Chapter 12

The drive to the hospital was a blur.

Paige barely remembered parking the car.

Barely remembered sprinting through the hospital entrance.

All she remembered was panic.

Pure panic.

Because every second she wasn’t beside you felt wrong.

“Labor and delivery?” she asked breathlessly at the front desk.

The nurse immediately pointed down the hallway.

“Room 214.”

Paige took off running again.

Her heart pounded violently against her ribs as she rushed through the halls.

Maya was coming.

Her daughter was actually coming.

By the time Paige reached the room, she was completely out of breath.

She shoved the door open-

And immediately heard your voice.

A strained sound escaped you as another contraction hit.

Paige’s entire chest tightened.

You looked exhausted.

Sweaty.

Overwhelmed.

Beautiful.

The second your eyes landed on her, relief flooded your expression.

“Paige.”

“I’m here.”

She crossed the room immediately.

Without hesitation.

Without thinking.

Straight to your side.

“I’m sorry.”

Her voice shook.

“So sorry.”

You grabbed her hand instantly.

“It’s okay.”

But Paige still felt guilty.

Because you’d needed her.

And she hadn’t answered.

Another contraction hit before she could say anything else.

Your grip on her hand tightened painfully.

Paige didn’t react.

Didn’t even flinch.

Instead she leaned closer immediately.

“I got you.”

The doctor glanced over.

“Good timing.”

Paige blinked.

“What?”

“It’s time.”

The words hit her like a truck.

Time.

Maya was coming right now.

Paige looked at you.

Then at the doctors.

Then back at you.

And suddenly she felt terrified.

Not because she didn’t want this.

But because she did.

So badly.

You squeezed her hand again.

Hard.

Paige instantly focused back on you.

“Hey.”

Your breathing shook.

“I know.”

She moved closer.

Brushing damp hair away from your forehead.

“You can do this.”

Another contraction hit.

This time you gripped her hand so hard she was fairly certain you were cutting off circulation.

Paige didn’t care.

Not even a little.

Because all she cared about was you.

The next hour felt endless.

And impossibly fast at the same time.

Paige stayed beside you through every contraction.

Every moment.

Every painful breath.

She whispered encouragement constantly.

Told you how amazing you were.

How proud she was of you.

How much she loved you.

And when things got harder-

When exhaustion started taking over-

Paige held your face gently and looked directly into your eyes.

“You’re doing so good.”

Tears slipped down your cheeks.

“I can’t.”

“Yes, you can.”

Another contraction.

Another painful breath.

Paige kissed your forehead immediately.

“You can.”

The room blurred around her after that.

Doctors.

Nurses.

Machines.

Nothing else mattered except you.

And then-

Everything changed.

A cry filled the room.

Tiny.

Sharp.

Beautiful.

Paige froze.

Completely froze.

For a moment she couldn’t breathe.

Couldn’t think.

Couldn’t move.

The sound hit her straight in the chest.

Your daughter.

That was your daughter crying.

The doctor smiled.

And suddenly there she was.

Tiny.

Red-faced.

Perfect.

Maya.

Paige felt tears hit her cheeks instantly.

“Oh my God.”

Her voice cracked completely.

“Oh my God.”

You were crying too.

Exhausted tears.

Happy tears.

Paige looked between you and the baby like she couldn’t process either one.

Then the nurse carefully placed Maya against your chest.

And Paige completely fell apart emotionally.

Because she was real.

After months of talking to your stomach.

Months of feeling kicks.

Months of imagining her-

She was finally here.

Maya let out another tiny cry.

Paige laughed through her tears immediately.

“Hi, baby.”

Her entire body shook slightly as she reached out carefully.

Almost afraid to touch her.

Maya was so small.

So unbelievably small.

And Paige had never seen anything more beautiful in her life.

You looked up at her.

Tired but smiling.

“She’s here.”

Paige nodded immediately.

Still crying.

“She’s here.”

The nurse adjusted the blanket slightly.

“Would you like to hold her?”

Paige looked terrified.

“What if I do it wrong?”

The nurse smiled knowingly.

“You won’t.”

Very carefully, Paige sat down beside you while the nurse placed Maya into her arms.

And the second Paige held her daughter-

Everything else disappeared.

The room.

The season.

Basketball.

Pressure.

Noise.

None of it mattered anymore.

Maya blinked slowly in her arms.

Tiny fingers curling weakly against the blanket.

Paige stared at her in complete awe.

“Hi.”

Her voice was barely above a whisper now.

Maya made another tiny sound.

And Paige immediately started crying harder.

You laughed softly beside her.

“She’s already got you wrapped around her finger.”

Paige didn’t even look away from the baby.

“Absolutely.”

Her answer was immediate.

Certain.

Completely serious.

She looked down at Maya like she was the most important thing in the entire world.

Because she was.

Then Paige leaned over carefully and kissed your forehead.

Emotion still written all over her face.

“Thank you.”

Your eyes softened instantly.

“For what?”

Paige looked back at her daughter.

At your daughter.

At the tiny little girl who had already changed her entire life.

“For her.”

And as Maya settled quietly against her chest, Paige realized something.

She’d spent years chasing championships.

Records.

Awards.

Dreams.

But nothing-

Nothing-

Had ever felt as important as this moment right here.