chapter twenty-two

When the big day finally arrived, Brian was thankful he had caught that plane at the last minute or else he would've missed everything. Jessica's water broke just hour after he got home.

Lauren and Jessica had everything down pat. They planned weeks before. There was a bag full of clothes near the door that Lauren could grab easily as they to the hospital.

Brian helped Jessica into the car while Lauren threw the bag in the trunk. She jumped in the back, already paging Kevin and the rest, telling them to meet them at the hospital. The hospital was close to them, luckily. When they got there, Lauren promised to fill out Jessica's paperwork while Brian and Jessica were escorted into the Delivery Room. While she did that, Kevin and Nick arrived with wild looks on their faces.

"Only family and spouse allowed in there, guys," Lauren told them before they even spoke a word, "Might as well park it in a seat over there."

They both nodded and promptly sat down. Nick started to drill her for imformation and Lauren obliged, patiently filling out the forms.

Howie, AJ and Jessica's parents arrived next. Lauren redirected Jessica's mom and dad to the Delivery Room. Then she coaxed Alex and Howie into their seats as well.

"This will be a while," Alex said with a sigh.

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Hours later and still no news from Brian or Jessica. Nick had slowly turned into a nervous wreck, agitating the hell out of Lauren. She wasn't sure how much more she could take. He was now pacing around the waiting room, ringing his hands. You'd swear that he was the father or something.

Everyone else was just as upset as Lauren was by Nick's constant questions. They just tried to ignore him, but that certainly wasn't an easy task.

Lauren finally flew off the handle. "Will you just sit down and shut up, Nick? You're making me nervous!"

Nick stopped and looked at her with a mean look on his face. "Excuse me for being the only asshole in here that's excited for them," he stated, hotly.

"Oh shut up. I'd like to know where you've been for the last nine months. If anyone's been supportive, it's me."

Kevin tensed up. This was not good.

"A good five of those months I was on the tour, Lauren!"

"Exactly. Those months I spent helping Jessica redo the baby's room!"

"Why are we even fighting about this? Why are you trying to outdo me?" Nick yelled.

"I was correcting you, dumbass. Get something straight for once!"

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"You always mess things up! You are a natural-born putz!" Lauren screamed back. She was oblivious to everyone in the waiting room besides Nick.

"Like you're any better!" Nick growled. "You act like you know what you're doing, even though you have no clue what the fuck is happening!"

AJ stood up and started to say, "You guys ---"

"Stay out of this, Alex! You have no part in this!"

"Don't yell at my friend!" Nick said to her.

"I'll yell at whoever I feel like yelling at and you can't stop me, Carter!"

"You know, that's another thing wrong with you. You never listen to anyone. Stop acting like such a stubborn child!"

Lauren laughed heartlessly. "I'm the child? At least I take responsibility for my actions. I don't whine or complain about it and I certainly don't point the finger of blame at someone else!"

Nick shook his head and muttered, "I can't believe I got back with you. Sometimes you drive me so insane. I'm beginning to like being single again."

Lauren couldn't believe it. He was not saying that to her face. Lauren felt the tears well up in her eyes.

Nick had his head in hand, shaking his head. He had a major headache coming on and this wasn't helping. Next thing he heard Lauren say, "I'm glad. Welcome back to being single!" Nick immediately lifted his head and saw her grabbing her coat and purse. "We're through! I'm booking next flight out of her. I'm so tired of this shit!" With that, she stormed out without even looking back again.

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chapter twenty-three