134
You pull me aside while we're taking photos and ask me what's going on.
"Nothing. I'm fine."
"You're lying. Tell me," you press.
The nagging pain starts again, and I squeeze your fingers hard, making you wince. It goes by fast, thank God.
"Lovely?"
I lean in and whisper. "Don't freak out. I'm having contractions."
You start panicking and tell me that we need to get to the hospital, but I stop you with a hand over your mouth. "I'm going to get through these pictures, and when it's over, we'll go. Today is Rose's day, and I'm not going to ruin that."
"I'm sure she'd understand."
"Bella! We're up," Rose calls, and I pry my hand out of your death grip.
"Trust me."
I pose with my best friend while you stand off to the side, pulling at the ends of your hair and pinching the bridge of your nose.
Rose is laughing and joking around, a complete opposite of how she was this morning and right before she walked down the aisle. She can finally relax, and I'm so happy for her.
"Are you and Edward riding with us to the banquet hall? There's more than enough room in the limo."
"No. The two of you deserve some privacy. I don't see you getting much of that at the reception."
She nods. "You're right. Thank you. For everything." She caresses my bump. "Especially with all the stuff you've got going on."
I cover her hand with mine. "Anytime. That's what best friends do for each other."
With a kiss to my cheek, Rose is whisked away by her new husband, and you stomp over to me.
"We're going to the hospital. Now."
"I'm going to need the bag we packed."
You look at me like I'm crazy and drag me to the truck.
"My contractions aren't consistent. We have plenty of time to run to the house and change."
You huff and agree until a painful contraction rips through me right as we pull up to the house, taking my breath away and making me cry out.
"I'm going to grab the bag. Stay here."
"But—"
"Damn it, Lovely. This is happening. Stop arguing with me."