I flipped the covers off her and noticed that her water had broken.
“Oh my God,” she murmured when she looked down. “That’s so gross.”
Panic was rising in my chest, but I managed to smile at her reaction. “It’s not gross,” I assured her.
She cringed and attempted to scoot from the bed on her own. “Don’t look at it, please.”
I scrambled to help my stubborn wife, wrapping my arm around her waist as she tried to fend me off.
“I have to go clean up, Lucian,” she said. “This is ridiculous.”
I couldn’t figure out why she had shut down until she glanced back at the bed, her shoulders weighted down with shame. She was embarrassed, and when I looked into her eyes, I knew it was because this had unexpectedly triggered a bad memory for her. A memory most likely from her childhood when her control had been taken from her.
I pulled her close despite her protests and kissed her forehead. “You are so beautiful, Gypsy.”
She looked up at me, surprised, and then buried her face against my chest.
“I want to be there for every second of this,” I told her. “Please don’t push me away. Nothing I see will ever change the way I feel about you.”
“You say that now,” she grunted as another contraction took possession of her body.
“I say it because it’s true,” I promised. “Remember that this trust thing works both ways.”
Her face softened, and she nodded before the door burst open and Birdie appeared, followed by Ace and Luna.
“It’s happening, isn’t it?” Birdie asked in a panicked voice. “Luna said it was happening.”
“Stop doing that.” Gypsy glared at Luna. “It creeps me out.”
Luna smiled sheepishly. “Sorry. Just a feeling.”
“We need to go,” I announced.
“Right,” Gypsy said. “We should probably do that after I change.”
I wanted to argue, but I knew it wasn’t something she would bend on. I helped her into the bathroom where she’d laid out a set of clothes for this time, so they were always ready.
“Lucian?” She looked up at me and waved her fingers in front of my face.
“Yes?”
“Can I get some privacy please?”
I winced, and she smiled. “It’ll be okay, I promise. Two minutes, that’s all I need. You can wait outside the door if you want.”
I waited outside the door, listening for any sound of possible issues. But Gypsy kept her word and reappeared within two minutes, dressed in yoga pants and a tank top, ready to go. I grabbed the duffle bag we’d packed and slung it over my shoulder, insisting that everyone get into the car immediately.
“Lucian.” Gypsy stopped me again, her smile assuring me she was much calmer than I currently felt.
“Yes?”
“You should probably put some clothes on too.”
I glanced down, and like an idiot, I was still wearing my briefs and nothing else. Angry with myself for wasting precious time, I handed the bag to Ace while I scrambled into the closet and threw on a pair of jeans and a tee shirt.
“It’s on backward.” Ace pointed at the shirt when I walked out.
“I don’t care.” I snatched the bag from him and took Gypsy’s hand in mine. “Let’s go.”