Page 50 of Run To You
Bella snorts. “Because she knew this would be your reaction. Just stay north of the wall and you’ll be fine.”
“North of the wall?” Eden asks. Her brain is not computing at all.
“Yeah, you know. Above the pubic area.”
If it’s possible, Eden goes even paler. “I do not want to see Pia’s pubic line,” she declares, and it takes all my self-control not to laugh.
“Eden,” I say, snagging her attention. “All you have to do is stand by her head, hold her hand and encourage her. She’s going to need support in there, and she loves you more than anyone.”
“It’s true,” Todd chimes in, looking a little better. “I think she loves you more than me nowadays.”
“That’s because you’re responsible for the alien growing inside her,” Bella unhelpfully adds.
“Hey, it takes two, you know,” he argues.
“This is not the time,” I call, making sure my voice is louder than either of theirs. “You two,” pointing at Todd and Eden, “need to get your butts in that room and help her through this. Now!”
The forcefulness of my voice seems to snap Eden out of her panic. She shakes her head, wipes a hand down her face and does a couple of on-the-spot jumps. It’s what she does when she’s preparing for a race.
“You’re totally right. Come on, Todd, we’ve got a half-crazed woman to support!”
I smile as she leans in and kisses me gently before swiveling on her heel and walking off with purpose. Todd stumbles after her, looking less confident.
Satisfied Pia has her people, I turn to Jenna, Bella, and Becca. “Okay, troops. We need to make some phone calls. Who has Pia’s parents’ cell number?”
“I do. I’ll try them now,” Becca says, whipping out her phone and heading outside.
“Jenna, can you call your parents? If Pia’s family are far away, she’s going to need some parental backup.”
Jenna grins. “Already done, Sloane. Mum and Dad should be here any minute.”
I high-five her. “Perfect. Bella, can I have the key to your apartment? Eden is going to need a change of clothes.”
“I’ll go,” she says. “I can pick us up some snacks while I’m out. Hospitals freak me out.”
That’s fair. I’m not sure I know anyone who likes sitting in a hospital. Becca
returns, and I see from her face the news is less than ideal.
“So, I got hold of them,” she says stiffly.
“Are they on their way?” Jenna asks.
Becca simply shakes her head.
“What do you mean?” Bella asks, looking perplexed. “You told them she’s literally giving birth, right?”
Becca rolls her head. “No, babe, I told them Pia was doing cartwheels in the street. Of course I told them.”
“And?” I ask, knowing I’m not going to like what Becca says.
“They said they’d see her in a few months, and that they’ll get a nanny installed at the house next week.”
“What the fuck!” Bella shouts. “They can’t be serious?”
My heart aches. I knew Pia’s parents were always absent, but I never thought they’d leave her like this. With the money they have, they could literally go anywhere in the world whenever they wanted to, so why the hell aren’t they on the first private flight back to Colorado?
The double doors swish open and Eden’s parents rush in. They search frantically until they see us.
