts his mouth at her ear, whispering words of encouragement to her. I can see his lips moving, but can’t hear the words he’s saying. Whatever it is, it makes her grit her teeth and bear down hard.
In the next moment, I hear the baby drop before anything else. Then the most amazing sound I’ve ever heard in my life happens when the loud cries of a pissed off child is heard. I’m not sure there’s a dry eye in the room as I wipe at my own.
I watch as they put my niece on Whitney’s stomach. Ryan looks like he’s about to pass out as they ask him to cut the cord. He moves over to my side, and I stand, putting my hand on his shoulder to offer my support to him. It’s hard to keep my balance without the crutches, but I do it, because I want to be there for three of the most important people in my life.
We share a look, one that holds so much meaning for the both of us. The man in front of me has laid his demons down and found happiness. In the look, he’s telling me to go do the same thing.
I’m fascinated as I watch them clean her up and put her on Whitney’s chest. She calms almost immediately as she hears her mom’s heartbeat. Ryan and Whitney glance at each other with a love so pure it almost makes me jealous.
I’m about to leave, to give them some privacy when Whitney reaches her hand out to me. “Come meet your niece, Trevor. I want her to know what a badass uncle she has to go along with her badass dad.”
I take her hand and let her pull me forward, Ryan’s steadying me on my other side. She moves the blanket so I can see the baby’s face.
My eyes meet Whitney’s and for the second time today, tears are rolling down my cheeks, getting caught in my beard. I use my finger to caress Stella’s face. She’s the perfect mix of the two of them. I can tell immediately she’ll more than likely have the same type of hair I do, and it makes my heart beat a little faster. “She’s gorgeous.”
“She is,” Ryan agrees.
Out of nowhere, her little hand reaches up and grabs my finger. With one tiny finger grab, this girl has my heart, and I swear she kind of smiles. Today, is the best day ever, and I tilt my head back, thanking God I’m here to witness it.
CHAPTER TEN
Blaze
Ten Days Later
“You’re sure it’s okay for me to put myself back on the rotation for next week?” I ask Trevor as I sit on his bed, watching him get ready for the day.
“I think it’ll be all good,” he says as he sets his crutch to the side, working to put his shirt on one arm and then the other before pulling it over his head.
I’m pensive when I maybe shouldn’t be. It’s been a month since he wrecked, almost three weeks since he was released from the hospital, but I worry he’s overdoing it. Fact of the matter is Trevor’s starting to look and act more like his old self. Two more weeks with the no weight-bearing and then he’ll be able to walk on his own. He won’t need me, and I’ll have to get back to work. I can’t keep hovering over him like some den mother. Today for instance, he’s dressing himself and not sweating like a stuck pig. He truly is getting better.
“Then I’ll call and have them put me back on rotation. Hopefully Logan’s still free.”
He shoots me an almost bored look. “You’re Logan’s partner, it’s not like he’s going to find a new one while you’re gone. Just like Ryan’s not going to ride with Ace forever. I get texts every day about how much he misses me. It’s sweet really,” he wipes at a nonexistent tear.
“What you seriously need is to be taken down a notch, Trevor Trumbolt,” I fix him with a glare.
“And you’re the woman to do that?” he taunts as he has a seat next to me, pulling the sweatpants on he’s wearing today.
I lean in, kissing him hard before grabbing his bottom lip in between my teeth and tugging. “I’m the only woman.”
He reaches around, digging his fingers in my hair, holding me tightly to him. His blue eyes stare in my green, and the seriousness with which he looks at me makes me want to look away. I can’t, I don’t want to ignore the pull between us ever again.
“You are,” his throat is gravelly. “The only person who totally gets me and loves me no matter what. You’re my person,” he tugs my mouth to his.