All Chapters of The next door love: Chapter 81

Amara woke at 2:17 a.m. to a pain that felt different.Not the usual heaviness. Not the dull ache she had grown used to during the last weeks of pregnancy.This one wrapped around her stomach and tightened.She inhaled sharply.Beside her, Elijah shifted slightly in his sleep.Another wave came.Stronger.“Elijah,” she whispered.He stirred immediately. Even half asleep, he always responded to her voice.“Hmm?”She gripped the edge of the mattress.“Elijah.”He was upright instantly.“What’s wrong?”She swallowed, trying to measure the pain.“I think… it’s starting.”His brain clearly lagged for half a second.“Starting?”Another contraction hit and she squeezed his hand hard enough to make him wince.“Our baby,” she breathed.Everything in his face changed.Not panic.Not fear.Just overwhelming alertness.“Okay. Okay,” he said quickly, already getting out of bed. “Hospital bag. Keys. Phone. Doctor. We practiced this.”She tried to sit up and laughed weakly.“You’re talking too fast.