Page 68 of Playing It Forward

She deflates. “No fair. I can’t stay mad at you when you’re all caregiving.”

I squeeze her neck. “I will always care for you and the little mermaid.”

It’s a vow. I’m going to be the best dad I can possibly be. This baby is my responsibility and I won’t let her down.

Chapter 22

I’m beginning to suspect the island has us married off already.

Terri

“Where are you going?” I ask Nolan when he turns right instead of left out of the hospital. “The resort is in the other direction.”

“We need to buy prenatal vitamins, and I want to make sure you have enough healthy vegetables and fruit. I should probably also stock up on ginger ale and crackers.”

“I still have piles of both in my office.”

He glances over at me. “If you’re sure?”

“I’m sure it’s impossible to drink three cases of ginger ale in a lifetime, let alone in the span of one pregnancy.”

“Okay. No ginger ale then.”

“And no crackers either.”

We reach Mariner’s Market and he easily finds a parking spot. When I reach for the door, he clears his throat. I drop my hand.

He smiles before hopping out of the SUV and rushing around to the passenger side to open my door. He lifts me up and places me on the ground.

I’m enjoying him lifting me up entirely too much. I remember the first time he lifted me up and pressed me against a wall. Our little mermaid is the result. I place my hand on my stomach.

He stills. “Are you okay? Any symptoms? Bleeding? Cramping? Dizziness? Fever?”

I groan. “This is going to be a long pregnancy if you’re going to worry about symptoms every time I touch my stomach.”

Except he won’t. Because he won’t be here. He’ll be playing football and traveling all over the country while I’m here on the island. He won’t be here to reassure me.

He pinches my chin. “What happened? Where did you go?”

I scrunch my nose. “Nowhere.”

“You’re lying, but standing in a parking lot is not the place for a serious discussion.” He nudges me forward so he can shut the door before grasping my hand and leading me into the grocery store.

“First, pharmacy,” he says as he commandeers a cart.

He pushes the cart through the aisles until we reach the pharmacy area. Several women stop to observe him. I snarl at them.

Nolan isn’t mine. He’s only here because he’s the little mermaid’s daddy. But I’m here now. They can mind their own business.

“Do you have a preferred brand of vitamins?” he asks after stopping in front of the rows of vitamins.

I blink up at him. “Do people have preferred brands of vitamins?”

“I do.”

“You do?”

He shrugs. “I’m an athlete.”