Page 124 of River Wild

“Not funny.”

“Hey, you were the one joking a minute ago.”

“I’m also the one about to birth a baby.”

“Well, hopefully not before I get you to the hospital. Where’s your hospital bag?”

“In the trunk of my car.”

“Okay. I’ll grab it out of there, and we’ll go.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m not driving your shit-mobile to the hospital.”

“Hey! Just for that, you’re taking me to the hospital in my car.”

“Fuck’s sake, Red.”

“Let’s go. Bye, Buddy.” I wave to him, sprawled out on the sofa. “Crap. Buddy! Who’s going to take care of him while I’m at the hospital?”

“He’ll be fine for now. I’ll come back once you’re settled in at the hospital. It takes ages for babies to be born, right? So, I’ll get you to the hospital, come back here, get him sorted, and then go back to the hospital. It’s all good, Red. Buddy probably won’t even realize you’re gone; he sleeps that much.”

“You called him Buddy.” That’s the first time he’s called him Buddy. I feel tears well in my eyes. I’m being stupid.

River sighs. I can almost see the mental eye roll coming from him. “Well, that’s his fucking name, isn’t it?”

“Yep.”

“Red, are you crying?”

“No. Let’s go.” I discreetly run my fingers under my eyes, drying away my stupid tears.

River slips my shoes onto my feet and opens the front door for me. With his arm around my back, he guides me out of my house, locking up for me.

He helps me into the passenger seat of my car, and then he’s in the driver’s seat, pushing the chair back to make room for his long legs. Key in ignition, he turns on the engine.

“Christus Santa Rosa Hospital, right?” he checks.

The man does pay attention.

“Yes,” I answer, breathing through what I believe is a contraction.

Same as what I’ve been having all day.

And I thought it was just Braxton Hicks.

Idiot that I am.

“Ow!” I cry. Cradling my bump, I lean forward.

“You okay?”

I feel his hand on my back, rubbing.

“No. It hurts.” Tears well in my eyes as I breathe through it until it passes, River rubbing my back the whole time.

Once the pain ebbs, I lean back, resting my head against the seat, breathing heavily.

“Okay?” he checks.

I turn my face to him. “I’m scared,” I admit quietly.

His expression softens. “Don’t be. I’ve got you. I’m going to be with you every step of the way.”

“Okay. But can you do the pain part? I’m not so keen on that.” I offer a weak smile.

Lifting my hand to his mouth, he kisses it. “Red, if I could take all of your pain away, I would do it in a heartbeat.”

Good Lord, this man …

He doesn’t offer sweet words often, but when he does, they mother-fudging slay me.

He puts my hand down onto his thigh. “When it hurts, squeeze my leg as hard as you need to. Well, okay, not too hard because I bruise like a fucking banana.” His teeth flash white at me before he puts the car into drive and pulls away from my house.

Destination: hospital.