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I’ve never felt so defeated. It’s too soon for an epidural. How long am I going to be in this limbo? My body is tired, and I’m mentally fatigued. Why isn’t my body doing what it’s supposed to do? Why is Liam taking his sweet, precious time?
Come on, baby. Mama’s tired.
* * *
My doctor induces labor at seven a.m., not wanting to risk infection. Thank God for modern medicine. The Pitocin administered through my IV does what it’s supposed to do. Wave after wave of contractions rocks me to my core, each increasing in pressure and pain. I groan through most of them, hissing and whimpering as the sensations wrap around my back to the front of my lower abdomen.
“Try to breathe through it, baby.” Hunter’s comforting voice centers me. He knows just what to say, when to say it, when to be quiet, how to touch me, and when not to touch me.
He’s my rock. Just when I think I can’t love him any more than I already do, he proves me wrong.
When it’s finally time to get the epidural, Hunter holds my hand. It stings and pinches, but I don’t care. My labor pains are worse.
“Is it working?” Hunter asks when I’m situated back into my bed.
“Mm-hmm.” I look over at Liam’s father. My friend. My partner through all of this, with his tired eyes and overgrown facial hair. “You should get some sleep. It still may be a while.”
Hunter leans over me, ghosting his lips over my forehead, my nose, and my cheek. “I’m all right.”
I close my eyes, reveling in his comfort and the epidural’s effects. I feel myself drifting off to sleep within minutes, and I don’t fight it.
* * *
I open my eyes to sunlight streaming into the room. Skylar sits with a cup of coffee, holding a dog-eared book.
“Hey, Sky-Sky,” I say, my voice tired and scratchy.
“Hey, Yazzy.” She stands from the chair and comes closer to my bedside.
“How long have you been here?”
“About thirty minutes,” she says.
My gaze roams around the room, looking for Hunter.
“He and Niko are in the adjacent sitting room. Hunter’s making calls and didn’t want to wake you. I think he’s talking to his mom.”
Priscilla is in London with her much younger gentlemen friend. She’s scrambling, trying to find a private jet to bring her back home so that she can meet her grandson.
“Niko’s on a Zoom call for work,” Skylar says, finger-combing her silky strands into a ponytail. “It’s almost time.” She takes my hand in hers and offers a big smile.
I release a deep breath. “They’re talking about a cesarean if things don’t get moving.”
“Hey, String Bean.” Niko appears from the sitting room and comes to my bed.
My slight smile turns into a grin at the sight of my brother. “Hey, Big Head.”
“You hanging in there?”
“Trying to.”
Hunter appears in the doorway with his hands in the pockets of his jeans. His hair is damp, hinting at a recent shower. “Good morning, beautiful.”
A machine starts to beep, and Dr. Kahn and two nurses enter the room, all three of them flanking my bed. Skylar and Niko back up, giving them space.
Hunter comes forward, moving to stand next to me. “What’s happening?”
I take Hunter’s hand. “Is the baby okay?” I ask, looking frantically at Dr. Kahn while one of the nurses checks between my legs.
