“Hell yeah, you are.” Rhett slaps me on the back. “Get your ass to that hospital. We’ll have Gage fill in for you.”

After a string of well wishes from the guys, I sneak out through the back with Frank, and we make a mad dash to the hospital.

I attempt to call my wife as soon as we reach the car with no answer, but soon after received a message that she’s in the middle of being checked. This apparently means the doctor is all up in her business, and it’s not a good time to talk.

“She’s six centimeters,” I tell Frank, needing someone to talk to when the news comes through.

“Is that good?” he asks, flipping his blinker and merging onto the highway.

“I mean…yeah.” I nod. “I guess so. Gotta get to ten before he comes out.” My foot is steadily tap—tap—tapping on the floor. “She says we have time.”

“That’s good.” He punches the gas anyway and takes off flying with his caution lights flashing.

“Just got her epidural,” I announce, not at all upset to have missed that part. That needle is no freaking joke. My wife is a beast.

“Says she’s feeling no pain.”

Frank nods, smiling to himself at my nervous chatter. “Glad to hear it.”

Pretty sure my friend is ready to throw himself into oncoming traffic by the time we arrive at Memorial. I’m in such a rush to get to my wife that I don’t think to wear a disguise, nor do I even attempt to hide my identity, which is even more obvious than usual since I’m in concert wear.

As soon as I step foot into the hospital, heads whip in my direction and the whispering starts.

“This way!” Dr. Ruby waves me over to a staff elevator, away from the prying eyes. “She’s doing great, Lyle.” She cups a hand to my shoulder. “Breathe.”

“But isn’t it too soon?” I can feel my blood pressure rising again. I’m a nervous wreck.

She shakes her head. “Thirty-seven weeks is considered full term, and remember we had to date by ultrasound. That really just gives us a ballpark.”

Once the elevator stops, she guides me down the hall to the room all the way at the end. I can hear Sammi, Korie, and Raven cackling before I even step foot inside.

“Oh, Lyle,” Raven says when I enter the delivery suite. “Wait til you see the stretched-out mess that was once your beloved—”

“Stop it.” Korie smacks her behind the head. “It goes back to normal. Don’t listen to her.”

“If not, I’m sure you could ask doc here”—Raven hitches a thumb over her shoulder toward Dr. Ruby who’s snapping her hands into a set of gloves to examine my wife—“to uh…add a few extra stitches.” She makes a sewing motion with her right hand.