“I’m not sure. A little over an hour ago I had a sharp pain that woke me up out of a dead sleep, but then it never came back. Then I started feeling those fake ones again and figured maybe I just dreamed the other one up.” I place a hand on my belly, relieved to feel little bean kicking. “But I was just blow-drying my hair and got another one…and now nothing.”

“Hmmm.”

“I do not want to make a fuss or go in again just to be sent home, and I certainly don’t want to alert the men and screw up their show for nothing.”

“Right. No, don’t do that. I’m gonna call Raven and we’ll round up a sitter and come hang out with you at the house.”

“I told Lyle I was going to be at his show…I still plan on going.”

“That’s cool,” she assures me. “If this shit’s all in your head, we’ll just tag along to Booze & Bad Decisions with ya.”

“Perfect. And make sure Raven doesn’t—”

“Say anything to Nick,” she finishes for me. “No worries. We know not to alert those papa bears prematurely. Hang on to your mucus plug, bitch! Your babysitters are on the way!”

I finish drying my hair and apply a light face of makeup, then dress in the outfit I plan to wear to the show, a light blue Rhett Taylor band tee cropped just above my belly, with a black sports bra and black maternity leggings that go all the way up, completely covering the bump.

Other than a few Braxton Hicks, I feel nothing until I sit on the couch and bend over to zip my booties and nearly fall on my face. It’s at that moment the mother hens walk through the front door and immediately rush to my side.

“Holy shit!” Raven crouches in front of me. “Girl, are you okay?”

I attempt a nod even though I’m not sure I am—I’m still trying to work through the pain.

Korie sits beside me on the couch, rubbing my back until it eases up. “Definitely not Braxton Hicks, my dear.”

“I don’t know what to do,” I say with tears brimming in my eyes. “I don’t want to worry Lyle. People pay a lot of money to see them. Right now, even if these are contractions, they’re still an hour apart. Everything says not to go in until they’re five minutes or less.”

“Yeah, if you go now, they’ll just send you home.” Korie rolls her eyes. “Been there. Done that. Twice.”

“Welp,” Raven says, making herself comfy on my other side and grabbing the remote, “looks like we’ll just hang out and time contractions then.”

“Who has the kids?” I ask, relaxing back into the cushions.