Cherished (Wanted #4)(74)
Author: Kelly Elliott

“Nope. I think the move into the new house is taking its toll on them all. Amanda wasn’t feeling good, and Maegan has strep throat,” Josh said.

Everyone let out a gasp. We all looked at each other and laughed.

“Jesus H. Christ, look at us,” Ari said as she glanced around.

Everyone took a good look around and then turned back at Ari.

“We’re old. I mean, we act old. It’s like we’re our…” Ari looked over at where Garrett was still telling his story to everyone. Then, she turned back to us and scrunched up her nose. “We’re consumed by the fear of sickness because, my god, if our kids get sick, then that’s it for our perfectly planned days. Germs and running snot noses for a week. We plan a Fourth of July get-together with our parents instead of going to some country bar where we can take a few spins around the dance floor while getting drunk. It’s like we’ve grown up and become…” She turned and looked over at the older group of friends all talking and laughing with each other. She slowly smiled. “Them. We’ve become our parents.”

“Ari? Why do you say you are Mom and Dad?” Matt asked.

Ari laughed. “It’s just that we act like them, Matt, ’cause we are all older now and have kids.”

Matt nodded his head. “Will I ever have kids, Ari?”

I saw the sadness instantly fill Ari’s eyes as her smile faded for just one brief second.

“Would you like to have kids someday, Matt?” Ari asked.

Matt looked around at each of us. He was really taking in the sight of everyone before he looked back at Ari. “Hell no, I want to be a motherfucking cowboy.”

Jeff jumped up and down as he did a fist pump, and then he walked up to Matt. “Yes! Buddy, you said it right this time! Motherfucker!”

“Jeff!” Ellie and Ari both called out.

Matt stood up. “Jeff, I’m going to hug you!” He slammed into Jeff, clearly pleased that he had just made Jeff so happy.

Ari shook her head. “Wait till my father hears this one.”

I let out laugh, and then I felt the same pain, but this time, it was stronger, like the baby had kicked the shit out of me.

Scott had his hands on my stomach. “Damn, that was a big kick, and your stomach is getting hard.”

I had to take a deep breath. Wow, that really hurt.

Ellie stood up and walked over to me. “Jess, how long have you been having pains?”

Scott jumped up. “What? Pains? When did you start having pains? How long have you had them for? Why didn’t you tell me you were having pains? I’m supposed to time them!”

Josh said, “Damn, our only job, and it seems like we all mess that part up.”

“Right?” Jeff and Gunner both said at the same time.

Heather started to push Libby on the float as she made her way to the edge of the pool. “Jessie, oh my god, is it time?” She picked up Libby and walked out of the pool.

I shrugged my shoulders. “I, um…I don’t know. I mean, they feel like Braxton Hicks contractions…but harder.”

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph…Jess, those are contractions. How long have you been feeling them?” Ari asked.

“Uh…”

“The suitcase! I don’t think I packed it in the truck! Shit!” Scott said as he took off running toward the truck.

“Jessie, did they just start, sweets?” Ellie asked me.

“Well, I felt the first one right about when Scott came out with y’all.”

“How many have you felt since then?” Heather asked as she dried off Libby.

“I think that was the third one?” I said as I watched Scott running like an idiot over to his truck.

The next thing I knew, my father was walking up. “Is it time?”

I honestly didn’t know what to say. Am I in labor? Is this it? “I don’t—”

“I’ve got it!” Scott yelled.

I looked past my father and saw Scott running back up. He had a huge smile on his face. The next thing I saw was Scott tripping over Scarlet, who had run in front of him and cut him off, while he was trying to hurdle the lounge chair, and then he landed in an awkward position.

The moment I heard him cry out in pain, my heart dropped to my stomach…and then I had a contraction.

“Oh my god!” I screamed out.

Ari and Heather were running toward Scott, but then they stopped and ran back to me.

“What?” Ari skidded to a stop in front of me.

I started shaking my head frantically. “I-I don’t know! Oh my god! Is he hurt? Ah…motherfucker!”

“Motherfucker, I want to be a motherfucking cowboy!” Matthew called out.

Sue and Mark walked up to him and started to tell him not to say that.

“But Jeff and Jessie said it,” Matt said.

Mark smiled. “At least we moved on from mudderfucker.”

Sue just looked at Mark, and I glanced back over toward Scott. Jeff and Gunner both ran into each other, trying to turn and go into the house, each saying something about getting ice. Jeff yelled out in pain, and Gunner tripped. He lost his balance, and he started to fall backward.

Oh no…this is not going to be good.

“Gunner! Watch out!” Ellie called.

Gunner reached for Jack, who reached for Greg, who reached for Mark…who saw what was about to happen and took a step back before Greg could grab a hold of him.

The next thing I knew, Gunner, Jack, and Greg were in the pool. Mark walked up behind Jeff and gave him a good push. Jeff ended up going into the water as well.

“Daddy!” Ari called out.

“What? He has a swimsuit on,” Mark said.

I couldn’t help but giggle at Jeff’s expression when he was getting out of the pool. I glanced up at my father, who was standing there, shaking his head along with Garrett.

“What in the hell is wrong with you group of people? My daughter is in labor, and you’re playing around!” Drake said.

I turned my head to see Scott sitting on the ground while Josh had ice on Scott’s ankle. I made my way to Scott and tried to get down, but I was so damn big that I could hardly move.

“Scott, are you okay?” I asked as I attempted to sit down on the lounge chair.

“Don’t sit. We’re going right now. We have to get you to the hospital.” Scott said in a panicked voice.

Josh helped Scott up as Matt came walking over.

“Scott, you assmole, you made me laugh with how you danced in the air,” Matt said with a laugh.