Fake Dating My Ex's Hockey Star Brother (Maya Scott) novel Chapter 137

Trigger Warning: This chapter contains depictions of pregnancy and childbirth, including labor pains, pushing, medical interventions (such as an epidural), bleeding, bodily fluids, and newborn care.

*****

BRAYDON’S POV

I’m a reasonably fit guy, but I’m fairly sure I can hear my finger bones grinding together.

“Get him out of me!!” Katy screams, her face a shade of purple I didn’t even know existed.” Get the goddamn baby out!”

“Y-You’re doing great, honey,” I squeak, trying to sound supportive while my own heart wants to jump out. “Just breathe. Remember the classes?”

She whips her head toward me, her eyes red and wild. “This is all your fault!” Even the nurses are trying to calm her. She winces through another contraction. “I can feel my soul leaving my body!”

“Baby… the nurse said the epidural takes a minute to-”

“It’s been forty minutes! I can feel everything!” She groans, tears streaming down her face. I want to tell her it’ll be over soon, but I can’t even begin to imagine what she’s feeling. And since I’m here to support her, I can’t admit I’m scared out of my mind and just want this to be over.

“Everything looks perfect,” one of the nurses says. “You’re at nine centimeters.”

“I don’t care about that!” Katy roars, collapsing back against the pillows, and gasping. Her eyes lock onto mine, wide and watery.

“Braydon?”

“Yeah, babe?” I panic.

“Tell the doctor to pull him out.”

“I… I don’t think it works like that,” I manage.

“Make it work!” she shrieks as another contraction hits and her grip tightens until I’m sure something in my hand finally gives.

“I can’t-” she chokes. “I can’t stop it. I need to push.”

The nurse is instantly at her side. “Don’t push yet, Katy. Just pant for me. Short breaths.”

“I can’t,” she sobs. “It’s happening anyway.”

The monitor spikes, and the room shifts from tense to urgent. Everything is happening so fast, and I have absolutely no control. I clamp my hands together, unsure if that even counts as help.

“Doctor’s on the way,” someone says. “Let’s check her.”

The nurse’s gloved hand disappears beneath the sheet and seconds stretch. I don’t know. what I’m supposed to do, so I settle for staying still, staying here and holding my ground is all I can do.

“Okay,” the nurse says, lifting her head. “Let’s do this.”

Katy lets out a broken laugh that sounds more like a cry and she looks at me like she’s drowning. “I can’t do this, Braydon.”

Something tight and hot twists in my chest. I want to lie, I want to promise I’ll make it stop but I can’t do either.

I lean down, pressing my forehead to hers. “You’re strong, baby. So strong. I’m right here, holding your hands. We’ll do this together.”

The doctor steps in, snapping on gloves. “Alright. With the next contraction, I want you to push.”

I brace myself beside her, heart hammering.

She stiffens again.

“Now,” one of the nurses says. “Deep breath, then push.”

Katy’s face crumples. She drags in a breath that sounds like it hurts, then bears down with everything she has. I slide my arm behind her shoulders, holding her up, and bracing her.

“That’s it,” I say, even though I have no idea if it is. “I’ve got you. I’m right here.”

She cries out, screaming something about burns, and the sound tears through me. I’ve never felt so useless in my life. I’d trade places with her in a second if it meant she wouldn’t be in pain.

“That’s the crowning, Katy,” the doctor announces. “The head is right there so don’t stop now. Give me everything.”

She collapses against me, gasping, her forehead slick with sweat, and lips trembling.

“Baby… stay with me,” I beg.

“I can’t,” she whimpers. “I…can’t.”

Another contraction builds and I feel it in the way her fingers dig into my arm, the way her breath stutters.

“Big one coming,” the nurse warns.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify