Chapter Three
1791 Words
Things were stir crazy in Bri and Philip's house.
Philip was rushing to get a to-go bag before we left and I was trying my best to calm Bri down.
"Babes, you're gonna have to take a breath! Slow and steady, just like we've practiced." I tell her, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly as I grab her shoulders.
Bri follows along with me and I look over at William who has gone quiet. His eyes are wide and he looks like he's about to pass out. Philip comes out of the bedroom with two duffle bags and a panicked look on his face.
"Alright, let's get going. You two can follow us to the hospital, I'll put you down as our family," he says.
I nod and Philip and I walk Bri outside and to the car. I helped buckle her in as Philip starts the car and she instantly takes his hand. "You're coming, right? You're gonna be there? I need you, Rhett." Bri says, her voice shaky as her other hand squeezes mine.
I smile and kiss her cheek, stepping back and grabbing the door. "Of course, we'll be there. I love you so much." I look at Philip and we both nod to each other and I shut the door so they can leave. I watch as Philip's Jeep peels out of the driveway and speeds down the road. William has made his way over to me and I turn to him, concerned.
"Are you alright?" I ask, turning his face so he looks at me. His eyes are still wide and when he finally looks me in the eyes, he shakes his head.
"I'm scared..." William says quietly.
My heart aches and I wrap my arms around his shoulders, burying my face into his neck I feel his arms wrap around my body as he crushes me to him. "I really am. What is something goes wrong with her or you? I don't think I'm ready, Rhett."
His words make my eyes well up with tears and I pull back, brushing my thumb along his bottom lip and his cheek. "William, I love you so much. We're going to be just fine and so is Bri and so will our baby. You're going to be an amazing father and we're going to be happy."
William swallows hard and looks at me, then shakes his head and smashes his lips to mine, pulling me hard against his body.
I melt into the kiss and return it, then pull away and smile small to him. "Let's get going." He nods and we both get into our car and speed to the hospital.
Once there, we rushed up to the reception. I was about to ask where Bri's room was when Philip came around the corner. His eyes were red and puffy and when he saw William and I standing there, he visibly relaxed.
"I'm glad you're here." He says as he walks up to us. I hug him when he comes close and he returns it, then he and William do the same.
"I'm sorry, but I need to see some identification or get a name from you both if you're goi-" William turns around and the receptionist that was speaking to us shut up instantly and her cheeks reddened in embarrassment.
"William James Alexander II here with Rhett Elizabeth Parr to see a Brianna Castillo. She's in labor. We should be on the list." William says, taking his hand in mine.
The receptionist nods and quickly types something into the computer before looking back to us. "Of course, sir. You go on back."
Philip gives a polite nod to the nurses and leads us down a hallway. I watch as takes his hands in and out of his jean pockets to biting on his nails and then letting out shaky sighs as we walk.
I reach over and grab his arm gently, giving it a gentle rub. "Hey, she's going to be okay. Do you know anything about how much she's dilated?" Philip shakes his head, giving me a smile.
"No, they won't let me back right now. They're doing an epidural right now. She wanted me to stay with her but they wouldn't let me and she started crying. It was the hardest thing I had to do, to leave her like that. And she was in so much pain in the car, Rhett, her contractions were so bad." he tells me.
I nod, glancing over at William as we step in front of the elevator. "Well, hopefully when we get back to her room the doctors and nurses will let you in."
The rest of the walk was quiet, with William not once letting go of my hand.
The elevator doors opened and Philip led us out. "Her room is right now the hall, last on the left."
As we walk closer, we spot nurses leaving the room and one of them stops and comes over to us when she spots Philip. She was wearing pink scrubs and had her brown hair tied into a tight pony-tail. She seems to be in her late thirties. She walks up to us and shakes my hand politely and does the same to William before turning to our friend.
"Philip, right? I'm the RN for this ward. Ii just wanted to update you that the epidural went well and Brianna is ready to see you now." She says.
Philip's face brightens and he turns to us, his mouth open to say something but William stops him. "Go be with her. And let her know that we're here too if you will."
"Thanks, mate."
We let Philip go in to see Bri and find our way to the waiting room. There were only a few other people in the waiting area and William and I sat down on the couch provided. It was silent for a moment and I rest my head on William's shoulder. "What are you thinking about?" I ask quietly.
William rests his cheek against the top of my head, wrapping one arm around me. "Everything. I'm nervous for them. I know they're going to be amazing parents but this is so hard. And they aren't even married-"
"We aren't married either, William." I interrupt, pulling away from him to see his face.
"Well, we hopefully will be before we have our baby. And we'll have more security in our relationship and it won't be a big mess with having to take care of a baby and plan a wedding and all that," he says.
I raise my brows in shock, looking away from him and putting a hand over my stomach hat has begun to hurt. "Wow..."
William sighs and puts his head in his hands. "You know that's not what I meant. I know that they-"
"Philip and Bri will be amazing parents, with or without a wedding. And as their friend, you should show more support to them bringing a child into this world. One doesn't have to be married to have kids and it is not wrong to do so, William. And if you feel so strongly about that and it's making you act this way then maybe you should go back in time and un-f**k me. Then we wouldn't be here and you wouldn't feel like shit." I snap, getting up and walking back towards the elevators.
I punched the button to go downstairs and the doors opened quickly. A few people stepped out and I stepped into the empty metal, pushing the button for the ground floor. I looked up to see William standing at the end of the hall, his hands running through his hair as he turns around.
Why would he say that? I thought we both had the same views on topics like this. Perhaps we didn't and I read too much into the situations when we discussed it before. Ugh.
So many thoughts were running through my head at the moment and my stomach was cramping. I rub my tummy gently and almost cry in delight when the elevator doors slid open. I made my way to the general map of the hospital and located the cafeteria before heading over there.
"We just closed up the big meals for the night, ma'am. But you're more than welcome to help yourself to the sandwich machine. We just loaded it a bit ago so everything is fresh. We also have the snacks and there are other in-door restaurants you can visit as well." the lady working behind the counter told me.
I smile and thank her, then head to the sandwich machine where I pay for three chicken salad sandwiches and a large bottle of orange juice. I found a small table near the windows and took a seat with a handful of food. As I began to eat, I remembered that I had my Airpods with me and put them in, shuffling the music on my phone and relaxing into the chair I was in.
I was distracted by the music and stuffing my face that I didn't even notice Philip had come and sat in front of me.
I jumped and put a hand to my chest and one on my stomach. "f**k! You're going to give me a bloody heart attack, Philip."
The man laughs and leans back in the seat he's in. "I'm sorry. I thought you saw me coming over. Then again, you were stuffing your face too much to see anything."
I roll my eyes and toss my napkin at him. "What are you doing down here?" I ask.
"I could ask you the same thing. I came out to check on you guys and you were gone and William was pouting on the sofa. Did something happen?" He asks.
Sighing, I set my last sandwich down with only a few bites left, my appetite now gone. "I guess you can say that. William said something about how he's worried about yours and Bri's relationship now that you're having a child out of wedlock. And I told him how amazing you two are going to be as parents and should support his friends no matter their stance or their relationship and he said a few other things that correlated to him and I and we're in the same situation, kind of, so it also made me upset with him for that fact as well."
Philip blinks and leans back. "She never told you?"
My brows furrow in confusion and I look a Philip. "Told me what?"
The man in front of me scratches the back of his neck and shakes his head. "Nah, I shouldn't."
"You've already piqued my interest, Philip. Just tell me already."
Philip lets out a deep sigh and leans across the table, looking me dead in the eye.
"Brianna and I eloped, Rhett. We're already married."
I blink.
"What?!"
- Writer
