35. Evie

Chapter 35

Evie

Forget pregnancy exhaustion. Championship fatigue was kicking my ass.

The events were endless. The entire city was celebrating.

Jenner had begged me to stay home from the parade, and it hadn't taken much convincing to agree. As much as I wanted to support him, the idea of sitting in the hot June sun for hours in the back of a pickup truck sounded like torture in my current condition. But even watching it on TV, my skin broke out in goosebumps. The sheer volume of people who packed the streets of downtown Indianapolis was mind-blowing. I couldn't have been more proud of my husband and his teammates for bestowing upon their loyal fans the chance to celebrate with them.

Even outside of Speed-organized celebrations, fireworks were being set off nightly. It grated on my already frayed nerves, not only for waking Hope but for making it impossible for me to sleep as well. As soon as I would drift off, a sharp crack or bang would sound, and I'd be jolted from a restless slumber.

I certainly hadn't been ready for the attention winning a championship would bring to the players. Sure, Jenner was often recognized in public, but fans were generally respectful of our privacy. Now that the Speed had won and Jenner, in particular, was the one who'd scored the winning goal, all boundaries had vanished.

I was still shaken from how we'd practically been mobbed at the medical center when we'd arrived for our most recent appointment to check on the twins.

While we were stuck in Indy for the summer, most of Jenner's teammates would be splitting off to various locations around the globe. That meant tonight was their last hurrah, and maybe we could find some peace before our lives descended into chaos with three babies on our hands.

Jenner could tell I was worn down and offered to let me stay home, but I wanted a chance to say goodbye to our friends. It would be months before we saw them again, and by then, everything would be different.

I'd watched Tessa struggle to get her two little ones to games, and they were a little less than two years apart. I wasn't sure when I'd be comfortable leaving the house with all three alone for playdates, let alone attending Jenner's games to catch up with the ladies.

While I'd insisted we attend the massive blowout party for the team and their families, my ass was parked on an outdoor couch under an umbrella. The pool looked cool and inviting as I sweated like a pig on the humid summer day, but there was no way I was attempting a dip. Not only were there too many kids splashing around, I wasn't sure I'd be able to get back out on my own.

My overly attentive husband never left my side for more than a few minutes, only long enough to fetch me cold water and food. Third-trimester heartburn was a bitch, and I could only manage a few bites here and there without aggravating it.

Thankfully, the ladies were content to hang out in the shade with me. While I could blame my exhaustion on pregnancy, theirs stemmed from being hungover.

Lucky bitches. What I wouldn't give for an ice-cold margarita right about now.

The guys decided to take the kids for a dip in the pool, and I couldn't put my phone down, snapping pic after pic of Hope in a big floppy hat strapped beneath her chin as she swam for the first time with her daddy.

"Ugh," Bristol groaned beside me. "Watching men with babies should be illegal. My ovaries are about to explode."

"Sure, it looks cute now"—I gestured to my gigantic belly—"but remember, sacrifices must be made."

Tessa reached forward to squeeze my hand. "How you hanging in there?"

Groaning, I shifted on the cushion, trying to find a spot that gave me any kind of relief. "Ready to be done, that's for sure."

She gave me a sympathetic smile. "Pretty soon, this will all be a memory, trust me. The end feels like it takes forever when you're in it, but when you look back, it went by in a flash."

I'd just found a position that was mildly comfortable when whichever little rascal was at the top shoved down on his brother, pressing his head directly into my bladder. I felt the tiniest gush and cringed. Bladder control this late in the game was becoming a real problem.

Wincing, I scooched forward to the end of the couch. "Sorry, guys, gotta pee."

Tessa and Dakota stood, each offering a hand to help me up.

Jenner's voice reached me from a few feet away. "You okay, babe?"

I waved a dismissive hand, rolling my eyes. "Bathroom."

He nodded, knowing the drill. Shifting his gaze to Tessa, he asked, "Mind going with her?"

"My pleasure." Tessa linked her arm with mine, leading me into the massive house of the team's owner, who was throwing our farewell bash.

When the air conditioning hit me square in the face, I sighed. "Damn, it feels good in here."

Tessa offered, "I can be a lookout if you wanna crash in here for a bit."

"As amazing as that sounds, it wouldn't last long. Jenner will panic if I don't come right back." I tried to keep the annoyance from my tone. I knew he was on edge as we inched closer to the boys' arrival, and he wanted to make sure all of us were safe and well cared for.

"He loves you." My friend bumped me with her shoulder. "He's just dealing with that expectant father anxiety. Asher was a total mess before Ollie was born. Trust me."

"Yeah . . ."

We reached the door designated for the powder room, and Tessa pushed it open.

"Need me to come in with you in case you need help getting up?"

She was only half teasing, and it made me laugh. "Appreciate the offer, but I think I can handle it on my own."

Nodding, she stepped aside. "Sounds good. I'll hang here till you get out."

Entering the bathroom, I closed and locked the door behind me. A peek at my reflection in the mirror had my nose wrinkling. My ponytail was a mess, sweaty pieces of blonde hair now framed my face, and half of my makeup had damn near melted off. I could fix that when I was done, but right now, I couldn't ignore that I really needed to pee.

Sighing in relief when my bladder emptied, I flushed and moved to the sink. After washing my hands with soap, I used them to cup water before leaning down to wash my face. No makeup at all was better than the look I had going on now.

As I straightened up, I felt another gush.

Aggravated, I groaned.

Seriously? My bladder is freaking empty. Where the hell is this coming from?

Shaking my head, I blamed it on the ridiculous amount of water Jenner was forcing on me. He'd upped my intake by fifty percent, claiming that heat-inducing sweating required more fluid replacement.

A light knock sounded on the door. "You okay in there?"

Drying my hands on the hand towel, I opened the door. "Yep. Better get back out there before they organize a search party."

Back beneath the umbrella, the girls were telling me about their summer homes.

Dakota and Braxton had a brand-new lake house in Minnesota, a wedding gift from Braxton's brother and sister-in-law. I gawked at her when she told me that, but I suppose a man who made an eight-figure annual salary had nothing better to do with his money than spend it on the people he loved.

Tessa and Asher, and two of my favorite little munchkins, would be off to San Diego. I couldn't wait to see those babies all bronzed up when they returned in the fall.

Then, there was Bristol and Maddox. I already knew Maddox summered in Seattle, but the couple would be spending some time in Hartford this offseason, as Bristol wanted to get married near her family.

A tiny pang of regret hit me in the chest that we wouldn't be able to attend, especially after the large role Maddox had played in our wedding—technically, wedding s .

When they asked where Jenner and I usually summered, I was just about to open my mouth to tell them that, typically, we split time between his family in Boston and mine in Oklahoma when another small gush happened between my thighs.

My disgust must've been evident on my face because each woman noticed instantly, leaning forward with concerned expressions as they all spoke at the same time.

"What's wrong?"

"Is it the babies?"

"Should we go get Jenner?"

I shook my head, palming my belly. "I'm fine. Apparently, these babies are using my bladder as a trampoline."

"Totally normal but super annoying," Tessa remarked as the only other mother amongst us.

Bristol hopped up. "I've gotta go too." She extended her arms. "Up you go, Momma."

Once I was on my feet, a quick peek at the pool confirmed Jenner was tracking my movement. One of his auburn eyebrows arched high enough that it almost disappeared beneath his backward-facing ballcap.

Again? he mouthed.

I shrugged. I wasn't the one calling the shots right now.

Alone in the bathroom, I ditched the wet panties. Continuing to wear them would only add to my growing list of ailments.

This time, I didn't even make it off the toilet before another gush happened.

"Fucking hell!" I yelled in frustration. This was getting old fast.

Bristol's panicked voice called through the thick wood door. "Evie?"

"I'm fine," I called back.

Quickly washing my hands, I flung the door open, plastering a bright smile on my face. "See?"

Blue eyes full of doubt scanned me from head to toe. Twisting her lips to the side, she nodded. "Okay."

"You go ahead. I'm gonna head back out."

Bristol stepped past me and into the bathroom as I made my way back to the patio. Jenner had a towel wrapped around his waist, and another threatened to swallow Hope whole in his arms.

I reached out to take my bundled-up baby, not caring one bit that her wet body made my clothing damp. "Did you have fun, baby girl?"

"She's a natural," Asher remarked. "Big smiles the whole time."

Cuddling Hope close, I rocked from side to side. "Maybe you'll be a swimmer like Auntie Blake." Jenner's older sister had been a competitive swimmer in her younger days, earning multiple gold medals in the International Games. That family was good at breeding athletes.

Jenner dipped his head beside my ear. "You okay?"

Turning, I kept my voice low, not wanting to share my embarrassing situation with the group. "I'm leaking, and it's driving me insane."

Rearing back, his eyebrows rose. "What do you mean you're leaking?"

Widening my eyes so he understood I didn't want to have this conversation publicly, I whispered, "I keep peeing myself."

Gaze dipping to my belly, he asked, "Are you sure that's all it is?"

That's when my frustration finally boiled over, and I yelled, "What do you want me to tell you, Jenner? Your big ass babies are wreaking havoc on my bladder!"

Several heads turned in our direction, and Asher snickered only to have Tessa elbow him in the ribs. He held his hands up. "Sorry. Just been there and realizing it's a lot more amusing from this side."

Folding both arms over his chest, Jenner challenged, "Has it happened like this before?"

Through gritted teeth, I uttered, "I'd prefer not to have this conversation in public."

Not backing down, my infuriating husband said, "Only trying to determine if we need to head to the hospital."

I stumbled back, bumping into Maddox, who gripped my biceps to keep me steady. Muttering a quick thank you to the man behind me, I gaped at Jenner.

"Not everything is an emergency," I shot back.

He raised an eyebrow in challenge. "You still haven't answered my question from earlier. Have you experienced leaking like this before?" Brown eyes narrowed. "And don't you dare lie to me, Evie Knight."

I tilted my face skyward, letting out a heavy breath. "Fine. No, I haven't."

"You can yell at me later for being overbearing if it turns out to be a false alarm, but we're going to get you checked out. Dr. Roberts said if even the tiniest thing felt off, we were to come straight in."

"Fine. Whatever." I huffed.

Bristol had returned at some point during this battle of wills and jumped up and down, clapping her hands. "Oooh! Is it baby time?"

"No," I said at the same time Jenner said, "Maybe."

I shot him a glare, but he was already grabbing our stuff, looking around at his best friends and teammates. "Okay, I wasn't drinking, but who else is sober enough to get Hope home and stay with her for at least a few hours?"

Everyone glanced around nervously. Of course, they'd all been drinking. We were at a celebration expected to last several more hours, and they still had plenty of time to sober up before driving home.

"Wait, I got it!" Dakota shouted, running off.

Staring at her retreating form, Jenner groaned. "I'm almost afraid to ask."

"Someone need a ride?" A voice came from behind us.

Okay, Dakota was kinda brilliant.

Goose came into view, a giant smile splitting his face. The loveable lug never drank, and we could trust that he would get Hope home safely.

Jenner tossed him the keys to our van. "You're on Hope duty." To the rest of the group, he explained, "We're gonna need a car. Goose's sports car is way too low for Evie."

Maddox stepped up, placing a keyfob in Jenner's hand. "Take mine. Bristol will go with Goose and Hope. I'll take his car to your house as soon as I'm good to drive, and we'll wait for your call."

Bristol squealed, "This is so exciting!"

Everyone would be so disappointed when Jenner's overreaction turned out to be nothing.

"It's a good thing you came in," Dr. Roberts remarked, tossing a pair of latex gloves into the trash. "Most people expect their water breaking to be this dramatic event, but if the membranes rupture higher up, it can be more of a slow leak and easy to miss."

Oh, I wanted nothing more than to punch the smug look off Jenner's face where he stood beside my hospital bed in the labor and delivery unit.

Folding her arms over navy blue scrubs, she offered me a bright smile. "Looks like these little guys are ready to make their grand entrance."

My anxiety shot sky-high at the thought.

This was it. After months of planning and preparation, it sank in that today was the day.

And God help me, I wasn't ready. I wasn't sure if I ever would be.

"You have a couple of options. The first is we get you prepped for a C-section, and you can meet these babies within the next few hours. Or, since Baby A is head down, you can opt to give natural delivery a try."

This was all too much, and it was happening too fast. Panicked, I turned to Jenner with wide eyes.

He held his hands up. "Don't look at me. I'm a smart enough man to know that I can't tell you what to do with your body."

Stupid, respectful man.

"Hey." Jenner gripped my hand, his brown eyes softening. "Whatever you want to do, I'm on board."

I'd spent almost my entire adult life waiting for this moment. With Hope already at home and the absolute miracle that gifted us these twin boys, I knew this might be my only chance.

So, scared out of my fucking mind, I turned back to Dr. Roberts. "I'd like to try a natural delivery."

She nodded. "Fine by me. And don't feel like if you want to change your mind at any time, you can't. I'm here to support you and get those boys here safely. If that means laboring for a while and deciding it's not for you, there's no shame in that. Got it?"

I swallowed past the lump in my throat. "Thank you."

"My pleasure. I'll be back in a few hours to check on you. Hit the call button on your remote if you need anything in the meantime."

With that, she left the room.

Jenner stood, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "You're amazing, you know that?"

I snorted. "Yeah, okay."

"No, I mean it. You kept our boys safe and sound for so long. I'm so proud of you."

When I dared peek at him, nothing but love and adoration shone in his dark brown eyes. That was enough to give me the tiny boost of courage I needed to face this challenge head-on.

Stroking my cheek with his thumb, he asked, "How are you feeling?"

Taking a mental inventory of the current state of my body, I shrugged. "A little crampy. It's not too bad."

Paige had told me labor felt like bad period cramps, so if that's all I was up against, I was sure I could handle it.

"This was a terrible idea," I panted, dropping back onto the sweat-soaked pillow behind my head.

Letting me squeeze the hell out of his hand through another contraction, Jenner said, "At the risk of losing my balls, I have to point out that this was your idea."

Head whipping to the side, the death glare I shot him was enough to have him rearing back with terror in his eyes.

He nodded. "You're right. Should've kept that one to myself."

I blew out a heavy breath as the vise grip around my belly loosened. It was only a temporary reprieve, but I relished those brief moments of relief.

"Yeah, well. That was before I was a tired, hot, sweaty mess whose entire body feels like a massive ball of pain." I sucked in a few shallow breaths, which was all my massive belly would allow.

"I know, baby." Jenner used his free hand to brush the sweaty strands of hair away from my face. "But you're getting there, and I'm in awe of your strength."

I huffed. Strength, my ass. I was barely surviving.

The hospital gown had gone by the wayside hours ago because I was in danger of overheating. Currently, all that covered me was a sports bra and the multiple monitors strapped to my bare belly. Even the thin blanket covering my hips and legs was too much, and I kept kicking it further down the bed.

Jenner grasped the edge to bring it back up, and my voice took on an almost demon-like quality when I threatened, "Do it one more time. I fucking dare you."

Shocked, wide eyes shifted to peek at me, and he dropped the material but couldn't let the subject go. "I'm trying to keep you covered." Gesturing to my lower half, he explained, "You're not wearing any underwear."

Did he think I didn't know that? Because believe me , I did.

"What are you worried about?" I challenged. "This whole thing doesn't happen without everyone who has or will walk through that door being all up in my business. So, what's the point of modesty? They're gonna see it at some point anyway, and half the staff has had their arm shoved so far inside me I swear it tickled my eyeballs."

Grimacing, Jenner backed off. "Got it."

I opened my mouth for another snarky remark, knowing full well that I wasn't in my right mind at the moment, but another contraction ramping up stole my attention.

Not gonna lie; this was way worse than period cramps. I was being squeezed tighter than that one time I'd tried shapewear. It had only taken once to learn my lesson that I never wanted to put myself through that torture ever again. It was uncomfortable as fuck, and I could barely breathe.

Only this was worse. I couldn't escape it, and the vise tightened at a faster and stronger clip each time.

"Fuck," I hissed, jaw clenched tight.

"You've got this, baby. Keep breathing. Mind over matter." Jenner's soothing words only served to set me further on edge.

"Shut up," I gritted out. "You're not helping."

A sigh slipped past my lips as I was released from the evil clutches of my traitorous uterus when Dr. Roberts walked in. "How's everything going in here?"

"I want the drugs. All of the drugs. Like, yesterday. Please help me," I begged.

Coming closer, she patted my leg. "I'm honestly surprised you've lasted this long without them. Let's see where you're at, and we can decide where to go from there."

I fought the urge to scream during her internal exam.

"You've made great progress, Evie." She beamed at me while removing her hand from between my legs. "You're sitting just shy of six centimeters, so I'd like to get you moved to the OR, where they can place your epidural, and the anesthesiologist will remain with us until you deliver."

"The OR?" Jenner's voice rose in pitch as he went rigid beside me.

Dr. Roberts nodded, addressing him. "We've been over this, Jenner. It's only a precaution. And it also provides more space. While my team will be focused on Evie, there will be a dedicated team for each baby."

"Right." He nodded, squeezing my hand tighter.

I couldn't help but smirk, coaxing, "Breathe, baby."

Jenner's jaw tightened, but he didn't say a word.

Yeah, not so funny now, is it?

"As long as I get the best drugs money can buy, I don't care which room we do this in."

Chuckling, Dr. Roberts replied, "Sounds about right. I'll get to work setting all of that up now. Jenner, a nurse will bring you scrubs to change into when we're ready to move Evie, and once we're all set up, they'll bring you to where she is."

"Wait." He held up a hand. "I can't go with her?"

"As soon as she's settled, they'll bring you in. It's standard procedure. I promise."

Jenner grudgingly agreed, though I could feel the tension vibrating off his body by my side. He didn't want to be separated from me, and I could appreciate that, but we had to let the team of doctors do their jobs.

"Hey," I said softly, and he dropped his gaze to where I lay in bed. "It's just for a few minutes. I'll be fine."

Dusting his lips over my knuckles, he let out a heavy exhale. "Okay. Just for a few minutes," he agreed.