Everything was exactly as he remembered, down to the scuffed-up pool table, mangy carpet, and cheap draft beer. So when he settled into his regular spot, Chance expected things to happen as they always had. He’d nurse his beer and talk to whoever he knew. And then he’d get to talking to a lady looking for a temporary escape, the same as he was. Maybe they’d leave together, maybe they wouldn’t, but they’d have a good time no matter what. They’d forget their troubles for a few hours.
That wasn’t what happened.
Chance found himself ordering a glass of water instead of a beer. He did manage to make his way to his usual booth, but when his friends came crowding in with him, he couldn’t relax. Oblivion wouldn’t come because his brain wouldn’t let go of Cordy.
She knew what he was like. He’d warned her, yet he still felt like he’d let her down. He must have hurt her, disappearing without a word this morning.
Damn it all, he never wanted to hurt anyone, but especially not her. This was what happened when Chance bent his rules about sleeping with women—things got messy.
He thought of Cordy, wondering what she might be doing while Tessa Hansen was chatting into his ear. About what, Chance couldn’t have said because he couldn’t pay attention.
Eventually, Tessa stomped off, telling him with a sneer to enjoy his water.
Chance sat there alone, staring at nothing.
And then Cordy blazed in, seizing his focus like she’d grabbed his face with one hand.
When she’d announced that she was in labor, he knew he’d been an ass. And a fool and a yellow-bellied coward. He never should have left her side.
But he had, and Chance knew it would take a lot to make this up to her.
So he went after her, making the hour-long drive to the hospital in half the time.
As Chance raced through the corridors, hoping he wasn’t too late, he went through everything they’d learned in the labor class. The squats, what pain meds she could get, how to wrap up the baby like a burrito.
And he couldn’t stop thinking about what could go wrong. Those nightmares felt too close right now.
He almost passed labor and delivery, had to hit the brakes and take two steps back. “Cordelia Grace Johnson?” Chance panted to the nurse behind the desk. “What room is she in?”
The nurse seemed to move in slow motion as she checked her computer. “Let’s see,” she muttered to herself. “Where did they put her? I saw her come in.”
“Is she okay?”
The nurse glanced up at him. “This your first time, Dad?”
The wordDadhit Chance like a kick from a horse. He didn’t even know what to say. No, he wasn’t the father… but then what the hell was he doing here in the hospital, going out of his mind wondering what was happening with Cordy and the baby?
“Yeah,” he said slowly. “I guess I’m keyed up.”
“Room 741,” the nurse said with a final keyboard tap. “Let’s get your ID band on and send you down there.”
She tagged Chance with a wristband that labeled him as belonging to Cordelia G. Johnson. He supposed he couldn’t argue with that.
The hospital corridor was freezing, and the scent of disinfectant clung to everything. There was the ever-present whir of electronics and the occasional beep that couldn’t be good. He felt like he was walking into a horror movie. If he didn’t walk back out of here with Cordy and a healthy baby…
He almost went to his knees. The pain from that caught him so hard and quick it was like being sucker punched. Chance grit his teeth and kept walking. Cordy needed him.
No more thinking about what could go wrong. He was done with that. His focus would only be on her and getting her and the baby safely through this.
When he got to room 741, he paused and took a breath. Everything would change once he walked into that room. Chance couldn’t explain how, but he knew it was true. At this moment, he was in thebefore. When he stepped inside, he’d be in thenow.
“I’m ready,” he said quietly to himself.
Then he walked in.
Ruby was right there by the door. She caught his arm before he crossed the threshold and pulled him into the hallway.
“You came.”
