Her concern touched me, but I actually had energy for the first time in weeks. I wasn’t wasting it sitting around. “Relax, Layla. I want to do something.”
She was already getting the bacon out of the fridge. “What would you like for breakfast?”
I glanced at the clock on the stove. “It’s too late for breakfast. How about a sandwich? Will you eat with me?” I loved getting to have a quiet meal with Layla. Even when we didn’t talk, it was nice just to be around her.
“Will you promise to rest afterwards?”
I sighed. “I really don’t want to.”
Her chocolate brown eyes narrowed on me. “I’m not Jesse. That little pouty thing doesn’t work on me.”
I laughed. I hadn’t even realized that I was pouting. “Oh Layla. I’m so happy that you came into our lives.”
For the next half an hour, we sat at the island and shared lunch. It was crazy how quickly I had included her in our family, it was even more so that I couldn’t imagine my family without her or her sisters. I was glad that Jesse was able to find happiness with someone as loving and full of life as Layla, someone who didn’t put up with his shit…Or mine.
“Okay, I’m going to go watch television now.” I grinned as I stood up. “Want to join me?”
She grimaced. “I have a load of clothes in the drier. Shane has more clothes than Lana.”
I laughed. Shane was worse than any girl when it came to clothes. He was the only one of my guys that I didn’t have to shop for. “Good luck with that.”
Layla stuck her tongue out at me. “Thanks!”
Still laughing, I turned around and started out of the kitchen. Two steps and I stopped. There was a sudden pressure between my legs. Just as suddenly it was gone. I didn’t think anything of it until I felt my panties getting soaked. When I realized what was happening fear overtook me and I screamed.
“Oh. FUCK!” Layla exclaimed.
Chapter 19
Jesse
“I can’t believe you just said that, dude!” I wiped my mouth with my napkin and tossed a fry at Shane. He had been telling crazy, funny jokes from the time we had sat down for lunch. Already, Nik had spit soda out his nose, and I was sure that Shane was determined to make us all do the same.
“What?” Shane grinned. “It’s true.”
Drake snorted. “How do you know? Oh, wait. I don’t want to know.” He shook his head, making his hair fall in his face as he gave his younger brother a disgusted yet amused glare. “I don’t need to know how you know a woman can do that!”
I was still laughing when my phone buzzed, and I pulled it out of my back pocket to see Layla’s gorgeous face smiling back at me. “Hey, baby,” I greeted.
There was a pause on the line and for some reason my heart tensed. “Layla?”
There were muttered curses in the background before Layla’s voice came clearly through. “Jesse, where are you?” she demanded, sounding anxious and out of breath.
“Having lunch with the guys. What’s going on?” I thought I heard Emmie crying and fear like I had never experienced before gripped me. “Layla?”
“Listen to me, Jess.” Her voice was suddenly very calm but that didn’t help the churning in my gut. “I want you to get in a taxi, all of you. Don’t drive, okay? Tell the taxi to take you to the Women’s Center. Emmie’s water broke. I have her in Shane’s car, and I’m driving there now.”
“Oh fuck!” I whispered and glanced over at Nik. He frowned at me, but I was already pulling my wallet out and tossing a bunch of bills on the table. I didn’t care what I was leaving. It didn’t matter anyway. Nothing mattered but getting to the Women’s Center. “Is she okay?”
Another pause and I heard Layla murmuring something soothingly in the background. She was trying to keep Emmie calm. After a second, Layla was back. “She’s starting to have contractions, Jesse. The baby is too big for her to deliver. You know that. Just get Nik to the hospital as quick as you can. But take a taxi. I’m serious. None of you will be sane enough to drive. You’ll kill yourselves.”
“Okay. Fine. Just… Just keep her safe until we get there.”
“I will. I love you.”
Tears were already pooling in my eyes. “I love you too. Tell Emmie…Tell her…” I couldn’t get the words out.
“I will,” Layla assured me, knowing what I needed to tell Emmie without me voicing the words.
I was already walking out of the restaurant, and the guys hadn’t even questioned me as they followed me out. When we were on the sidewalk, Nik grabbed my arm. “What is it?” he demanded. There was a wildness in his eyes that I completely understood. “Tell me!”