Full Circle (Rockin' Country #3) (23 page)

Walking to the bathroom attached to their bedroom, she leaned down and began running the bathwater. This was the only thing that helped her back anymore. She wanted Everett to be healthy, but she also hoped he came a little early.

When the water was finally at the level she wanted it to be, Hannah stepped in and sank down, sighing with relief.

“That sounds almost orgasmic for you,” Garrett commented as he walked into the bathroom wearing nothing but a pair of sweatpants.

“Lately it is.”

The way she glanced up at him caused his groin to tighten. It had been a while for them. She was uncomfortable, and he was worried about hurting her. “Are you complaining?”

“I’m just saying, it’s been a while.” The side of her mouth kicked up into a grin, reminiscent of the one he gave her often.

“Well, now you’re insulting my manhood, babe.”

She situated herself deeper in the water. “The question is, what are you gonna do about it?”

He saw the challenge in her eyes and met it with one of his own. Pushing the clothing off his lower body, he motioned for her to scoot forward. “I’m gonna join you.”

Eagerly, she leaned so he could climb in behind her. He situated himself and got comfortable before wrapping his arm loosely around her neck. “Things have been crazy lately,” he whispered.

“I know, and I feel like it’s only going to get crazier. Jared’s in rehab, we’re so close to having this baby, and then in a few months, you’re going to go tour Asia for two weeks.”

“You’re right, but nothing is more important to me than you and Everett. I will do everything in my power to make things right for the two of you.”

She knew he would, and that was one of the things she loved most about him. “I never doubted that for one second.”

They lapsed into a comfortable silence, and Hannah let herself lean back against his strong chest. She closed her eyes and let herself be enveloped by the strength of his body. Everything was better when he was with her. She sighed again when she felt his lips on her shoulder.

“What are you doing?” she breathed, her body already responding.

“Reminding you that no matter what, I always want you.”

Taking her hands off the sides of the tub, he placed them over her breasts. “You do this, while I do this.”

Her intake of breath was sharp a she felt his hand travel down her stomach to the spot on her body that wanted him the most.

“You ready to fly, babe?” he whispered, his voice dark against her ear. He pushed against her, getting a rough sound of pleasure from her.

“Please,” she begged him, grinding down against the thrust.

“Just relax, I got you.”

He always did.

*  *  *

Christmas Eve

“Y
ou okay?” Garrett asked Hannah as she grimaced.

“Yeah, I don’t think that last bit of dip really agreed with me. I’m getting heartburn
again
,” she huffed. “I’m gonna go check on Shell, and I think the air will do me some good,” she told him, levering herself off the couch.

“Alright, if you need anything, let me know.”

She nodded as she made her way out of the house and onto the back patio. Shell sat there, staring out at the water. “How’s it going?”

Quickly, Shell wiped under her eyes and tried to compose herself. “It’s going.”

“Have you talked to him?”

Her bottom lip trembled as she shook her head. “He won’t take my calls, won’t accept my visits.” She heaved a breath. “Han, this hurts.”

Emotional already, Hannah wasn’t sure how she was going to keep her tears in check. Pulling Shell over for a hug, she wrapped her as best she could in her arms. “I know, I know. I’m so sorry this is happening to you.”

“I don’t deserve it, dammit. I let my guard down one fucking time, I let someone besides you in, and this happens. I don’t know how to make this ache in my chest go away. I miss him,” she cried, hanging on tightly to her friend. “I want him here with me, and I want him to want to be here, not because he feels like he has to be.”

“I don’t know what to say to make you feel better, just know that I’m here for you.” Hannah hugged her tighter. “Dealing with someone like him is hard.”

“It is, but I would have done it forever. I feel like a dumbass saying that. He is so goddamn hard to love, but I love him. I love everything about him, even the bad parts. How stupid do I sound? It’s Christmas Eve, you’re going to have a baby in a few weeks, and I’m out here crying.”

“It’s not stupid.” Hannah grabbed her hand. “You’re sad and that’s okay. You’re allowed to be sad. It’s a life-changing thing you’re going through.”

“I just wish he would talk to me. I know he talks to Garrett, and I can’t understand why he won’t talk to me.” She cried, brushing the tears away again. “I can’t figure out what I’ve done to him that’s so awful.”

“It’s him, honey. He has to get himself into the type of headspace so he can deal with the things life throws. Not all of us are equipped with the emotional capability to do that. Some of us have to learn it.”

Shell blew out a deep breath and tipped her head back, licking her dry lips. “The rational part of me says that I know that, it says that I understand that, but there’s an entirely irrational part of me that says this is his way out and I should let him take it.”

Hannah’s heart broke when Shell’s voice cracked. Anyone who knew the two of them knew that Jared and Shell belonged together, they only had to figure out how to make it work. “It’s gonna work out, I know it will. The two of you have overcome so much to make this work already, I can’t see how it won’t.”

Shell really wished she could believe that. “C’mon, let’s go inside and open presents.”

Following behind, Hannah looked up at the sky and made her own Christmas wish, throwing up a prayer that her friends would find their way back to one another.

*     *     *

“Thank you so much for my stuff,” Hannah grabbed Stacey in a hug. “I really appreciate the gift card for new running shoes. I’m gonna need it as soon as I have this guy.” She reached behind her, rubbing her back.

“I figured it would be something you could use. Are you good?”

Everybody stopped what they were doing to look at her.

“I’m good. My back is just killing me again, nothing new.”

“I don’t know.” Marie looked at her. “You have that look.”

“What look?” Garrett laughed. “You’re acting like she’s a turkey in the oven with a done timer fixing to pop.”

“That’s exactly what she looks like.” Marie took another look at her daughter-in-law. “Are you sure you’re not having contractions?”

“I’ve never had contractions before, so I wouldn’t know.” She laughed to soften the smart answer.

“Mom, I think we’ll know when it’s time to go to the hospital or whatever. The doctor said he
may
come the last week of December, doesn’t mean he’s going to.” Garrett stood up for her, grasping her around the shoulders.

“But she’s never had a child, Garrett. I’ve had two.”

“Mom,” Stacey said as patiently as she could. “They’ll figure it out. They are their own family now.”

Hannah smiled up at her sister-in-law right as she felt something trickle down her leg. Her smile faltered, and she spoke calmly to the group. “Either I just peed on myself, which has happened recently, or my water seriously just broke.”

Chaos ensued as everyone rushed this way and that. Everyone except the new parents to be. Hannah turned in Garrett’s arms. “This is gonna happen, isn’t it?”

He smiled down at her, one so wide she could see his dimples. “It sure is. You ready?”

“As I’ll ever be. I can’t wait to start this journey with you.”

He grabbed her hand. “I feel like I’ve been waiting to start this journey since we met. This is exactly what I’ve wanted, and I can’t thank you enough for giving it to me.”

“We’re coming full circle.” She clasped their fingers together. “And it’s never felt more right.”

*  *  *

G
arrett had never heard of “skin to skin” before this whole process had started. He’d kind of thought it was a weird notion, but now, as he sat in a chair in Hannah’s hospital room, holding his son against his bare chest, he completely understood.

“You look like a natural.” Hannah smiled sleepily over at him from where she lay in the hospital bed.

“I never want to put him down,” he admitted, placing a kiss on top of his son’s head.

“Oh babe, you’re gonna have to, ’cause you’re gonna have to share him with me,” she teased.

“And with us.” Marie smiled as she, Kevin, and Hannah’s parents walked through the door. “I hope it’s okay that we’re here?”

He had to give it to his mom, she was being way more respectful than he’d thought she would be.

“It’s perfectly fine,” Hannah answered for them. “In fact, we wanted to take a family picture, but we weren’t sure who to ask.” She thrust her cell phone out, wanting someone to take it. When her mom grabbed it, she motioned to Garrett. “C’mon, I want a picture with you two, even though I know I look like death.”

“You don’t,” Garrett assured her, coming over to sit on the bed, handing their son over to her. “You’ve never looked more beautiful to me than you do right now.”

“Alright you two, smile.”

They did as they were told and smiled for their first picture together as a family.

*     *     *

Tiny hands and tiny feet. Everett James made his way into the world on December 25
^th
. We’re all doing fine, but we request privacy as we learn to be…can you believe it…parents.

“Do you think they’ll really leave us alone?” Hannah asked from where she sat on their couch in Nashville. They had waited until January 2
^nd
to make the announcement they’d had their son. It had allowed them time to get home and get situated, even though she was moving slower after having had a C-section.

“I think we were smart to come here. I don’t think we would have any privacy in California. My first priority was to make sure we could get here, so now I hope we can relax.”

Hannah glanced over at him, noting the darkness under his eyes. “Thank you for taking care of us.”