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“I see,” she says, directing me to have a seat. “Since you brought your man-candy along, I’m gonna go out on a limb and assume you’re here after hitting it big in the pee-stick lottery?”
“You guessed it,” I reply, trying not to laugh.
“Congratulations to both of you. Date of your last menstrual cycle? Suspected conception date?”
I supply both, and her eyebrows rise sharply. “Looks like somebody might have partied a little too hard after their brother’s wedding,” she remarks, cackling to herself. I glance over to find Blake blushing furiously, something I’ve never seen before.
Mackenzie continues gathering information before she hands me a small, plastic cup. I slip into the attached bathroom to fill ‘er up, laughing to myself as I hear Blake warding off another unwanted advance by telling Mackenzie we’redefinitelyan item. Once I’m done, we follow her to another room with a huge machine stationed beside an exam table, and Mackenzie graciously provides me with the hospital-style gown that I’ll be modeling for the next hour or so—no panty lines allowed, of course.
“The doctor shouldn’t be long, honey.”
Blake and I both let out a huge breath as soon as she closes the door. “Mais la,” I grumble, holding up the gown. “I think we may need to revisit the part about you coming to these appointments.”
“But this is the closest I might get todatingfor a while, remember?” He bounces his eyebrows suggestively, and I roll my eyes. Then I step behind a small screen to change into the gown, hugging my midsection tightly as I waddle back to the exam table.
“So, um, what do you think that one’s for?” Blake asks carefully, pointing to the phallic-shaped gadget resting beside the ultrasound monitor.
“I suspect I’m about to find out.”
A short knock sounds, and Mackenzie sticks her head inside. “Hi,” she drawls. “So Dr. Simms got called out for an emergency C-section, and Nurse Tenley’s covering his patients for the rest of the afternoon. Unless you want to reschedule …” She cringes and mouths, “So sorry,” before she disappears.
Blake and I exchange panicked glances, and the door swings open to reveal Tenley with a folder in hand.
“Oh. Hey, Ten,” I attempt to say, but my voice cracks.
“Good afternoon, Ms. Reed,” she returns with fake propriety, walking over to sit on the rolling chair at my side. “What brings you in today?”
“I guess it depends on what it says in that chart,” I reply sarcastically.
“And who do we have here? Hi, is thisDad?”
Blake looks away and mouths a four-letter word, his face reddening again.
I gulp. “I’m sorry, we thought we’d get Doc Simms, you know, to make this less awkward.”
Tenley continues ignoring me, her eyes running over the rest of my chart. “Well, you’re definitely pregnant, my friend. And these levels look great so far—in fact, your hCG is notably high. Congratulations,” she says, smiling genuinely at both of us.
“Thank you,” Blake answers. “I hope you understand why we were trying to keep this quiet at first. We didn’t want to cramp your moment.”
Her expression softens. “Oh. Well, I wish you wouldn’t have thought that. You guys deserve to celebrate this as much as anyone. A baby is always a miracle, right?”
My eyes water as I nod.
“Speaking for myself, I couldn’t be more excited if it were my own. I’m looking forward to becoming atanteagain,” she adds, reaching out to pat my hand.
“Ten,” I begin. “Please don’t make me cry right now.”
“Mm-hmm,” she squeaks, blinking and scrunching her nose. I cringe and reach out, and she leans forward to envelop me in a hug.
“Would this be a bad time to point out that your gown is totally open in the back?” Blake whispers after a minute.
“Yes,” Tenley and I both call out at the same time.
“Okay, but don’t fault me for checking out your ass, then.”
We pull away, and she leans over to slap Blake on the shoulder. “That’s for knocking up my best friend and not having the balls to tell me yourself.”
“Sorry, not that sorry,” Blake replies, grinning so hard that I think his face might crack.
