Page 114 of A King’s Obsession

"I don't know where the fuck Malachi at," I muttered, waddling toward the living room, "but he better get his ass here before I have these babies on this motherfucking floor. Or in the damn toilet."

I wasn't even supposed to be doing this yet.

Eight months. I was only eight months pregnant, and after that hospital scare a few months ago, my doctor had been monitoring me closely. Everything had finally started looking good. I'd even convinced myself that maybe, just maybe, I'd make it through the rest of this pregnancy without another emergency.

Apparently, my children hadn't gotten the memo.

Another contraction hit before I reached the couch.

"Ohhhhh, GOD!"

I grabbed the back of it, bending my knees as pressure spread through my stomach and back. My breathing turned into a series of ugly gasps while I tried to concentrate on getting through it.

In through the nose. Out through the mouth.

Bullshit.

I couldn't even remember where my damn nose was.

"Okay, Ashlynn. You got this," I whispered, pressing one hand against my stomach. "Mama got y'all. Just give me a minute, okay?"

One of the babies shifted beneath my palm, and tears sprang to my eyes.

"I can't do this shit. What the fuck?"

A frantic knock sounded at the front door.

"ASHLYNN!"

Yara.

"IT'S OPEN!"

The door flew inward, and Yara rushed inside with her purse hanging off one shoulder and her car keys in her hand. She stopped when she saw me gripping the couch, her eyes traveling from my stomach to the wet spot on my pants.

"Oh, hell no."

"Yara, please!"

"Okay, okay, okay." She dropped her purse onto the coffee table and hurried toward me, slipping an arm around my waist. "We need to get you to the hospital. Can you walk?"

"No, bitch, I'm thinking about flying!"

"Well, damn! I'm just trying to help!"

She attempted to guide me toward the door, but another contraction had me grabbing her forearm so hard she winced.

"WAIT! DON'T MOVE ME!"

Yara froze, looking down at my stomach like one of the babies might reach out and grab her.

"Is it supposed to hurt like that?"

I slowly turned my head toward her.

"Yara, I swear to God, if you ask me one more stupid-ass question—"

"Okay! My bad!"