“Grant?” Layla asks.
“Hey, I was just coming to see you.”
“Okay. Well, I’ll see you in a minute.” I hear laughter in her voice, but it’s not an “I’m happy you read my mind” laughter. It’s more of an “I’m nervous about something” laughter.
Hanging up the phone, I make my way toward the reception desk where she is. “Hey,” I say, leaning against the counter. “What’s up?”
“Well, I was hoping I could ask you for a favor.”
“Anything.” I mean that. I would do anything for either of my sisters-in-law. I love them both and will continue to state that Sawyer and Layla are the best things to ever happen to Owen and Royce.
“Don’t freak out.”
“Layla, you can’t tell a man not to freak out and not tell him what he’s not freaking out about.” I run my eyes over her, where she sits in her chair, and she looks perfectly fine.
“I need you to take me to the hospital.”
“What? What’s going on?” My feet are moving, and I end up behind the desk, bending down beside her chair so that we’re eye to eye. “Are you hurt?”
“No. But my water broke.”
My water broke. “Fuck. Okay. Um, yeah, let’s get you to the hospital. I love you and my nephew, but I don’t want to deliver him.” I take a deep breath. “Are you okay? What do you need?”
“I’m fine. I don’t need anything but a ride and for someone to call my husband. We have time. I’ve been timing my contractions all morning. They’re still fifteen minutes apart.”
“All morning? Layla!” I scold her.
“Oh, hush. I’m fine. You and I both know that if Owen was aware he would have made both of us stay home, and there is no point in that.”
“You’re awful calm for this to be your first rodeo,” I tell her, holding out my hand and helping her stand.
“That’s because I know everything is going to be fine. I’ve lived through the worst, and this is far from that. This is special, and I’m too excited to be worried. I get to meet my son. A piece of me and a piece of Owen.” Her smile is wide and sincere.
“You’re one of a kind, Layla Riggins.”
“I love that. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing it.”
“Well, Mrs. Riggins, let’s get you in the car and call your husband. He’s going to flip his shit, so I’d like to tell him you’re safe and on your way to the hospital before I call him.”
“Thank you, Grant. I’m glad it’s you.”
“What?” I ask, leading her to the elevator.
“I’m glad it was you who’s here. Marshall watches me like a hawk after all that went down, and Conrad, I have a feeling he wouldn’t be this calm, and Royce either. You’re just the right amount of worried and calm for this kind of situation.”
“Well,” I say with a laugh. “I’m glad I’m here too.” With cautious steps, I guide her to my SUV.
“Wait, I can’t sit on your seats.”
“You can, and you will. It’s leather. It will clean. We’re not waiting a minute longer to get your ass in this car,” I tell her, my hands on my hips.
“Ugh. I should have called Sawyer.” She smirks.
“In the car, Riggins.” I smirk right back at her. I win, of course, and I help her into the car. “Now, I’m going to call Owen from my phone and not yours, so he doesn’t lose his shit in the middle of their meeting. I’m going to ask him to step out for a quick second, but you, my dear sister, are going to be the one to tell him. He’ll go off on me, not from anger, but fear. He will be the exact opposite with you, so you get the pleasure.”
“Deal.” She smiles, placing her hand over her baby bump.
Double-checking that she’s buckled in and comfortable, I pull my phone from my front pocket and place it in the cupholder. Pulling out of the lot, I hit the button on my steering wheel. “Call Owen,” I direct my Bluetooth. The phone rings through the car speakers, and after the third ring, he picks up.
“What’s up?”
“Hey, can you step out for a minute?”
“Hold on.” He doesn’t hesitate and tells Royce he’s stepping out. “Done,” he tells me.
I turn to Layla and give her a look. “You’re up,” I tell her.
“What?” Owen asks.
“Hey, babe.”
“Layla?” Owen asks. “What’s going on?”
“My water broke. And before you freak out, I’m okay. Grant and I are on the way to the hospital.”
“Fuck,” he curses under his breath. “How are you? Are you in pain? Damnit. I knew I should have missed this meeting this morning when you were having contractions.”
“What? How did you know that?”
“You’re my wife,” he tells her. Like that’s the only explanation he needs. “I’m on my way. Grant!” he barks.
“Yeah?”
“You have my world in that SUV of yours.”
“I’ve got them, brother. Drive safe.”
“Layla, I love you. I love you so fucking much. I’m on my way,” he tells her.
“Okay. I’ll see you soon.”
“Bye, baby.” The call ends.
“That went better than I expected,” I tell Layla. She’s quiet, so I glance over and see her gripping the door handle, her face constricted in pain.
“Yeah,” she says, releasing her hold on the door. “Sorry, contraction.” She grins.
“You are the only woman in the world happy to be in pain due to labor.”
“No. I’m not. And I’m not happy about the pain. I’m happy that I finally get to meet my son. I’m happy that my life is something I only ever imagined it could be. I’m just… happy, Grant. I’m so happy.”
I’m man enough to admit that she’s got me a little choked up. Instead of replying, I reach over and give her hand a gentle squeeze. I clear my throat before speaking again. “We should call everyone else.”
“I’ll call Sawyer and have her do it for us.”
“I’m going to call Aurora,” I say as I pull up to a Stop sign. I grab my phone and dial her number, moving the call from Bluetooth to my phone. The light turns green as she answers. I take Owen’s words to heart and make sure it’s clear in all directions before pulling through the light.
“Grant?” Aurora’s voice greets me.
“Hey, babe. I have a slight change of plans.”
“Okay.”
“I’m on my way to the hospital.”
“Oh, my— What’s wrong? What happened?”
“Layla’s water broke.”
“I’m on my way.”
“Drive safe,” I tell her.
“See you soon. Take care of her.”
“Always.” I put my cell back in the cupholder. “Aurora’s coming.”
“Good. She can keep you calm,” she teases. “Sawyer is on her way too. She’s going to call your parents, and Marshall and Conrad.”