Series Starter Firsts in Series Collection - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,220

yawn and it doesn’t take long before she and I are napping with our daughter.

“Mommy ouch,” I hear Lexi say. I rub my eyes and sit up on the couch. I focus in on Lexi as she sits on the arm of the couch watching McKinley.

“Kinley, what’s wrong?”

“Well, I think it might be time.”

It takes a few seconds for my brain to register what she’s just said. “Now, he’s coming now? You’re in labor?”

She laughs. My wife laughs at me. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure I am. I only dozed off for a few minutes. A sharp pain in my back woke me up. They started out about fifteen minutes apart. Now we’re at nine.”

“Shit!” I stand from the couch and pull my phone out of my pocket. “How long did I sleep?”

“Daddy, bad wowd.” Lexi points her little finger at me.

“Yes, Daddy said a bad word. Little girls don’t say bad words,” I say, looking at my watch. Fuck! I slept for two hours. “Were you going to wake me?” I ask, hitting a few buttons on the screen and placing the phone next to my ear. “Hey, man, Kinley’s in labor. Can you come get Lex?” Aaron tells me he is on his way and I hang up.

“Aaron?” she asks as her face grimaces in pain.

Fuck! I don’t want to see her hurting. “Yeah, what can I do, baby?”

“Evan, this is normal. It’s not supposed to feel like a relaxing massage.”

“I know, but…”

“It’s fine. We’re twenty minutes from the hospital. The bags are packed, both ours and Lexi’s. Take a deep breath.”

“Is my sister, who is in labor, giving you tips for staying calm?” Aaron laughs.

“Fu…Funny,” I catch myself.

“Unca Awon!” Lexi exclaims.

“Here you go. Thanks for coming, man. I’m going to run upstairs and get the bags. Don’t leave her.” I point toward McKinley. I take the stairs two at a time, rushing into our room and then Lex’s to get our bags.

“Okay.” I hand Aaron her bag. “Here’s her bag. You have a key. Use it if you need it. McKinley, babe, I’m going to go pull the Durango out of the garage and load our bags. I’ll be right back.”

I hear Aaron laughing and I’m sure a smart-ass comment rolls off his tongue, but I don’t have time for that right now. My wife is in labor!

By the time we make it to the hospital, her contractions are seven minutes apart. I pull up to the entrance and run in to get a wheelchair. I’m sure I look like a crazy person because a nurse comes rushing over. “Sir, can I help you?”

“My wife is in labor.” I take a deep breath. We made it on time.

She grins. “Got ya. Let’s go get her.” She follows me out the double doors where we find McKinley standing outside the car.

“What happened?” I rush to her.

She chuckles. “Nothing happened. Sitting was uncomfortable. I told you I could walk inside.”

“Not happening, baby.”

“Hi, my name is Lisa,” the nurse introduces herself to McKinley.

“McKinley…” She stops, takes a few deep breaths, and then continues. “Chamberlin. This is my husband, Evan.”

“Nice to meet you both. This your first?” she asks while she helps McKinley sit in the wheelchair.

“My first delivery, but we have a little girl. She’s two and a half.”

“Such a fun age. Dad, why don’t you park the car and meet us inside.”

I hesitate, not wanting to leave her side for a minute. “Go, Evan. I’m not having this baby in the next ten minutes.” I lean in and kiss her quickly before jumping into the car to find a legal parking space.

“McKinley Chamberlin,” I say once I reach the reception desk.

“Third floor room 303.”

I debate the stairs, but the elevator doors open so I jump in and push third floor and then tap the close door button…about fifteen times.

When I push open the door to her room, a nurse is standing by the bed messing with an IV. “Where’s my wife?” Even I can hear the panic in my voice.

“In here,” McKinley yells from behind a closed door.

I don’t hesitate. I crack open the door and squeeze in. “What are you doing?”

“I’m helping.” She’s sitting on a stool attempting to take off her shoes. I kneel before her and take off each one. “Lift your arms.” She does and I pull off her shirt. “Bra on or off?”

“Off.” Reaching behind her, I release the clasp and pull it from her arms. Rising to my feet, I offer her my hands