Part 18 (1/2)

”Yeah, she's doing great. Luke is too, surprisingly. It shouldn't be too much longer.”

”You should have called.” His voice is cold again, and I'm tired, and I do not need this right now.

”I already apologized.”

”I've been worried. Also, what the f.u.c.k happened to the report I asked you to send me?”

”What are you talking about? I finished it and asked Jenny to send it for me because I forgot to hit send on the email before I ran out of the office. She sent me a text and said that it was done.” What the h.e.l.l happened to my report?

”I got it, but it was half-a.s.sed done. That's not like you.”

”That report was perfect, Nate. I don't know what the h.e.l.l you're talking about.” I run my hand through my hair in frustration.

”When I'm out here alone I need to be able to depend on you to do your job in the office, Julianne.”

”You're not alone. Ask Carly to fix the f.u.c.king report, Nate. She should be earning her paycheck while she's with you.” Now I'm just f.u.c.king p.i.s.sed off.

There's silence on the other end of the line, and finally, Nate responds with a deceptively quiet, ”What are you talking about? Carly isn't in New York.”

”But you sent for her.”

”Why would I do that?” his voice is raising and I take a deep breath.

”Clearly there's been a misunderstanding,” I say as calmly as possible.

”Obviously.”

”Look, Nate, I'm sorry. I need to get back to Natalie. I don't have time for you to get protective and bossy and needy on me today.”

”That's what you think I'm doing?” He asks and I cringe at the hurt in his voice.

”That's exactly what you're doing.”

”No, Julianne, I'm not being bossy or needy. I have been worried about the woman I care about because I couldn't reach you today.” I've hurt his feelings.

”Nate,” I sigh and rub my forehead. ”Maybe we should just talk when you get home.”

”What are you saying?” His voice is hushed and nervous.

”I need to deal with this right now and you need to focus on the deal out there. I'll be in the office tomorrow to help you from there, and I'll try to clean up the d.a.m.n report mess and get it to you asap. We'll just talk about the rest of it when you get home. I don't have time for this relations.h.i.+p bulls.h.i.+t right now.”

”That's what we are to you, Julianne? Bulls.h.i.+t?”

f.u.c.k. No! This is all coming out wrong, and I need to get back to Natalie!

”I have to go.”

”If that's the way you want it, fine, but know this, baby; you're only off the hook because I'm three thousand f.u.c.king miles away and can't get to you right now.”

”Jesus you're such a caveman, Nate.”

”Text me later and let me know you're safe. I'll talk to you tomorrow night.”

”I thought you were staying until Thursday?”

”I changed my mind.” The line goes dead and I hang my head. I shouldn't have been so mean to him.

I walk back into Natalie's room and all h.e.l.l has broken loose.

”I was only gone for five minutes. What the h.e.l.l?”

Natalie's feet are in stirrups, and the doctor is sitting on a stool between her legs. There are two nurses bustling about the room, and a baby cradle with a heating lamp has been wheeled into the room.

”She's about ready to push,” Luke says, his eyes desperate with worry and fear.

”Wow, that epidural is a miracle.”

”Holy, s.h.i.+t, I have to push.” Natalie is writhing on the bed, and if it wasn't my best friend, I'd say it looks like something out of a horror movie.

”Okay, we're ready, Natalie. If you feel like you have to push with the contraction, go ahead.”

”It's too hot in here.” She yanks the blanket off her and throws it onto the floor, not giving two s.h.i.+ts about being naked in front of all of us. Well, she is wearing a black sports bra, so just the bottom half is naked.

I glance down, then feel my jaw drop. It's not the fact that her who-ha is out there on display, but what's right above it that gives me pause.

”Jesus H. Christ, Natalie, you have a tattoo on your v.a.g.i.n.a!”

Chapter Sixteen.

”Six pounds, ten ounces!” Nurse Ashlynn declares proudly as little baby Olivia lays on the baby scale crying angrily. I raise Nat's camera to my face and snap a long stream of photos, capturing the weight on the machine in the photo, in case anyone ever has the audacity to forget. Zooming in on her tiny feet and fingers, I snap more photos before they wrap Olivia up in a pink and blue hospital baby blanket.

Luke is beside me, gazing down at his dark-haired daughter, with such love in his eyes. When the baby was born and placed on Natalie's belly, he and Natalie were both a crying wreck, and if I'm honest, I was too.

”Thank you for letting me be here.” His blue eyes slide over to mine, and he wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me to his side.

”We love you, Jules. It's right that you're here.”

Oh. Well, that just makes me cry again.

”G.o.d I'm a blubbering mess.”

Luke laughs at me and takes his little bundle from the nurse, kissing Olivia's tiny little forehead softly.

”She is so beautiful,” he whispers.

”Hey! Can I hold her?” Natalie calls from the bed, all covered up now, thank Jesus.