Page 32 of Silver Linings
“I’m fine, Gunner. Honestly. It’ll be bruised, but you stopped him…before…” she sniffled, unable to complete whatever she was going to say.
“Before what, Lil?” he swiped at the fat tears spilling over her lashes.
“He was trying to get me into his truck. Said I needed to learn a lesson for leaving him.”
Gunner didn’t think. He just pulled Lily into his chest and wrapped his arms tightly around her.
“I meant what I said when I said my vows, Lil. I’ll never let him hurt you or Sprout.”
As if seeing James hadn’t been enough for the day, Lily could not shake the pains that had started bothering her when he showed up. As another one wrapped around her belly and her back, squeezing the breath from her lungs, Lily tried her best to walk out of the room.
The last thing she wanted was anyone knowing she was going into labor, not that she was certain she was. But damn, she was hurting worse than any bought of Braxton Hicks she’d ever had before. The rhythm of the pains also pinged in her mind as a sign Sprout’s arrival may be sooner than later.
She’d taken to frequently sitting at the back of the room for much of the afternoon after the fiasco with James, so she prayed no one would pay her much attention as she ungracefully sat down and winced. What a mess everything had been with James. The way Gunner had so possessively claimed her and the baby was incredible, and if she wasn’t already nursing a crush on the man that started nearly two decades before, she certainly would be after that display.
“Are you ready to go?” Gunner’s question startled her.
“Isn’t there still a bunch of stuff that needs to get cleaned up?”
“I think Gia’s going to bring the rest of the flowers home in her car, but she just told me she wants a few minutes alone with mom. She’ll bring mom’s urn home with her when she’s ready.”
“Let me just give her a quick hug and we can go.” Lily held her hand out and Gunner helped her to her feet.
“I’ll bring these pictures to the truck and meet you outside when you’re ready.”
Lily found Gia gently moving a vase filled with beautiful yellow and orange flowers. Juliette would have loved them.
“Are you sure you want us to leave?” she asked, watching her best friend wipe her eyes.
“You think I didn’t see you over there wincing and rubbing your belly all afternoon?”
“What?”
“Lily, go home and rest. You’re going to need it if the baby is on her way.”
“She’s not. It’s just been a long day.”
“Please do not tell me you’re going to be one of those women who refuse to see that they are in labor until the baby is literally exiting their body?”
“G! No. I fully plan on being drugged during her birth. No way am I letting denial get in the way of sweet relief.”
Her best friend lifted her brow in disbelief as her belly tightened again. Lily refused to move and give Gia anything else to worry over, but she rolled her eyes at Lily and led her over to a chair.
“Want to tell me again how you aren’t in denial?”
“It’s just Braxton Hicks. I’ve been on my feet all day. I just need to sleep.”
“You know I’m going to tell Gunner what’s been going on.”
“No, please don’t. I’ll tell him on the ride home, okay? They aren’t happening frequently, so I don’t think it’s time to panic yet.”
“Fine. I trust you, Lily. But if I come home to you giving birth on our sofa, I’m never going to let you live it down.”
“Trust me, I won’t be. I want the drugs. All the drugs.”
It was Gia’s turn to hug her. “Okay, I won’t be too far behind. I just need to pack the flowers up and then I’m bringing them to Mercy. Mom wanted the flowers to be donated to the Labor and Delivery floor. She said all the new little lives deserved to be celebrated at the end of hers.” Tears swelled in Gia’s eyes, and Lily squeezed her tighter. “Maybe Sprout will get to have some flowers from her Grandma when she arrives.”
“I love you, Gia. I’m so glad we have each other as family now.”