We are all in need of some serious girl time. When she sees us, she sets the bowl on the bar top, then presses her hand against Sarah’s forehead. Sarah and Sunnie look similar in a lot of ways: blonde hair, small frame, but while Sarah has brown eyes, Sunnie’s are blue. Her hair is a bit whiter while Sarah’s is more of a dirty blonde. Sunnie has more color too, a natural golden hue to her skin.
“You’re warm, Sarah. How long have you been feeling like this?” Sunnie asks, brows drawn in concern.
“It’s nothing,” she waves the issue away.
“Honey, you don’t look so good. I think we need to interrupt Church,” Dawn says, hissing as the baby latches onto her nipple harder. “I’m breastfeeding a vampire, I swear.” Her face pinches in pain before Joey relaxes and stops sucking so hard.
“No, no. Reaper’s been worried enough as is. I don’t want him to worry. It’s just a bad case of morning sickness. I’ve been really looking forward to this girl time.”
I worry my bottom lip and Mary hands me my phone while we all think about what to do. I tuck it in my back pocket, then glance toward the closed Church doors. No one can hear a thing anymore, not since Reaper soundproofed it. The only way to get their attention is to ring the doorbell he installed. “I agree with Sunnie, Sarah. Are you in pain?” It’s another big black cloud that hangs over our heads. She’s a high-risk pregnancy, after Tongue stabbed her. It was an accident, but still, she wouldn’t be at such high risk if Tongue didn’t stab her.
My argument? Tongue wouldn’t have stabbed her if he hadn’t been in that position where the guys invaded his privacy, sending him into a whirlwind of bad memories and flashbacks.
She cups the bottom of her stomach and hunches over, a muted cry leaving her lips as another wave hits her.
“Oh my god, someone go get Reaper.”
“No! Not again,” she cries when she falls to her knees. Her hand won’t leave the small swell. “No, please, no.” Her broken sobs have tears pooling in my eyes. I fall to my knees, then rub small circles across her back to try and make her feel better. “I can’t do this again. Oh my god,” she screams, then flips to her back. She rests her head in my lap, and I swipe the hair off her damp face.
“Nothing is going to happen to you,” I tell her, then I lay my hand on top of hers, protecting her unborn baby with her. “We won’t allow it.”
“It hurts so much,” she wails, her big brown eyes bubbling with fat tears. “I’m losing her. I feel it. I’m losing her.” She clenches her eyes shut. Another roar of pain escapes her. A deep, agonizing, guttural, shattering sound has a tear escaping me. I hate this for her. She can’t lose this baby. Reaper and Sarah don’t deserve that kind of pain, and I know Tongue will never forgive himself if she does. He already wakes up in cold sweats at night when he dreams of stabbing her.
“A girl?” I try to take her mind off the pain. “How do you know?”
“I just feel it. I can’t have this happen, I can’t.”
Melissa and Sunnie bang on the Church doors, yelling for someone to answer.
“Ring the bell, remember? He soundproofed it last week,” I remind them. I have no idea what to say to Sarah. Nothing can take this fear from her. All I can do is be here.
Sarah digs her cheek into my leg and her arm curls up against my thigh. Her nails dig in against my skin, right where the hem of my pajama shorts ends.
“It’s okay. Reaper will be here soon. Doc will take care of you,” I tell her, trying to soothe her the best I can. I pet her cheek to dry the tears, but they are coming too fast.
“What is it?” Badge snaps at the girls when he opens the door. He sure is an asshole on most days, but he’s there when it matters. His eyes widen when he sees Sarah on the floor. “Reaper! Doc! It’s Sarah.”
Melissa and Sunnie move out of the way just in time before the heavy boom, boom, boom, of boots stampedes toward us.
“Sarah, Doll! Fuck, what happened? What is it?” Reaper slides his arm under her and moves her from my lap to his. He sets his sights on