“How did you know? The only reason I found out is because I came home unexpectedly and found her crying.”
“Your boy told me.”
Olly. That man frustrates me to no end, except I’ve always known he’s a good guy. An asshole sometimes, but a good person deep down.
I fidget with a loose thread on the blanket. “The women in our family have difficulty asking for help.”
“Gee, ya think?”
My stomach contracts, and the sheet moves one way and then the other. I squeeze my eyes shut until it’s over.
Amelia points at my gut. “That’s fucked up.”
Why is she here again?
The door swings open, and a doctor strolls in. “Miss Morales? Hi, I’m Dr. Zavala. How are you feeling?”
“Like I’m about to push out two basketballs through a thimble-sized opening.”
He chuckles. “You’re not wrong about the dimensions.”
Bash and Amelia wait in the hallway while the doctor examines me. When a nurse walks in, I catch a glimpse of them chatting quietly outside my room. They’re almost nose to nose with their phones between them, smiling at each other like they’re planning a hot date.
Gross. If Bash starts seeing her, I’m going to lose it.
The doctor checks under the hood, so I’m momentarily distracted from the car wreck happening in the hallway. “Good news is you’re already dilated seven centimeters.”
“Does that mean this will go quickly?”
“You’re off to a good start. Contractions every seven minutes.” He looks over the notes on his clipboard. “Did they start before you came in?”
“Not that I’m aware of. I’ve had Braxton Hicks throughout my pregnancy, and I had some pretty bad ones yesterday, but they stopped.”
He scratches his head. “How about back pain?”
“Oh, yeah. So much back pain. For the last three days.”
“That might’ve been an indication you were going into labor, which would explain why you’re so dilated.” He winks. “This might go quicker than you think.”
I should be elated. Kicking my fat cankles in the air with delight. But this means Olly won’t be home in time.
I just hope he doesn’t hold this against me too.
68
OLLY
The guys are in pregame mode. Our usual playlist blasts in the background, but everyone’s focused on what needs to get done today—beat one of the top teams in the country. Although we’re undefeated at the moment and won a national championship two years ago, we’re having to prove ourselves all over again after getting our asses handed to us in the first half of the season last year. Winning today would do that. Prove that we’ve got what it takes, not only to ourselves, but to the NFL recruiters who are watching.
My head should be in the game. It’s not. Sebastian said he would check on Maggie, but he never texted back to let me know how she was doing. I’m not supposed to have my phone out before a game like this. If Coach sees me, he’ll be pissed. It’s a risk I’m taking.
Bash, is Maggie okay? Let me know.
Because I’m going out of my mind.
“Let’s go beat some Wildcats!” one of the assistant coaches shouts, and I reluctantly shove my phone in my locker.
After I’m tackled on the first play and get my bell rung, I have to shut out thoughts of Maggie before my distraction gets me injured.
