The Heart Leads

Chapter 6

The cool breeze outside had helped a little, and the nausea wasn’t as bad anymore, but Brian still felt off. His body felt fragile, like it might shatter if he moved too fast. When he got back into the car, he took a deep breath, trying to steady himself before sitting down. His stomach was still churning a little, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as before. The air had cleared his head, at least for now.

Dom glanced at him quickly before starting the car again. “You can sleep if you want,” he said, his voice calm as always. “It’s okay.”

Brian shook his head, feeling uneasy at the thought of sleeping with a bunch of strangers in the car. It was one thing to sleep around people he knew, but not this. Not right now, especially with everything going on. “I can’t sleep around strangers,” he admitted quietly, staring out the window.

Dom didn’t push it, just gave a small nod. “Got it. No worries.”

The silence stretched between them, but it wasn’t awkward. The only sounds were the hum of the engine and the occasional shift of gears. Brian tried to ignore the dull cramping that started in his stomach. It wasn’t bad, not like the contractions he had feared, but it was enough to make him uneasy. He put his hand on his belly, hoping it was just stress. The last thing he wanted was to go into labor right here, on the road. Please, not now. I can’t deal with that yet, he thought.

When the car hit a bump, the cramp came again, sharper this time. Brian winced, gripping the seatbelt tighter. He kept his eyes on the road, refusing to let the panic rise. The last thing he wanted was to freak out and make Dom worried, or worse, think he couldn’t handle himself.

The neighborhood was coming into view now, and Brian’s stomach tightened even more. The rundown houses, the cracked sidewalks, it all reminded him of things he’d rather forget. He could practically hear his dad’s angry voice, the slamming doors, the nights he spent just trying to escape. He hated it. He hated everything about that place.

Dom didn’t say anything, just kept driving. He gave Brian the space he needed, which was more than most people did. Brian appreciated that. It was a quiet understanding that Dom wouldn’t push him to talk if he wasn’t ready.

Another cramp came, sharper, making Brian bite back a gasp. His hand instinctively went to his belly, rubbing slow circles over the taut skin. He could feel the baby moving, like it knew he was stressed. He shifted in his seat, trying to find a comfortable position, but the tightness wouldn’t go away.

Dom glanced over at him, noticing. “You okay?” he asked, his voice filled with concern.

Brian forced a tight smile, hoping it didn’t look too fake. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just... a bit of motion sickness.” It was a half-truth. The truth was, he might be in early labor, but he wasn’t ready to admit that. Not yet. Not when they were only twenty minutes away from the storage unit.

Dom didn’t push it, but he kept an eye on Brian, noticing how his hand kept going back to his stomach.

As they passed through the neighborhood, it was like all the memories hit Brian at once. The industrial part of the city was coming up, streets he knew all too well. He used to race down these streets in his Skyline, the roar of the engine drowning out everything else. It was the only time he felt free, the only time he could escape his dad’s voice in his head.

The cramps started to ease as they got closer to the storage building. Maybe it was the familiarity of the area, like it was grounding him. He could almost see the Skyline now, just waiting for him. A piece of his old life that he could still control.

Dom’s voice cut through his thoughts. “You sure you’re good? You’ve been really quiet.”

Brian swallowed and nodded again. “Yeah, I’m good. Just anxious, I guess.” He hesitated for a second. “This car... it’s the last thing I have from... before.”

Dom nodded, his expression softening. “We’ll get your stuff, and then we’ll be out of here. Don’t worry about it.”

Brian appreciated that, more than he could put into words. But just as he leaned back in his seat, another cramp hit. It was sharper, more urgent, and Brian had to bite down on his lip to keep from gasping. He didn’t want Dom to notice. He couldn’t afford to fall apart now. Not when they were so close.

Just a little longer, he told himself, rubbing slow circles on his belly as the baby shifted inside him. We’re almost there.