She looked into my eyes, and tears lined her eyelashes.

“I wasn’t trying to make you cry.”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Yes I was trying to make you cry?”

“Yes, I’ll marry you, you idiot.” She gave me a watery chuckle. “Yes. Yes. Yes.”

“I love you.” I leaned forward and kissed her. She fell back on the bed, pulling me with her.

“I love you too.”

EPILOGUE

I HATE HIM,” SAM declared loudly.

“No you don’t,” I said.

“I do. I hate him.” She glared over her shoulder at Alex. “And his stupid penis.”

“It’s going to be worth it.” I pushed her IV as she walked around the large birthing suite.

“I want to put his penis in clamps.” She grunted and bent over a bit. Alex was on his feet in a heartbeat but I waved him away.

“Breathe, Sam.”

“I’m . . . breathing.” She stood up once the contraction passed. “What was I saying? Clamps. Industrial clamps. That’ll almost make it even.”

I winced at the thought and had to consciously force myself to not fondle my goods. Looking toward the door, I wished that Meredith or Cathy were here to deal with this, but both had been hours away when Sam went into labor.

So, here I was, with my very pregnant, very angry sister-in-law. Anytime Alex took a step in her direction she would growl. And honestly, seeing how much pain she was in, I didn’t blame her.

“Have you picked a name yet?” I asked as we started walking again.

“Ha. I’m not telling you. You just want to win that stupid bet.” She glanced at me.

“Nah. I’m just trying to distract you.” I kept pace with her slow waddle. It was like walking with a giant penguin. A giant, pissed-off penguin.

“Where are Cathy and Meredith? You look too much like Alex.”

“They’re on their way.” Please, God, let them get here soon.

“I brought a birthing ball!” Chadwick walked into the room with a giant rubber ball. It looked like something from a yoga studio.

“What?” Sam turned to look at her assistant.

“You sit on it and bounce. It’s supposed to help.” He put the ball down next to the bed.

“I’ll try anything.” Sam waddled over to the ball. I grabbed one arm while Chadwick grabbed the other. “I feel like I’m going to fall over.”

“The instructions said to lean forward a little.”

“Don’t let me fall,” Sam told us.

“Yes, ma’am,” I said.

“Don’t patronize me.”

“Sorry.”

“Now, just bounce gently. It’s supposed to help get the baby in position and lessen some of the pain,” Chadwick told her.

“Okay.” Sam closed her eyes as another contraction hit her.

“We’re here!” Cathy announced as she, David, and Meredith walked through the door.

Sam tried to stand up, and that was the moment her water broke. It dribbled down her legs onto the ball, the floor, and my shoes. It took some doing, but I was able to keep my face blank.

“Are you okay?” Alex was by my side before I could comprehend what had happened.

“Whoa.” Cathy’ s voice sounded small.

“Oh no.” Sam’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m so sorry, Max, Chadwick.”

“It’s okay.” I leaned forward and kissed her head before letting Alex take my spot.

“Hey, that’s exactly what you wanted to happen.” Meredith took Chadwick’s place. “This is good, it means the labor will go faster.”

“I know, but it got all over them!” Sam’s bottom lip trembled.

“They don’t care,” Meredith assured her. “Do you?”

“Nope,” I agreed.

“Not at all. I even wore shoes that could get dirty just in case.” Chadwick lifted his foot.

“Should we get the nurse?” Alex asked.

“Yes.”

“On it!” Cathy hollered as she ran out of the room. David rocked back and forth on his feet, looking incredibly uncomfortable.

“Let’s get you back in the bed. They’re going to need to check you.” Meredith steered Sam toward the hospital bed but glanced in my direction. “Would you go out with Marty? He’s in the waiting room with Charles.”

“I’ll join you,” David announced. “I think I’m just in the way here.”

“Of course.” I went to the bed and kissed Sam’s head. “Don’t kill anyone while I’m gone, okay?”

“Okay.” She smiled at me briefly. “Thanks for letting me take it out on you.”

“I’ll find a way to pay you back.” I winked at her as I left the room and made my way down the hall. The waiting room was full of other families waiting on their newest addition. Some of them watched me as I walked out, but for the most part they were more interested in what was happening with their own loved ones.

“We’re over here.” Marty waved at me. He was sitting with Charles next to a vending machine.

“What are you playing?” I looked down at his handheld game.

“Day of Doom Two.”

“I thought your mom said you couldn’t have that one.” I frowned.

“Charles got it for me.” The boy shrugged, never taking his eyes from the zombies he was killing.