Before I can comment, my phone rings. Owen’s name pops up on the dash, so I reach out and hit Accept. “Hey,” I answer.
“How is she?”
“I’m fine,” Layla answers him.
“How far apart are they?”
“About fifteen minutes or so.”
“I’m sorry I’m not there,” Owen says, and he sounds tortured. Then again, I can imagine that he’s worried about not being here for her.
“You have nothing to apologize for. We re—” she starts but grabs the door handle and grips her mouth shut.
“Lay? Baby, what’s happening?” Owen asks, panicked.
“Contraction,” I tell him.
“How long?”
“About ten minutes since the last one. I just pulled up to the Emergency Room. I’ll text you and let you know what room we’re in.”
“Fuck. Okay. Thanks, man. Layla, I’m on my way. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
“Take your time. Drive safe. You’re not going to miss it.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“All right, bro. We gotta go.”
“Take care of her, Grant. Both of them.”
“I’ve got this,” I tell him. I end the call and turn to Layla. “You stay here. I’m going to go grab a wheelchair.”
“Definitely glad it was you.” She grins. “I’ll be right here.”
“Grant.” I look up to find Aurora and Aspen walking toward me with large bags in their hands. “How is she?”
“Good. Owen is in there with her. He and Royce just got here.” I stand and give her a kiss. “What’s in the bags?” I ask, then turn to Aspen. “Hey.” I pull her into a hug.
“We brought food.”
“By food, she means baked goods. But we can go back out for dinner later. This should hold everyone over for now,” Aspen says, placing her bag on the small table.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I tell her.
“I wanted to. I usually donate it all at the end of the day anyway, so I figured I might as well bring it here for everyone to enjoy.”
“By everyone, she means the staff too.”
“You never donate that much,” I say, pulling her into my lap.
“I might have grabbed a few extras.”
“Babe, that’s profit.”
“Yeah, but this is a big deal. I can whip up the things we brought in no time.”
“You work too much already.”
“Well, it’s a good thing my boyfriend talked me into hiring some help. I have interviews set up for next week.”
“Really?” I can’t hold back my smile. “That’s more time with you.”
“It’s going to take some time to get someone hired and trained, but yeah, that’s the goal.”
“And you—” I look over at Aspen, who’s sitting across from us, “you need to get out more.”
“Meh.” She waves her hand in the air. “Dating is overrated.”
“Isn’t that the truth,” Aurora mutters.
“Hey!” I tickle her side.
“Sorry, not you, but you know what I mean,” she rushes to say.
“I know. Lucky for you, you don’t have to deal with that anymore.”
“Lucky me,” she says, kissing me lightly.
“The cavalry has arrived,” Conrad says, taking a seat next to Aspen. My parents and Marshall are right behind him.
“What did we miss?” Mom asks, as Sawyer and Sam appear in the doorway.
I quickly fill them in on what I know, and everyone settles in for what is sure to be a long night. I’m holding Aurora in my arms, watching as my two younger brothers flirt with her sister. I hate to break it to them, but she’s not interested. At least, I don’t think she is.
“Are you excited?” Aurora asks, her voice is low just for me.
“I am. I can’t imagine what Owen is feeling right now.”
“You want kids?”
“Yeah. You?”
She nods. “I never really thought it would happen for me. I convinced myself that it wouldn’t.”
“And now?”
“And now I’ve met this amazing guy who has turned my world upside down, and I’m hopeful.”
“This will be us one day. You and I will be the ones adding a new little Riggins to the clan.”
“Big dreams,” she says, kissing my cheek.
It’s more than big dreams. It’s facts. It’s plans for our future. She’s come such a long way in the past few months, so I’m not going to press the issue. We’re not there yet, but we will be. One day this will be us, and I for one can’t wait.
Chapter 24
Aurora
I’m running on fumes—fumes and very strong coffee. I stayed at the hospital until after nine, which was later than I should have. I just had a hard time leaving Grant there without me. He insisted on Aspen and I going home and getting some sleep. What he didn’t know is that I had to come home and replace everything that I took to the hospital for today. I was fine with it. I wanted to help, and by the time I left, almost everything that I brought had been eaten. I was up until midnight, not because I needed to be, but because I went ahead and did some prep for today. I was back up at three, and to say my ass is dragging is an understatement.
“I’m so tired,” Aspen says, plopping onto a stool behind the counter.
“You didn’t have to stay up with me last night.”
“I know, but I wanted to. Not to mention I couldn’t sleep. Being on baby watch is exhausting.”
“Yes, but he’s such a cutie. I can’t wait to see him.” Layla delivered a healthy baby boy at four this morning. I was in the middle of pulling my first batch of apple fritters from the oven when the call came in. I could hear the happiness in Grant’s voice when he told me the news. That baby boy is going to be so spoiled; it’s not even funny.
“Did they decide on a name? We got busy, and I forgot to ask.”
I nod. “Carter Owen Riggins.” I can’t hide my smile.
“Aw,” Aspen coos. “Let me see the picture again.” She holds her hand out for my phone. I pass it over, and she pulls up the message. “It’s hard to look at him and not want that,” she says, smiling down at my phone.
“Yeah,” I agree.
“At least you have a man, which you need for this to happen.” She hands my phone back to me.
“You don’t need a man to have a baby, but that’s the way I would prefer.”
“Me too. But I’m too tired to say my own name, let alone think about dating.”
“Go to bed. I’m going to lock up and run over to the hospital.”
“Are you not dead on your feet?”
“I am, but I want to check on everyone.”
“Are you going back later?”
“Probably.” I shrug. “Grant mentioned going back to his place for a little while, then taking over dinner or something.”