“I fucking hate you, Luke Johnson. Payback is a bitch.”
“RUN, COLT!” LIBBY yelled out next to me. Smiling, I watched Colt run it in for another touchdown. I wasn’t sure why Bruce was hesitating to throw the ball to Colt, but he was. The A&M coach had called a time out and talked to both of them on the sidelines. I had a feeling it was because of Lauren. She had broken up with Bruce after spring break last year. Not really giving anyone a real reason other than he was too high maintenance. They had started dating again two weeks ago. It was right about the same time Colt came over to the house one night drunk out of his mind.
Libby kissed me on the cheek and then Alex did as I leaned over and high fived Will.
Libby’s breath was on my neck and my pants felt two sizes too small. “Do you feel okay?” she asked in my ear. Shaking my head, I pouted.
“I’m exhausted,” I said.
This semester was starting to take its toll on me with my heavy workload. Libby was due in two weeks and she tossed and turned all night, which kept me up.
Frowning she leaned over and yelled to Alex. “Hey, we’re heading out. I’m feeling really tired.”
Alex nodded. “Get some rest.”
“I will. See y’all later.” Turning to me, Libby smiled and winked. I could take her in my arms right now and kiss the living day lights out of her I was so happy. Smiling, I grabbed Libby’s hand as we made our way out of the stadium and back to the house.
My head no sooner hit the pillow and I was out. I felt Libby pull the covers over me as she leaned down and kissed my lips. “I’m sleeping in Grace’s room. I love you, baby.”
Pulling the covers up to my chin, I mumbled that I loved her back and drifted off to sleep again.
BRUSHING MY HANDS down my face I swung my feet to the side of the bed and forced myself out of bed. Glancing at the clock, I saw it was almost noon. “Shit, I must have needed that sleep.”
I slowly stood and started to make my way to the bathroom when the bedroom door flew open.
Will came running and skid to a stop right before he knocked me over. “Dude! You weren’t answering your phone.”
Laughing, I turned away from him. “Because I was sleeping.”
“Luke, Libby’s in labor. She’s at the hospital.”
I stopped walking and let Will’s words sink in. Turning around, I whispered, “What?”
“Labor. Baby. No one could get a hold of you.” Will reached over and threw me a pair of jeans that were over the chair. “Come on and get dressed. You need the bag and we need to hurry. She was starting to push.”
I stood there, stunned. “She’s not due for another two weeks. We were at the doctor’s yesterday.”
Will shrugged. “Well the baby decided to make a grand entrance. Where is the bag? Libby said she needed her focus doll or something like that.”
I pushed my hands through my hair and quickly began putting on my jeans. My foot got caught and I began hopping. “Fuck. The bag. Where did Libby put the bag?”
Will spun around and looked at me. “You mean you don’t know where the bag is?”
“Dude, I didn’t even know she had a fucking bag!” I shouted as I finally lost my balance and fell to the floor.
Scrambling to get up, I saw Will bent over laughing his ass off. “Funny. Real funny dickhead, but you wait for the day Alex has a baby. I’m missing the birth of my child!”
I ran into the bathroom and rinsed my mouth out with mouthwash and pulled a T-shirt over my head. “I’m almost ready!”
I yelled out in pain as stubbed my toe on the scale that was for some odd reason sitting in the middle of the bathroom floor. “What the fuck? Son-of-a-bitch that hurt like a mother!”
I rushed out hopping on my other foot. Will was now sitting on my bed, still laughing. I glared at him. “I hope you have twins.” He stopped laughing and stood up and pointed at me.
“Don’t say that.”
I smirked as I pulled my boots on. “What? Don’t say twins?” I wiggled my fingers toward him. “Twins, twins, twins. I hereby wish for you to have twins. And I hope they’re girls.”
Will shook his head. “That’s fucked up, Luke.”
I started laughing and looked to my left to see Libby standing there. “Hey, sleepyhead. You finally decided to get up.”
I stopped moving as I looked Libby up and down. She came walking into the room and up to me. She leaned down, kissed me sweetly on the lips then turned and walked over to Will. “Hey, big brother. What are y’all doing?”
Dropping my mouth open, Will held up his hands and laughed as he said, “Paybacks are a real bitch.”
“You bastard!” I jumped and ran after Will as he took off running.
As I rounded the corner I heard Libby call out, “Don’t run down the stairs!”
WILL SAT DOWN next to me on the sofa. We both let out a long sigh. “I’m over school. So. Over. School.”
Will laughed. “Dude, you’re almost done. I’ve got a year and half left.” There was a knock on the front door before it opened and Colt walked in.
“Hey,” he said in a tired voice.
I frowned. “Hey, you alright?”
Colt walked to the love seat and let out a long frustrated sigh. He looked like he hadn’t slept in a week. “I don’t fucking understand life. Someone explain this shit to me ‘cause I’m about to give up.”
Will sat up and put his elbows on his knees. “Colt, what’s going on? You look like you’ve had a few rough days.”
Letting out a hoarse laugh, Colt said, “What isn’t going on? Coach is all over my ass for drinking. I got suspended for one game for punching Bruce.”
Standing I said, “Whoa, what?”
Colt rolled his eyes. “He won’t stop taunting me with Lauren.”
“Does he know you have feelings for Lauren?” Will asked.
Colt chuckled. “Lauren of all people told him.”
I sat back and let out a breath. “Wow. No shit?”
“Why would Lauren do that? It doesn’t make any sense?” Will asked.
Colt shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. Once Bruce found out he has done nothing but fuck with me.”
“Dude, you need to find a girlfriend,” I said as I stood and walked into the kitchen. Colt followed me. He sat at the bar stool and nodded his head.
“I know. It’s hard, ya know? I can’t push her from my head. I guess it’s pretty clear she doesn’t feel the same way about me and I need to move on.” Will walked up and slapped Colt on the back.
“Dude, you have girls falling at your feet. Find someone you have an interest in and move on.”
The front door opened. Grace, Libby, and Lauren walked in. They were all laughing. Lauren’s expression faded a bit before she put another smile on her face. This time it didn’t touch her eyes. They all made their way to us. “Hey little brother,” Alex said as she kissed Colt on the cheek.
Colt smiled weakly. “Hey, sis. You doing okay?” Nodding her head, Alex made her way over to Will and kissed him. Libby walked up to me and I placed my hand on her stomach.
“Damn, your stomach is so hard.” Libby blushed and nodded her head. She had to be the sexiest pregnant woman I’d ever seen. Her blonde hair was done in two braided pigtails. The glow on her face was breathtaking. Leaning down I took her mouth in mine and kissed the hell out of her. I pulled back and she laughed. “I missed you, Lib.”
Libby’s eyes lit up. “I missed you too.”
Grace made a face. “Gag me, you just saw each other this morning and I’m pretty sure you were doing some funky sex position because I heard noises that will be forever etched in my brain.”
Everyone laughed as Libby blushed and looked away.
“Hey, Colt. How are you?” Lauren asked as she sat next to him. He looked at her and I knew he was confused as hell. One minute Lauren avoids him at all costs and the next she acts like nothing is wrong.
Colt flashed that panty-melting smile of his. “I’m doin
g great, Lauren. How are you?”
Lauren’s smile faltered a bit. “Doing good.”
Colt began texting someone as Grace and Alex talked about the darling outfit they found at the mall for the baby to wear home.
Libby looked around at everyone. “Are y’all sure you are okay with Luke and I staying here after the baby is born? Things are going to be different.”
Grace’s mouth dropped open. “I’m not going to be able to see my niece as it is, the longer y’all stay here the better.”
Alex chuckled. “I don’t think Colt is too worried about moving in right away, I heard you had a pretty fun date the other night.”
Colt’s head snapped up, and so did Lauren’s. By the look on Lauren’s face, she didn’t get the memo that Colt was moving in after Libby and I went back to Mason.
Speaking at the same time, Colt and Lauren said, “What?” Colt’s phone buzzed and he looked down at it before looking back to Alex and asking, “What fun date?”
“What do you mean Colt is moving in here?” Lauren asked as everyone looked at her. The smile that spread across Colt’s face for a brief second was caught only by me. He looked back down and sent someone a text.
Alex looked at Lauren and then Colt. “Marie James told me you took her out and y’all had a great time. She seemed to be taken with you.”
“Huh, interesting,” Colt said as Lauren looked at him.
“Wait, you’re moving in here?”
Nodding his head, Colt answered Lauren without looking at her. “Yeah, Lauren I am.”
He stood and pushed the stool back. Taking in a deep breath he blew it out. “Speaking of Marie, I’ve got plans with her so I guess I’ll see y’all around.”
Colt started to head to the door when Lauren got up and turned toward him. She began to follow Colt and it appeared she wanted to say something. Finally she was going to talk to him. Lauren was about to say something when she stopped walking. Looking away from Colt, she turned and sat back down.
Stupid. So fucking stupid.
WILL AND I were standing in the backyard grilling steaks when Libby walked outside. Her face looked flush as she had her hand on her stomach. Tomorrow was her due date and I knew she was miserable. She was now sitting up in bed at night so she could sleep. Most of the time she went to Grace’s room and slept in the other bed.
“Hey, beautiful,” Smiling I looked into her eyes. Something was off. “Lib? What’s wrong?” I asked setting down my drink and making my way to her. Will was right behind me.
I took Libby in. Her face was pale, the normal beautiful flush missing from her cheeks. “Libby, you don’t look so good.”
Libby frowned and shot Will a dirty look. “Thanks a lot, Will.”
Shaking his head he, mumbled, “That’s not what I meant.”
Libby’s hand came up to her mouth and she began to nibble on her nail. “Um, well I wanted to let you know that, um, well—”
I widened my eyes and moved my head as if I was trying to will her to spit it out.
She rolled her eyes. “I’m having contractions.”
Dropping my mouth open, I said, “Come again?”
She smiled and nodded her head. “Contractions, I think baby Johnson is ready to make her appearance.”
Will jumped and let out a yell as he pumped his fist! “My baby nephew is coming!” Running around Libby, Will ran into the house calling out for Alex. “Alex! Alex!”
I walked to Libby and placed my hands on her arms. “Don’t be scared, Lib.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “I’m trying not to be scared, but I am scared.”
I pulled her into my arms and held her. “I just have to ask you one question.”
“Yeah?”
Smiling I pulled back. “Do you have a bag I don’t know about that you’ll be needing at the hospital?”
Laughing Libby wiped a tear away. “The only bag is my overnight bag and that has everything, including two outfits. One for a boy and one for a girl.”
Libby and I talked for hours the day before we were set to have the sonogram to find out the sex of the baby. When we finally decided it was a yes, the baby was positioned to where we couldn’t see. We took that has a sign the baby wanted to surprise us.
Looking into Libby’s beautiful blue eyes, I was frozen for a moment. This woman standing before me changed my life forever. The miracle we made changed both our lives. I couldn’t wait to hold the baby in my arms.
Leaning down, I gently kissed Libby on the lips and then spoke against them. “Are you ready to go have a baby?”
She giggled and wrapped her arms around my neck. “With you by my side, I’m ready for anything.”
LUKE SAT NEXT to me holding my hand as his fingers moved gently through my hair. I closed my eyes as another contraction started.
“Breath through it, baby,” Luke whispered. I wanted to tell him to shut up, but I knew he was trying his best. I did as he said and breathed the stupid exercises that do not do anything for the pain. I wanted an epidural like it was no one’s business.
There was a knock on the door and it slowly opened. My mother walked in carrying a Starbucks coffee for Luke.
So wrong. So wrong on so many levels.
Smiling, my mother set Luke’s coffee down and made her way to the other side of the bed. “Hey, sweetheart.”
I closed my eyes and shook my head. “How did you do this with two in there? No wonder you never had more kids!”
My mother chuckled. “Trust me, you forget how painful it is the moment you hold your baby in your arms.
Rolling my eyes, I grunted. “When are they giving me the epid—” Another contraction hit me as I squeezed Luke’s hand and his face grimaced. The door opened again and this time it was the nurse and someone else.
“Alright, Libby. Let’s give you that epidural.”
Luke and I both smiled and whispered, “Thank God.”
“ONE MORE PUSH, Libby. Come on. I see the baby’s head,” the doctor said as I fell back onto the pillow. I was fighting to catch my breath.
I thrashed my head back and forth. “I can’t. I’m so tired. I can’t push anymore.”
The doctor looked up at me. “Libby, one more good push, I promise.”
I was too tired to push anymore. Exhaustion was beginning to take over. Tears streamed down my face as I whispered, “I can’t.”
Luke placed his hands on my face and turned me to face him. “Look in my eyes, Libby. Baby, you can do this. You are the strongest woman I know. Libby, one more time and I promise you will be holding our baby. Our miracle, Lib.” His green eyes were burning with passion. But not the same as when he made love to me. This was different.
“For me, Lib? Do one more for me?”
Biting on my lip, I stared into Luke’s eyes. I loved this man more than anything. There wasn’t anything I couldn’t do with him by my side. I nodded my head. “I love you, Luke.”
Kissing me quickly, he whispered, “I love you, too.”
“Okay, Libby, push now and give it all you’ve got.”
I leaned forward with Luke’s help and pushed as hard as I could. I felt the pressure release as I fell back to the pillow. Lifting my head, I watched as the doctor asked Luke if he wanted to cut the cord.
Luke moved to cut it and the doctor said to us both, “You have a beautiful, healthy baby girl.” I didn’t think I could possibly cry any more, but tears streamed down my face. I let out a sob as I watched Luke crying. The nurse placed the blanket over my stomach and laid our baby girl across it. I reached down and traced her soft cheek with my finger.
“Hello there, princess. Mommy’s been waiting for you.” Luke leaned over and kissed her head and then kissed me as he whispered against my lips, “You are amazing. Thank you.”
The nurse took our baby girl and said she was going to clean her. Luke walked over to the table and watched as they cleaned up our daughter and wrapped her in a blanket. Luke held out his arms and I began crying again when t
hey placed her in his arms.
“Libby, I’m going to slowly lift you up okay. Tell me if you feel sick or not.” I nodded my head as the nurse began to lift the bed.
I couldn’t take my eyes off the most beautiful sight I’d ever seen. The man I loved more than anything, holding our baby girl.
Once I was settled and comfortable, Luke walked over to me. He had been singing to the baby and my heart was about to burst in my chest. One of the nurses looked at me and winked.
Stopping next to my bed, Luke looked at me and smiled the most breathtaking smile I’d ever seen. “My God, she’s stolen my heart and I don’t think I’ll ever be the same.”
Wiping my tears away, I tried to calm my beating heart. I loved this man so much. When I thought he couldn’t make me love him more—he said something to make me fall even more in love with him.
As Luke reached down and placed our daughter in my arms, he kissed me. Smiling I whispered, “She’s so tiny.”
Luke chuckled. “Seven pounds two ounces.”
I held her in my arms as I looked into her big blue eyes. It was as if she was looking into my soul and knew exactly how I was feeling. I had fallen just as fast as Luke, and it appeared our daughter had as well. We continued to look into each other’s eyes as Luke ran the back of his hand down my face.
“I love you, Libby.”
Peeking up at him, I smiled. “I love you, Luke.”
Luke and I spent the next hour alone bonding with our daughter and looking at every square inch of her body. From her toes, to the tip of her head that was covered in light-brown hair.
There was a soft knock on the door. “Come on in,” Luke called out. The door opened and Luke’s parents and my parents all walked into the room. Ari and my mother both started crying. I glanced at my father and saw him wiping away a tear.
“Are you crying, Josh?” Jeff asked.
Looking at Jeff, my father chuckled and said, “Are you crying?”
Glancing at Jeff I noticed he quickly wiped a tear from his eye. “No, something got in my eye.”
“Who would like to hold her first? I asked. Ari and my mother walked up. “We had to draw straws to see and Heather won,” Ari said with a huge smile.