“See you soon,” Arabella and I replied at the same time.
As I made my way down the path toward the house, I called Bishop.
“Hey, sweetheart. Trent is done, and I’m on my way back up to the house.”
“Don’t bother getting out of your truck.”
“Why?”
Nearly skipping in delight, I raced Noel up the back steps and into the house. She instantly flopped on the rug and started to roll around. She did it every single time we came in from the snow.
“Willa’s in labor. Hudson had to go pick them up to drive them to the hospital because Aiden’s freaking out too much.”
Bishop laughed. “Aiden? Big tough Navy SEAL lost his shit?”
I giggled. “Apparently so. I hear you coming up the drive. I need to change really quick.”
“Me, too, I’m in sweats.”
“Okay. Leave the truck running since it’s freezing outside.”
“Will do. I’ll be right in.”
After Bishop and I both changed, fed Noel and took her out to go potty, we loaded her up in her crate and headed to Boggy Creek Valley Hospital. It was only a twenty-minute drive from town, and Greer had been keeping me up to date with text messages.
Greer: They’re at the hospital. Aiden forgot to grab his bag, so Kyle’s picking it up for him.
I laughed.
“What is it?” Bishop asked.
“Aiden remembered to grab Willa’s bag but forgot his. Kyle’s picking it up.
Another text came through.
Greer: OH. MY. Gawd. Kyle just told me Hunter was picking up Arabella! They’re driving to the hospital TOGETHER!
“SHUT UP!”
Bishop let out a curse as he jumped. “I didn’t say anything!”
I shook my head. “No, not you, silly. Greer just told me that Kyle told her that Hunter’s going to pick up Arabella, and they’re driving to the hospital together.”
Bishop laughed. “Hunter also said he ran into Arabella at Schmick’s Market, and she didn’t try to avoid him. They talked for a few minutes, and Hunter asked if she wanted to meet for coffee.”
Jerking my body around so I could stare at my husband, I asked, “When did this happen?”
He gave a half shrug. “Couple days ago, I think.”
I smacked his upper arm. “And you didn’t tell me, Bishop Harris?”
“I forgot!”
“You forgot?” I stared at him in disbelief. “You forgot? How in the world do you forget something like that?”
He gave me a cautious look. “It, um, slipped my mind?”
I rolled my eyes and faced forward in my seat again, trying to hide my smile.
Bishop reached over and took my hand in his. “Don’t be mad at me, Abs. It really did slip my mind. Guys don’t think like women. If Greer had known that little bit of info, she probably would have called you right away.”
“I’m not mad. I’m just so happy Arabella is finally going to let him in. I mean, I hope she is. Though I am a little peeved she hasn’t told me about this coffee date.”
Bishop laughed and squeezed my hand. “She’ll tell you.”
I grinned. “Yeah, I know she will.”
Bishop pulled into the hospital parking lot, and I nearly bounced right out of the truck with excitement.
“It sucks that Brighton isn’t here,” Bishop said as he opened my door and helped me out of his truck.
“She’s on her way. Willa called her.”
After slipping his arm around my waist, we started to head into the hospital. When we stepped onto the elevator and the doors shut, Bishop turned and kissed me, then whispered against my lips, “Have I told you how much I love you today?”
Butterflies danced in my stomach as I fought to keep from going weak in the knees. Slowly, I shook my head. “Not until just now.”
He frowned, and I couldn’t help but giggle. “Then I need to make sure I tell you first thing every morning.”
Smiling, I pushed a piece of wayward blond hair from his forehead. “I love you, Bishop Harris.”
“Not as much as I love you.”
“No, I love you more.”
He huffed. “I love you to infinity and beyond. Then back around the universe and straight out to infinity again.”
Laughing, I pushed him away. “That’s not even possible.”
“It is when you have a love like ours.”
Bishop laced his fingers with mine as the elevator doors opened. The sight before me filled my entire body with joy.
All of our friends were gathered together in one place. Greer and Hudson were standing with Hunter, while Arabella and Candace were huddled together talking about something that most likely had to do with food. Kyle leaned against the nurses’ station, flashing that smile of his that I was positive got him laid more times than not. And Brighton came around the opposite corner looking like she’d just run fifty miles.
“Did I miss it?” she asked with a panicked expression.
“Jesus, Bree, how fast did you drive to get here? You nearly beat Bishop and Abby,” Hunter said with a laugh.
“I was already on my way home for the weekend,” Bree said as she started to hug everyone. “Willa hasn’t had the baby yet?”
“Nope, not yet,” Greer answered, hugging Bree back.
Bishop and I made the rounds, hugging and saying hello to everyone. Then we all sat down and did the only thing we could do. We waited.
“How long does it take to have a baby?” Kyle asked for what felt like the hundredth time.
“Aren’t cops supposed to know things like that?” Bree asked.
Kyle shot Bree a look. “No. Maybe a medic, but not a cop.”
“It just depends,” Greer said as she stood. “I would imagine, since this is Willa’s second baby, it’ll go pretty fast.”
At that very moment, Aiden rushed in. Everyone stood at once and remained silent as he flashed the biggest smile I’d ever seen on his face. He paused, blinking rapidly, and I could tell he was trying to keep his composure.
“Should someone slap him or something?” Candace whisper-shouted.
Aiden laughed and ran his fingers through his hair. “Willa did…she did amazing.”
I brought my hand up to my mouth to muffle my soft sobs.
Aiden wiped a tear away and drew in a deep breath before he spoke again. “We have a seven-pound, four-ounce baby girl.”
“I knew it!” Kyle shouted while the rest of us broke out into cheers and tears of happiness.
Everyone rushed Aiden at once to offer congratulations. After he hugged and thanked each of us, he stood there quietly with an odd expression on his face.
“Dude…are you okay?” Hunter asked.
Aiden shook his head. “No. I think I’m about to pass out!”
Luckily, Hunter was standing close enough to catch Aiden when he did, in fact, pass out.
Bishop tossed the keys to his truck into a small tray and let out a long sigh. “Wow. That was something else.”
Kicking off my boots, I slipped off my jacket and hung it up. “I adore the name they gave the baby,” I said before I yawned and made my way into the kitchen.
“It is cute.”