Page 134 of Through the Storm

I nod. “Yeah.”

She gives me a small, grateful smile. “Okay. Let me know if you need anything.”

The door closes. The room is quiet again except for Katy’s breathing and the steady beep of the monitors.

She lifts her head slightly, eyes swollen and red. “You smell like sweat,” she says weakly.

I huff a breath that might be a laugh. “Yeah. Sorry.”

She shakes her head, a tiny smile breaking through. “Don’t be. Thank you for coming. I can’t believe you left your game.”

I glance down at my sweat-soaked jersey. Then at the bundle Ella left on the chair.

I let go of Katy to tug my jersey over my head and reach for the t-shirt.

When I look back up, I catch Katy staring.

“Really?” I ask. “Even during labor?”

Color creeps into her cheeks.

“Shut up.”

Grinning, I pull on the t-shirt.

Another contraction builds. She grips my t-shirt, reaching for me instead of running.

“Okay,” I say, already bracing her. “Here we go. I’ve got you.”

Her eyes lock on mine.

For months, she’d been trying to carry everything by herself.

And now she’s letting me hold some of it.

It feels like neither of us is drifting anymore.

Thank fuck.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

katy

THIS GOT REAL

The momentI saw Ben in the doorway, my instinct for one stupid second was to smile and tell him thank you for coming and keep the last wall standing.

I reached for him instead.

And I’m glad I did, because then the pain changed into something that took over. Like my body decided this is happening now, and my opinion is irrelevant.

I clutch Ben’s t-shirt through another contraction, crying out before I can stop myself.

“I can’t,” I sob. “I can’t do this. I can’t…”

“Yes, you can,” Ben says immediately. Not loud or panicked. Certain. “You’re doing it right now.”

I shake my head wildly. “I’m scared.”