Tempt the Hookup (Tempt 3)

“I’m going to get a blanket,” Maryse says and then runs into the house.

“We need to get her to the car,” my mother says and holds her hands. “Come on, dear, let’s get you to the car.”

“Where is Aiden?” Eli asks, and I look at her.

“He is having a sleepover at Uncle Nick’s place,” I remind her. “You went into detail about the pole.”

“Oh my God,” she says as she waddles to the car, holding her stomach.

Maryse comes running out of the house with the blanket. “Put this on the seat so it doesn’t get wet.”

“I think all the water is on my feet,” I tell her, but the minute Eli stops walking, more water gushes out of her. “Is that normal?” I ask, looking around. “Someone get me a phone.”

“If he googles anything, I’m going to …” She stops talking to groan and holds her stomach. “That was a big one.”

We rush her to the hospital and get out of the car and run in to get a wheelchair. She gets out of the car, and now she’s just drenched. I wheel her in as fast as I can, and when we get to the maternity floor, they are waiting for us. They wheel us into the operating room and get her ready. I change into scrubs, and when I finally see her, she’s lying in the middle of the room on the table with her arms to the side. A huge sheet blocks her from seeing her belly.

“Hey,” I say, sitting next to her head. She turns to me, and she is crying. “Why the tears?” I ask her, rubbing her head.

“If anything happens to me,” she starts to say, and I lean in and kiss her.

“Nothing is going to happen to you,” I tell her.

“Last time I did this, I was all by myself,” she says. “And I remember thinking I would give anything to have you with me.” I lean my forehead to hers. “Thank you.” I look at her. “For always being with me in my heart.”

“Okay, people, let’s get some babies out.” The doctor comes into the room, and suddenly, everyone gets busy. “I’m going to cut you now. You tell me if you feel anything.” I look at Eli. “How are you doing down there?”

“I’m good. A little pressure,” she says, and I don’t leave her side.

“Okay, here we go,” the doctor says, and moments later, we hear a faint little cry. “We have baby girl A,” he says, and I look over as the nurse carries the baby to weigh and measure her and wrap her in a blanket. “And we have baby girl B,” he says, and then I see my other daughter being carried.

The nurse comes over with baby girl A. “Here is your baby,” she says, handing me my daughter.

“Oh my God,” I say, turning her and putting her next to Eli’s face. Tears are streaming down both of our faces. “She’s so beautiful,” I say, and Eli whispers something to her as she cries and kisses her.

“We have baby girl B,” the other nurse says, and I look down, not sure how to hold the second baby. The nurse smiles and then leans the baby on the other side of Eli, and she kisses them both.

They wheel her into recovery, and I go out to see our parents. My mother is sitting next to Maryse as they hold hands, and they both have tears on their face. My father is pacing one side of the room while Leonard paces the other side. My mother is the first one to see me. “We have daughters,” I say, and my mother runs to me and then Maryse follows. Our fathers nod and shake each other’s hands.

“How is Eli?” Maryse asks.

“In recovery and doing amazing,” I say. “She’s amazing.” I then motion with my head, and they follow me into the room where the nurses wait by the bassinets. “Meet my girls,” I say with so much pride in my voice.

Who would have thought that a simple hookup with a girl on a booze cruise could lead to me having the most beautiful life?