I grabbed his sleeve and jerked him back. “No, please don’t do that.”
“Mia, as a husband, trust me when I say that when your wife is pregnant and in pain, you want to know it. To AJ, you’re more than his fiancée—you’re already his wife”
“But this is the most amazing night of AJ’s life—one he has worked so hard for. He’s been on cloud nine all day, and I want him to savor each and every moment. I can’t bear to ruin one second of it by causing him unnecessary worry as the nagging fiancée.”
“He needs to know, and I’m going to tell him.”
“Not if I get to him first!” I countered. When I shot out of my seat, all hell broke loose below my waist. A twisting, wrenching pain ricocheted through me, and I moaned.
“Mia?” Just as Brayden stepped over to me, my water broke with such a force that it splashed down my legs and onto the top of Brayden’s shoes before spreading on the floor.
As Brayden and I gazed down at the puddle we stood in, my hand flew to cover my mouth. “Oh God, I can’t believe that just happened. All that ‘what to expect’ crap doesn’t quite prepare you for Splash Mountain.” When I dared to look up at Brayden, I shook my head. “I’m so, so sorry about your shoes.”
He laughed. “Mia, honey, I could give two shits about my shoes right now. I’m a little more concerned about the fact you’re in labor.”
“Oh damn,” I muttered.
“We need to get you to the hospital.”
Tears stung my eyes. “Now I’m really going to ruin AJ’s night.”
As I sniffled, Brayden’s hand came to cup my cheek. “Mia, I promise you when it comes down to it, awards and parties won’t mean shit when he holds Isabella in his arms for the first time. Nothing will ever compare to that moment when he sees the life he helped create.”
My lip trembled at his sweet words. “Thank you.”
He smiled. “You’re welcome. Now why don’t you just sit back down here while I go find AJ, and then we’ll get you to the limo.”
“Yeah, that should be—” My voice choked off as pain ripped through my abdomen like a steam locomotive charging through it. I doubled over and cried out. Around me, I could hear Brayden talking furiously to someone, but I couldn’t make out his words through the agonizing pain. It seemed to go on forever before it finally let up.
“Mia!” AJ cried.
I glanced up to see him tearing down the veranda—his face ashen with worry. When he got to me, he wrapped me in his arms. “Amorcito mio, it’s okay. I’m here now.”
Before I could stop myself, tears stung my eyes. “Oh AJ, I’m so sorry about going into labor tonight.”
His eyes widened. “Don’t you dare say that! You and Bella are my world.”
Another pain rippled through me, and I cried out. “Come on. We gotta get you to the limo.” AJ wrapped one arm around my waist while the other he used to push us through the crowd. Brayden started ahead of us, shoving people out of the way to clear a path. By the time we got outside, Jake, Abby, Lily, and Rhys were pacing beside the limo.
“Oh my God, Mia,” Abby cried, rushing up to me.
“I’m okay…I’m just in labor.”
“And we’re going to get you to the hospital ASAP,” Lily replied.
“No, no, you guys need to stay and have fun,” I protested.
Jake grinned and shook his head. “I think there’s a new party to go to—‘Miss Bella’s Introduction to the World Party’.”
I laughed. “Yeah, it’s going to be a rocking one for sure.”
“All right, enough talking. You need to get inside the limo. Now,” AJ commanded.
“Eesh, so bossy,” I muttered before I dipped inside. AJ threw his tux jacket across the seat. Just as I sat down, another pain gripped me. AJ immediately appeared at my side and grabbed hold of my hand.
When I finally came out of my pain haze, I saw that Abby and Jake had ducked inside as well. “That was intense,” I croaked.
“I’m so sorry,” AJ murmured, kissing my cheek.