The Crash Zone (The Zone Series Book 2)

by Tarrah Anders

  Max nods and pulls out his phone.

  I suddenly feel a cramp and I remember my breathing. Max is on the phone with his mom and pales when he sees me clutching onto the hospital bed. He rushes to my side, but I shake my head and continue breathing.

  “Yeah, We just got here. No, stay home. I’ll let you know if we need you guys. Can you call Davis?..... Okay, thanks dad…. Yeah I will….. Okay, you too….. Thanks…… Alright, okay….. bye.” He hangs up and then starts to scroll through his phone again. He locates the contact and presses the screen as he puts the phone to his ear. He looks at me and gives me his lopsided smile that melts my panties.

  “Hey. Yeah, Tate is going into labor. No, stay home… we’re at the hospital….. no, stay home…Hello? Hello?” He drops his phone and looks at me.

  “So um, I think Dane and Sterling are coming here.” He says sheepishly.

  I laugh, because I knew that would happen, I hoped that it would. He needs them here to keep him calm. I can only do so much.

  “Can you hand me my phone?” I ask after the last cramp goes away. He places the phone in my palm and I shoot off a text to my parents and Sammie. I don’t want to wake them, and plus my parents wouldn’t wake up from a phone.

  Max is on a web browser on his phone. “Whatcha doing?” I ask.

  “I’m buying us a new bed. You know, one that doesn’t have baby juice all over it.” He smiles.

  ***

  10 Hours later, Max and I are proud parents of a beautiful baby girl. She just came out and the doctor is handing Max the scissors to cut the cord. He has tears in his eyes, and he’s shaking from the excitement that he uses both hands to do the task. The nurse instructs me to lower my gown for skin to skin contact, Max helps me as the baby is placed on my chest.

  I look into her eyes, and she is the most precious thing ever created. Tears are falling from my eyes as Max leans over the bed and coo’s at the baby.

  “Hi Betsy.” I whisper to her just loud enough so I know Max can hear me say it.

  Epilogue

  Max

  Tatum popped out a baby out of her and now we’re proud parents of a baby girl. Besty Marie Hunter was born on February 11th, at 1:05pm. She was 7 pounds and 9 ounces, and 21 inches long. She came out screaming, and finally settled when she was laid across Tatum’s chest. It was love at first sight, and I’m man enough to admit that I cried.

  Tatum is amazing in all ways, and I have no idea how she did it. I was a ball of nerves from the moment her water broke. I read all the books that she did, I knew how the whole labor thing would somewhat go, and as soon as the moment came, everything that I read was non-existent. Tatum was so freaking calm that it was beyond scary, and she did well with dealing with me.

  Even though I told my family to not come to the hospital they did. The delivery room was full up until she started going into active labor. I insisted that for the delivery it be just us so we can experience the moment together, to have the moment we became a family of three as a private moment. However, once we gave the clear, everyone piled back in. Photos were taken instantly, and I’m sure that little Betsy is posted all over social media within minutes of meeting her.

  Tatum officially named the baby Betsy. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that at first when we were discussing it – but as soon as I held her I could feel that that was her rightful name. I cried, like a lot. There are also photos with tears in my eyes on social media, I’m almost sure of it.

  Dane and Sterling eventually left the hospital room to meet the bed delivery guy at our house; they also purchased us new sheets, the really good kind to put on our new bed for when we arrived home. A bassinet, that wasn’t previously in our possession also sat next to Tatum’s side of the bed with a bow on it when we arrived home as well. Sterling had been hiding it at their home until the time was right, luckily the baby juice getting all over our previous bed aided in her surprise gift.

  We’ve officially been home for a week. We haven’t slept a full night, but we couldn’t be happier. Tatum’s parents finally came for a visit as soon as we got home, and after her mother hit on me, she basked over her granddaughter. My mother has been over every day, she’s helped Tatum with general housework, making sure we have an ample supply of easy to reheat meals and to make sure the house stays somewhat clean. I took parental leave for 3 weeks as well so I can stay home and do whatever a new dad is supposed to do.

  I learned firsthand what a blow-out diaper is as well as the incredible pee stream of a newborn. Tatum is breastfeeding and it seems like that’s all little Betsy wants when she’s not soiling a diaper or sleeping. I can’t blame her, Tatum’s breasts are pretty great. She switches between using bottles and the boob, so I have a chance to feed her and have some daddy and daughter bonding time

  I want to do the right thing and make an honest woman out of Tatum, but I can’t for the life of me come up with a good enough way to propose to her. I’ve googled and asked Dane but I’ve been coming up short. I purchased a ring for her right around the same time of our baby shower, so I was definitely ready to do it then but I knew I needed a grand gesture, not like she was expecting one. I thought about tying the ring around Betsy’s wrist or foot, but I didn’t want to chance the string getting too tight and injuring her or her putting it in her mouth and then accidently swallowing it. Then suddenly it hit me.

  I powered on my laptop and hit search. My eyes dart around the website and then I find what I’m looking for. I select purchase, and now I only have to wait around anxiously for 3-7 business days for my item to arrive. This will be a long 3-7 days.

  ***

  I’m staring into Betsy’s eyes while Tatum is napping on the couch beside us.

  How did I get so lucky? How did my life do a complete 360 in the span of a year? Betsy coo’s as she looks up at me, I haven’t been able to get enough of her. There is a truth the fact that babies smell heavenly, as I can’t stop smelling her head. Her cute little chubby thighs, I just want to take a bite out of, and her cheeks, yeah I want to constantly pinch them.

  The past two weeks have been interesting to say the least. There’s been a lot of crying from Betsy at all hours of the day, along with some frustrated and sleepless parents. Thankfully, we’ve had the help of Sterling, Sammie and my mother. Tatum’s parents came down, but her mother didn’t seem to know what to do with a newborn. (I wonder how she managed when Tatum was a baby). Being a new parent is daunting as well as it is amazing. I’m learning as I go, and all the stuff I read in the books are just words, I’m figuring it out first hand as I go.

  Tatum on the other hand, motherhood seems to take to her quite well. While at moments, it looks like she’s about to blow a fuse, she reigns it in quite well. She seems to be the calming factor in our little family, if Betsy is screaming, I don’t know what she does, but Tatum calms her. It must be her scent, or the smell that boob milk is inches away. Regardless, Tatum is a pro.

  My package came in the mail yesterday afternoon to the office and figuring now is the best time since Tate is sleeping to get along with my proposal plan. I slowly and quietly get up from the couch, and bring Betsy into the bathroom to run her bath. I love these father and daughter moments with her, she looks up at me like I’m her whole world, even though I’m sure I’m some blurry mess to her right now. Since I haven’t showered yet, I run the bath with enough water for me to sit in with her pink plastic baby bath tub as well. Tatum had just fallen asleep, so I know I’ve at least got an hour, so I take my time in the bath with the baby. After we’re both clean, I quickly dry off as she’s just hanging out in her baby bath, giggling and flailing her arms.

  I bring her into our bedroom and lay her on the bed; I dry her off completely and put the lotion that Tatum likes on her body, so she doesn’t get dry skin. I kiss her forehead several times and make funny faces and noises at her, this is something I can’t help but do. I unwrap the package and dress Betsy. I inspect my work and smile. I pick up Betsy and we go into the kitchen to
grab something to eat.

  The house is quiet aside from the small noises the baby makes in my arms. I’ve become excellent at doing tasks one handed, I’m sure I can grab the baby carrier and make use of both my arms, but I like to hold her, especially against my skin in hopes that her smell rubs off on me. I’m mumbling random things and talking Betsy through on how to make a sandwich when I hear Tatum moving around on the couch. I see her head peek over the couch, her beautiful dark brown hair askew from her nap.

  “Whaaryadoin?” She mumbles, obviously still half asleep.

  “Making some lunch. You want a sandwich?” I ask. My heart is beating fast, I feel like it’s hitting the baby in the head.

  “Hmmm. Food.” Her eyes are half closed and she lazily smiles, with her head perched atop the couch cushion.

  “Here, you hold Bets and I’ll finish.” This is the moment, this is it… I can do this.

  “MMMKay.” She sits up fully and slowly stands while stretching.

  She was beautiful before, her legs ran for miles up her body and now post baby , her curves drive me even more crazy, her butt cheeks poke out from her barely there shorts, her tits look full and perky begging for attention in my favorite see-thru tank top, she wears bras now all the time since she could leak at any given time from those puppies, her skin still glows and she couldn’t look more beautiful than the fateful drunken night that brought us together. She drives me wild, and now with her being my child’s mother, my dick goes to attention with the mere thought. Unfortunately, we can’t have sex for another month, got to let her heal up properly before I ravage her again.

  She saunters over to me, holding out her arms to take Betsy into hers.

  This is the moment, right here. I maneuver Betsy in my arms, so her onesie is completely readable and hand her off into Tatum’s waiting arms. She’s smiling down at Betsy’s face and kisses her nose while murmuring something that I can’t quite hear. I can tell that Tatum hasn’t noticed yet, my eyes are glued to the two loves in front of me. Suddenly, I see when Tatum reads the writing on the onesie. She was swaying and now she’s still, and even though Betsy is full of motion right now, Tatum may be forgetting to breathe.

  Tatum

  I sway to the imaginary music that seems to continuously play in my head when Betsy is in my arms, I don’t know how to stand still without a little movement in my body, it’s almost like she came with her own music maker that is automatically plugged into my soul.

  Since we’ve been home from the hospital, I’ve experienced a sabotage of emotions that range from blissed out to terrified. Max has been amazing, Max is amazing. He seems to have picked up fatherhood like it is nothing, whereas I’m not sure which end is up sometimes. I’m exhausted and emotional at all times, I know it’s normal after giving birth to go from highs to lows. But the moment where Betsy is laying in my arms, looking up at me like I’m the best thing since sliced bread makes all the negative emotions dissipate. We’ve struggled with lack of sleep, so we both get it where we can. My hormones haven’t gone away and whereas I’m tired, I am still horny as fuck. But my vag is out of service and most likely looking pretty haggard since pushing a baby out of it a few weeks ago. Max and I have had a few pretty steamy make out sessions, which lead to me blowing him, so at least one of us can finish.

  We’ve become a family, officially. I may have fallen even deeper in love with Max over the past few weeks, watching him with Betsy and just the attentiveness he’s had with any of my needs. He even threw my mother off like a champ when she was blatantly hitting on him during the few days that they came down to meet their grand-daughter. We’ve been lucky with his parents and our friends visiting and helping us out since Betsy was born.

  The baby juice situation on the bed was remedied and we even came out of it with some super soft and nice new sheets along with a bassinet when we arrived home from the hospital courtesy of Sterling and Dane.

  I took a cat nap on the couch while we were attempting to watch a movie, Max was cradling Betsy on his lap and I decided to take advantage of laying horizontal. I may have been out for awhile as I briefly heard Max giving the baby a bath and then he was up making lunch, I know I fell asleep in the morning-time.

  I kiss Betsy on the nose, and gaze into her eyes. I think about kissing her chubby cheeks too, but it’s then that my eyes wander over what Max dressed her in. It’s a onesie with a saying on it. He’s purchased some pretty funny ones, so it’s always fun to see what he dresses her in. I usually go for the ultra girly and cute outfits and he goes for the silly jokes. I’m reading the onesie, no… I’ve read it now five times. I’ve stopped swaying, and probably stopped breathing. Betsy’s arms are reaching up and tugging on the strap of my tank top. I can feel that my eyes are wide as I slowly look up from Betsy to Max, who is standing 2 feet away watching me. He has his gorgeous lopsided smile on his face, he steps closer to me.

  His hand is on my hip and his other hand is under my palm which is cradling Betsy’s bottom.

  I look down and reread the onesie again. Mommy, will you marry my daddy pretty please?

  I look back up at Max and my mouth is dry, he’s still smiling, but I can see that he’s nervous. He hasn’t taken his eyes off of mine, he pulls Betsy and I closer to him.

  “So, What do you say Tate?” He asks angling his head towards Betsy.

  “You…. Us……marry?” I stutter. I still don’t think I’ve blinked.

  “Yeah. Will you marry me?” He whispers as he brushes his lips against my cheek.

  Butterflies are having a field day in my stomach, and there seems to be a malfunction between my brain and my mouth. My brain is screaming yes, and the noises coming out of my mouth sound like gibberish. My eyes still wide, fight with my vocal chords. I start to nod my head excitedly since words have failed miserably.

  “Yeah?” Max asks to make sure.

  “Yeah.” I choke out as I feel my eyes watering.

  “You hear that baby girl, your mommy is gonna marry me.” He says as his hand tightens on my waist and he leans down to kiss Betsy. He then mashes his lips against mine, his tongue plunging in my mouth seeking my own, caressing it and then sucking on it slowly.

  When Max and I started, he said he was in the crash zone, well he just crashed all my senses and made me melt especially in my panties. Talk about a crash zone!

  .::THE END::.

  Discover other titles by Tarrah Anders

  The Friends Zone

  Available at: Barnes & Noble/ Nook

  Amazon/KindleUnlimited

  iBooks

  Kobu

  About the Author

  I hate describing myself or introducing myself. But here we go.

  My name is Tarrah. Hi *Waves* Nice to meet ya!

  I grew up in Northern California with two little sisters who were always getting into my things. I started early with writing poetry and short stories. Then, I decided I wanted to be a marine biologist until I realized how much math and science was involved. Then I went back to writing. I entered my poems in the contests you would see in Highlights Children’s Magazine and to literary contests, I did have a few supposedly published, but I never saw the proof.

  My day job consists of being a social worker and housing the homeless like a superhero in street clothes, I also dabble in photography during the later parts of the year. When I’m not writing, I’m reading, doing things with the kids, creating a ‘honey-do list’ for my hubby, watching anything with Zombies and GOT , or watching Baseball.

  I am a wife, a mama, a social worker, photographer and a storyteller

  When I am not busy chasing around my 2.5 year old, I find the time to just be... and to just be is to do what you love doing.

  I currently live in San Diego with my loving husband, only level is "GO!" toddler, a pre-tween, and our two fur babies who meow.

  Fun Facts:

  * If I was an animal, I would be an elephant, but my favorite animal is a monkey.

  * I have no favorite col
or, it changes from season to season, right now its teal!

  * If I had it my way, I'd never wear socks or closed toe shoes!

  *I'm a SF Giants fan through and through!

  *I am a lover for Instagram - Come follow me: @tarrahanders

  *I've never met a cupcake that I didn't like!

  *Tarrah isn't my real name

  *My husband has no idea, I write these books, because he makes so much fun of me for reading smut.

  Connect with the Author

  Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tarrahanders

  Like me on Facebook: http://facebook.com/tarrahanders

  Follow me on Instagram: @tarrahanders

  Check out my Website: http://tarrahanders.weebly.com/

  Thank you for reading the second story in the Zone Series. If you enjoyed it, won’t you please take a moment to leave me a review at your favorite retailer?

  Thanks!

  Tarrah Anders

  An Excerpt from The Office Zone, the final book of the Zone Series……

  Lukas

  My day started in the Emergency Room, no make that my evening started in the Emergency Room. I’ve been here a total of 6 hours and my date still has her finger attached, and the bleeding thankfully has stopped. She’s sitting on a hospital bed and I’m sitting in the chair beside her. I hate hospitals; ever since I was little I have detested them. They smell weird and there’s a stigma of depression all throughout the place.

  I try to avoid them at all costs, but I keep finding myself here. Thankfully, not for myself, but for others either getting in car accidents or having a baby – I’m here a lot more than I would like.