Reckless(93)

“He’s probably in Austin right now, and your contractions are five minutes apart. Five. Why didn’t you tell me your back hurt all night?”

“I didn’t think they were contractions!” Her voice is wheezy since she’s trying to breathe through the pain.

“Look, I’m driving you to the hospital. It’ll be fine. If we hurry, we’ll beat the noon rush. Bet you can pop out this baby before dinner. I’m a speed demon when I want to be, remember? We can drag-race on the way there.”

Her death grip on my hand makes me pause. “Stop trying to be funny.”

“I’m not trying. I’m naturally funny. Now get your ass in the truck. Come on, I’ll help you waddle.” In the meanwhile, hopefully Brady will get my messages and haul himself back here.

Except, shit. Now we’re headed to the hospital. Whatever. One crisis at a time.

We only make it to the Lone Star diner when I have to pull over because Kat says she has to push.

All I know is that’s bad.

I run into the packed restaurant screaming like a crazy person. “I need a doctor! A nurse! A paramedic! Someone who knows more than McDreamy references.” Everyone stares at me.

Fuck my life, nothing ever works like it does in the movies.

Rounding the truck, I open the passenger door. “How you doing?”

Sweat beads her forehead, and she reaches for me with a clammy hand. “Baby’s coming. Like, now.”

Can’t freak out.

Can’t.

Cannot.

“Everything’s gonna be okay.” I don’t recognize my voice because inside I’m losing my shit. “Ambulance is on its way.”

The Texas heat sears into me as I bounce on my toes with nervous energy and yank my hair into a massive bun on top of my head.

Why did I tell Brady to go? Why?

A small audience gathers behind me. Patrons from the restaurant and some neighbors. Scanning the faces, I spot one of the waitresses. “Get me some clean towels and some hot water. Maybe a glass of ice water too. Oh, and a clean turkey baster!”

She nods like this makes perfect sense, and I ignore the strange look on my sister’s face. No need to tell her what that last item is for.

“Let’s get you more comfortable.” I release the lever for Kat’s seat and shift the whole contraption back as slowly as possible before I recline her. “Better?”

“Yeah.” Her pasty, pale complexion freaks me out. She might be the one in labor, but I have to remind myself to breathe too.

I feel bad that she’s sitting here with a towel under her ass like a diaper and half of our town is watching this go down. Ugh, the indignity of childbirth.

Please, don’t poop, Kat. I know you’ll never forgive me for dropping a deuce in front of so many people.

The waitress runs up to me with the supplies I asked her for, and I lean over my sister and set everything on the driver’s seat except for the ice water, which I offer to Kat to drink.

“Tori!”

Goosebumps race up and down my arms. That voice.

When I see Ethan stalking toward me, weaving through the crowd, my knees almost buckle.

It takes two seconds to shake myself out of it.

Fuck that.

I don’t have time to deal with him right now even though my heart can’t decide if I’m elated to see him or so fucking mad, I wanna sock him in the nuts.

“What’s going on?” he asks over my shoulder.

I snort. “What does it look like? Kat’s having her baby.” Duh. I roll my eyes.

As discreetly as possible, I reach for the container of hand sanitizer and squirt it all over myself.

When Kat sees what I’m doing, her eyes widen. “Why do you need that?”

“In the event you pop out a living, breathing human before the paramedics arrive, I thought I should have clean hands. So I can catch him. Or her.” Damn it, why didn’t I bring any blankets? “I used to play basketball in high school. I got you, babe.”

I don’t remind her that I sucked at basketball and all that dribbling. I’m not good with big balls.

I’m too freaked out to mentally snicker at my dirty joke.

When her next contraction overwhelms her, a war-like shriek breaks from her lips, making me jump, but Ethan places a warm hand on my shoulder.

I clench my eyes shut and say a prayer for Kat and this baby. That they’re okay. That I can get them through this.

We can do this.

Behind me, I tell everyone behind me to back off, because I need to protect the sanctity of my sister’s vag, and Ethan helps me, making sure no one can see into the cab of the truck.

I hoist up Kat’s butt so I can push down her soggy underwear, which is tough to do standing outside the passenger side, leaning in, but it’s not like there’s an easier way. She lifts her swollen legs, balancing her feet on the edge of her seat, and grunts.

“Where’s Brady?” She’s crying and trembling.

Ethan leans over my shoulder. “He’s coming. I just talked to him.”

Holding her hand, I start spouting nonsense to distract her. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you lost your mucus plug. I thought sisters were supposed to tell each other everything.”

She sniffles in between contractions. “How do you know about mucus plugs?”