Page 105 of Finding Hayes
I laughed because seeing this big guy cradling this little puppy made my chest squeeze.
“Shhhh… he just fell asleep,” Hayes hissed at River, and everyone laughed.
After a few minutes, I convinced him to put the dog in his crate so we could have cake.
We sang “Happy Birthday,” and Hayes pretended to be annoyed, but I saw beneath it all. He loved it. The way his eyes kept finding mine, and his lips turned up just the slightest bit in the corners as everyone sang.
“Thank you,” he said, and he blew out the candles before tugging them out of the cake and licking the icing off the bottom.
“You didn’t make a wish,” Kingston said.
“I forgot you two and your dandelions are all about the wishes. Maybe mine already came true.” Hayes winked at me.
“Oh, boy.” Demi’s voice broke through the loud celebration, and we all turned to look at her. She stared down at the floor, which was covered in water. “I think we’re having a baby, Golden Boy.”
“Holy motherfucking shit balls!” Romeo shouted, runninghis hands all over her body like she’d just been in an accident. “Baby. Are you hurt?”
Emerson was at her side as Cutler gaped up at Romeo. “Uncle Ro must be scared because he just said all the bad words.”
“It’s all right. He’s just nervous,” Nash said, clapping Romeo on the shoulder.
“She’s okay, but we need to get to the hospital right now. Looks like we’re having a baby tonight,” Emerson said.
“I’m so sorry about the mess.” Demi stared down at the water on the floor. “You guys stay here. I don’t want to ruin the party. We’ll keep you posted.”
“Oh, hell no.” Hayes picked up the cake and told King to grab the plates. “We’re all going to the hospital. We can eat cake there.”
Demi tried to argue that we didn’t need to leave, but no one was having it. It was like a three-ring circus, the way everyone was frantically grabbing their keys.
“What about Roddy?” Cutler asked, and Hayes and I came to a stop as we glanced at him in his crate.
“I’ve got him. You go. I can hang here or bring him to your house and sit with him there,” Stella said, surprising everyone.
Hayes leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Thanks, Mom. There’s a key under the orange flowerpot in the backyard. You can take him to our house, and we’ll meet you back there after.”
“You got it. Go.” She hurried us out the door.
Peyton and Slade had insisted on driving Romeo’s truck, and Emerson piled in with them just in case there were any issues, and we all followed them to the hospital like a large caravan.
“I can’t believe they’re having a baby tonight. On your birthday,” I said, as we drove the short distance to the hospital.
“You think she’s okay? She’s not due for another week, right? Is that fine? Is it too early?” he asked, and I could hear the fear in his voice.
This was his family.
Our family.
“It’s totally fine to be a few days early. The doctor told her last week it could happen any time.”
“All right. That’s good. I can’t believe how calm she was. Romeo looked like he was about to pass out.”
I chuckled as we pulled into the parking spot beside Kingston and Saylor. Ruby and River parked on the other side of us, and Nash and Cutler were beside them.
We all hustled into the waiting room, and Kingston had the cake and the plates with him.
Peyton and Slade were there, pacing in the waiting room. Slade was on the phone with his parents, and Peyton filled us in. “They took her back. Emerson went with them.”
“Pops, is my Sunny going to deliver my new brother?” Cutler asked.
