“Yeah, but Tim can wait. You’re more important.” Especially when you’re looking at me like I’m a hero.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Yuna
I don’t know how long I wait, hunched in the uncomfortable plastic seat. As the minutes tick by, my nerves grow tauter and tauter.
Declan stays with me the entire time, patting my shoulder periodically. Although he’s acting like it’s nothing for him to stay with me, I know he has better things to do with his time. Like meet with Tim.
But I’m glad Declan’s here. Court, Edgar, Nate and Wyatt are busy with their women. And I’m sure Jo and Evie are wondering how bad Ivy’s labor is, since they’re both expecting.
It’s almost ten p.m. now. Ivy said she didn’t want to do a C-section, but it’s been too long, hasn’t it? My stomach’s so tight that I can’t drink anything, even though Declan offers me water.
Tony finally comes out, his eyes bloodshot and hair messy. He looks so haggard, if I didn’t know better, I might think he went through the labor himself. Given how much he loves Ivy, he might as well have—emotionally, at least.
Without thinking, I reach for Declan’s hand, and he squeezes me back.
Tony takes a deep breath. “Thanks for waiting, everyone. Ivy had the twins, and you all can go say hello to the little ones.”
My shoulders sag with relief, then I smile as joy courses through me.
“Finally!” Nate says.
“How’s she doing?” I ask.
Tony smiles. “Both mother and children are fine. Tired, but fine.”
Thank God. I start to stand up, then wince when my legs refuse to support me. My whole body aches, and I realize I’ve been tense for hours. My shoulders burn worse than the time I practiced the piano for seven hours straight just to annoy my dad and show him I wasn’t going to give up on music.
Declan catches my wrist. “You okay?”
“Just a little stiff.”
Tony notices Declan. “Are you Declan Winters?” he asks, coming over.
“Yes. You’re Tony, right?” Declan extends a hand. “Pleasure to meet you.”
They shake hands. Tony casts a glance at me, then looks back at Declan. “So you’ve been here all this time?”
“Yeah, well…” Declan tightens his hold on me, just strongly enough to let me know he’ll make sure I don’t fall. “Yuna needed some support, too.”
And I’m very grateful.
Tony clears his throat and doesn’t ask Declan to call him Anthony the aloof way he does with almost everyone. “Want to come in and see the babies? My wife’s a big fan. Seeing you is going to be the cherry on top of an already amazing ice cream sundae.”
That’s true. I glance at Declan, hoping he’ll stay and say hello to Ivy.
“Well…sure,” Declan says. “Why not?”
“Thank you.” I beam at him. “She’s going to be thrilled.”
“Hey, hey, hey!” The door opens, and Ryder Reed bursts through with a huge bouquet of red roses. “Sorry about the boring flowers. They were all I could get when I landed, but I couldn’t miss this.”
“Hey! I didn’t think you could make it,” Tony says to his best friend.
“The damned flight was delayed, and then there was traffic. But I’m here now. And my assistant made sure to bring the gifts I commissioned for the little ones. You know I’m going to make Ivy’s day.”
“She’s too used to you now. Besides, she has a fresh celebrity to adore.”