Page 66 of Playing It Forward

We ride the elevator to the fifth floor and check in with the receptionist. I usher her to a seat to wait.

I dig out my phone and open my email app. Before I can read the first email, Terri elbows me. “Is it always this way?”

“What way?” I glance around. “What’s wrong?” I knew I should have brought my bag of supplies inside.

She motions to the other women in the waiting room. “Everyone’s staring at you.” She points to a woman who’s extremely pregnant. “I’m afraid she’s going to go into labor due to the excitement.”

I throw an arm around her shoulder and the women sigh. “I’m with you. I don’t care about them.”

She studies my face. It’s clear she doesn’t believe me. Hopefully, in time she’ll understand I don’t care about the fans. I care about her.

“Terri Jordan,” the receptionist calls. “Dr. Reynolds is ready for you.”

I stand and offer her my hand. Together we walk to the exam room. The receptionist hands Terri a cup. “Urine sample.” She points to the restroom.

“This isn’t embarrassing at all,” Terri mutters as she makes her way to the restroom.

I stop her. “Sprite. There’s nothing embarrassing about this. You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve had to stand naked in a room full of doctors.”

She snorts. “Easy for you to say.” She motions to my body.

I lean over to whisper to her. “Your body is sexy to me. You’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever known.”

She shivers. “I like it when you lie.”

“I’m not lying.” I push her forward. “Now, go pee like a champion.”

“I’m pregnant. I’m the champion of champions at peeing.”

I wait in the hallway for her to return. She steps out of the restroom and frowns at me. “You didn’t have to wait for me.”

I offer her my hand. “Agree to disagree.”

We enter the exam room together. Terri scowls at the exam table and sits on a chair next to me. I don’t get the chance to ask her why she’s scowling before the doctor sweeps into the room.

“Terri! It’s good to see you.”

“Hi, Dr. Reynolds.”

The doctor snorts. “We went to high school together. You can call me Jasmine.” Her gaze finds me. “And who is this big fellow?”

Terri rolls her eyes. “Are we pretending you don’t know who he is?”

Jasmine shrugs. “Maybe.”

Terri sighs. “Jasmine, this is Nolan. He’s the baby’s father.”

I hold out my hand and we shake. “Nice to meet you, doctor.”

“Oh, he has manners. I like him already.”

“You’re as boy crazy now as you were in high school.”

Jasmine clears her throat before opening a file. “I see your pregnancy was already confirmed with a blood test by Dr. Allens.”

Terri nods. “She insisted.”

“Dr. Allens is a force of nature. I thought she was the sweetest doctor in the world when she fixed my broken arm when I was a teenager. Now, I work with her and hide in the restroom whenever she’s near.”