Break Me (Brayshaw High #5)(89)

“Under different circumstances, her being strapped to a bed might be kinda fun, eh Madman?”

Maddoc’s head snaps my way, and it takes a second, but his shoulders fall, an airy laugh leaving him. It follows around the room, and the stiffness we fell into begins to soften.

“Fuck, man. I might need a nurse.” Maddoc grins from me to Cap. “I think I had a heart attack.”

“I think I need some oxygen, feels like my lungs collapsed.”

They laugh.

Captain walks closer to Raven, placing a hand on her belly.

She looks up at him with a smile. “You okay, Cap?”

He nods, staring at her stomach.

“You don’t have to stay inside if it’s too much,” she tells him what he already knows, and likely knowing his response before it even comes.

He shakes his head, not once moving his focus from her belly. “I didn’t get to be a part of all this with Zo, I’m not missing any of this.” His mouth twitches and he looks to Maddoc. “Baby’s moving.”

Maddoc’s hands fall to the other side.

Victoria grips my shoulder and squeezes and I knock my knee into hers.

Cap looks to Victoria and back to Raven. “Can we let Zoey in for a minute? I think she’s worried something’s wrong, maybe let her see you’re okay?”

“Don’t ask, Captain.” Raven tips her head. “She wants in, you bring her in.” My dad must have been hovering at the door, waiting for the words to come, because seconds later, Zoey pokes her little head through.

She pushes the blonde curls from her face and walks toward Maddoc who stands hovering over Raven, legit hovering.

“Come here, Zo.” He lifts her up, setting her right beside Raven on the bed.

She looks to Raven, placing her hand on her belly and her pretty little eyes tighten.

“Does it feel different?” Raven asks her.

Zoey nods, following with the same question she’s asked since the very first day she understood there was a baby inside Raven’s stomach. “Is baby sleeping, RaeRae?”

Raven’s lips pinch tight and she shrugs. “I don’t know, Zo.” Her voice is strained, fighting to hide the pain from her niece and us. “Do you think baby’s sleeping?”

Zoey shakes her head. “Um, Rora said baby’s ready to come see us today.”

“I think Rora’s right.” Raven’s nose begins to turn red, and she looks to Maddoc.

He stares down at her, his features pulled tight as he drops his forehead to hers, his hand coming up to hold her steady.

Holy shit.

The others will finally learn what I’ve known for weeks.

The sex of the baby.

I’ve held the secret strong, but today it comes out and I can’t wait to see my brother’s face when his little one is born.

This is the last time it will ever be just the two of them.

Raven and Maddoc.

What a fucking feeling that must be. A legit part of him is coming to change our world once again.

Raven’s hand shoots up to grip Maddoc’s wrist, and all at once, we stand.

“Hey, Zoey Bear,” I call and move closer. “Want to go tell Papa, RaeRae and Uncle D are okay?”

“Yes!” she shouts and hops down.

I grab her hand and together, all of us step into the waiting area to give the soon-to-be parents their last minutes as a duo.

Brielle sits beside Maybell in the waiting room, my dad just across from them. They push to their feet.

“She okay?” my dad asks. “Maddoc?”

“Yeah.” I nod, smiling through a sigh. “It’s wild, but they’re good.”

He nods through his nerves and spins to his chair, handing me the gift box he grabbed from my closet.

“You look at it?”

“Nope.”

I narrow my eyes.

He laughs and turns to Zoey. “Want to go with Papa to find something to drink?”

“And candy for Uncle Bro?” She lights up.

He laughs, grabs her hand and off they go.

Maybell, Captain, and Victoria follow them down the short hall to the small snack station.

Brielle grabs her bag off the seat and hands me my keys. “Thanks for today. I had fun. Your family’s amazing, and Zoey, she’s too cute.”

“Wait.” Victoria comes out of nowhere. “You’re leaving?”

Brielle’s lips tip up slightly and she nods. “I think I should, yeah.”

“You should stay. I could use your help.”

She steps closer, a low laugh leaving her.

“Who knows what will happen here when Raven gets farther into this and the unkillable pain kicks in. I’ll need all hands on deck. Zoey likes you. Royce trusts you.” She nods. “Stay.”

Royce trusts you.

Brielle’s eyes meet mine but quickly return to Victoria.

“I need to be in there as long as Raven will let me, but Zoey could use someone to play with out here, that way if Rolland wants to pop in sometimes while we wait, he can? And Maybell, she might have to run and check on the girls at the house and back. Something.”

My dad slips in then, sticking a hand out to Brielle. “Brielle Bishop, it’s very nice to meet you after all these years.”

“You as well, sir.” She shakes his hand, but quickly turns to me, unsure. She comes closer. “Should I go or...”