He grinned, pressing me into the wall and taking another hungry kiss from my lips. “Now I can kiss you whenever I want.”
And kiss me he did.
Epilogue
“Here comes another contraction,” I whined, closing my eyes as the pain in my middle started again. Bands of muscle contracted around my waist as my body attempted to start labor.
“That one was fifty seconds,” Anne announced as I sucked in a breath once the pain stopped.
I had no idea this was going to hurt this much. If I had known the level of pain involved, I might not have been so eager to get pregnant. And this was just the beginning. I knew it was only going to get worse as time went on.
“How far apart are they?” I asked, putting a hand on my stomach. Nine months. Forty weeks. 284 days. My due date was four days ago and I couldn't wait any longer. I wanted my body back and my baby in my arms.
“Five minutes apart on the nose,” Anne said, checking her phone. “You can go to the hospital now if you want.”
I thought of how the searing pain was going to come back as my body squeezed down again in about three more minutes. I had intended on having a drug-free labor, but now that it was actually happening, I was debating how much I wanted drugs. An epidural suddenly didn't sound near as scary as it had.
“Crap- here comes another one.” The pain stole my breath and it took everything I had to breathe through it.
“That one was a whole minute and only three minutes apart, Allie. I think it's time.” Anne looked me up and down. “I can tell you that right now, I am really really glad I'm into girls and don't have to worry about getting knocked up by accident.”
I glared at her. “We have to get James first. I'm not going to the hospital without him.”
She sighed and checked her watch. “He's in a meeting. That's why we're sitting here in the coffee shop waiting for him.”
I pointed to my stomach. “I don't think he knows Daddy's busy right now. Just drive me to his office and I'll go get him.”
Anne opened her mouth to object, but I crumpled as another wave of contracting pain stole every breath and coherent thought from me. It was supposed to get worse than this? I wasn't sure how people survived this.
“Get in the car.” Anne said as she paled a little. “You just keep getting stronger and more close together. At this rate, I'm scared your going to just pop right here in the middle of the shop.”
I took her hand and she walked me out to her car. Luckily, she was parked directly in front of the shop.
I was glad she had agreed to escort me around. Since three days ago, James had been paying Anne to be with me when he couldn't. He also made sure that there was always a car of some sort available within a few feet of wherever I was. At first I had thought it was overkill, but now, I was incredibly grateful.
Anne gunned the engine. “You sure you don't want to just go to the hospital? James can meet us there.”
“HIS OFFICE!” I yelled.
“Yes, ma'am,” Anne replied. “Note to self, never argue with a woman giving birth.”
She floored it and arrived at the entrance to James' office in record time. I suspected she was afraid I would give birth right there in the car if she didn't hurry.
I unbuckled my seat-belt and opened my door.
“How about I just go get him?” she offered. I shot a death glance at her. “Okay, never mind. I'll wait here.” She put her hands up on the steering wheel and looked straight ahead.
I waddled into the front lobby of James' office building, feeling like I'd never even fit through the doorway.
Audrey was sitting at the main desk, her eyes going wide as soon as she saw me. It was the same desk Lauren used to work at, but Audrey now ruled it like a queen. I remembered seeing Lauren's picture in the paper when she was indicted. Not only had she violated her non-disclosure agreement and sold the pictures of James and I for a mere hundred grand, she had also stolen fifty thousand dollars of advertising money from the company. She was in big, big trouble.
I like Audrey at that desk much better.
“Where is he?” I growled, holding my belly and hoping I didn't dissolve into another contraction in the middle of the lobby.
“In the meeting room.” Audrey pointed across the lobby.
I nodded, already halfway there. I needed James to be there when I had this baby. If it hurt this bad already, there was no way I was going to be able to do this without his encouragement.