Page 106 of One Reckless Night

41

JARED

The second day in the hospital was harder than the first. Watching Amelia lie there, hooked up to monitors and looking so fragile, made my chest ache in a way I wasn’t used to. I’d spent my entire career on the other side of this—the doctor, the one in control, the one with all the answers. But now, I was just the loved one of a patient. It was a strange, uncomfortable place to be. I hated not knowing what was going to happen next. I hated feeling helpless.

The nurses weren’t exactly a font of information. They were acting like I was just the patient’s family. They didn’t give a shit I was a renowned brain surgeon that had spent hours in this hospital operating. When I asked specific questions, they gave me the same bullshit generic answers medical professionals always gave.

I sat in the uncomfortable chair next to Amelia’s bed, my elbows resting on my knees as I stared at the monitor tracking her vitals. They had removed the fetal monitor earlier after determining the baby’s heart rate was fine. Every time she shifted or winced, I was on my feet, ready to call a nurse or demand a scan.

“Jared,” Amelia said softly. I looked up to see her watching me, her eyes tired but warm. “You’ve been staring at that monitor for an hour. It’s not going to tell you anything the nurses haven’t already.”

“I know,” I muttered, though I didn’t look away. “I just… I need to make sure nothing changes.”

“Nothing’s going to change,” she replied. “The doctor says I’m fine. The baby’s fine. You don’t have to hover like I’m made of glass.”

I finally turned to face her, frustration bubbling up in my chest. “You’re not fine, Amelia. You were bleeding. You nearly—” I cut myself off, unwilling to finish the thought. The image of her pale and unconscious still haunted me. “I can’t just sit here and do nothing.”

“You’re not doing nothing,” she said, reaching out to place her hand over mine. “You’re here. That’s enough. You have to be exhausted. I know you didn’t sleep well last night.”

“I slept enough,” I assured her. “I’m not the one trying to replenish blood supply to support another human life. You are the only one I’m concerned about.”

Her fingers tightened around mine, and she gave me a small, tired smile. “You’re impossible, you know that? Always so stubborn.”

“Pot, kettle,” I shot back, but my tone was softer than usual. I couldn’t help it. She had this way of disarming me, even when I was wound up tighter than a spring.

She laughed softly, her eyes closing for a moment before she opened them again. “Did the doctor say what time the ultrasound was?”

“It’s a hospital. They don’t do appointments or care about time. They show up whenever.”

“Good point.” She smiled. “Doctors, am I right?”

We shared a chuckle.

The ultrasound was my request. Yes, they had done one already and I knew there were some risks to doing another, but I wasn’t taking her home until I saw things with my own two eyes.

When the ultrasound tech came in, I felt a mix of excitement and dread. This was the first time I’d see the baby. I’d missed the earlier ultrasounds. The first one because I had my head up my ass. The second because it was at a critical moment, and I couldn’t be in the room. I hated that I’d let my fear and pride get in the way of something so important.

“Alright, Amelia,” the tech said, her tone calm and professional. “Let’s take another look and make sure everything’s progressing as it should.”

Without thinking, I reached out and took her hand, squeezing it gently. She glanced at me, surprised, but didn’t pull away.

“You good?” Amelia asked.

I nodded, though I wasn’t sure if it was true. “Yeah. Just never been on this side of things before.”

She gave me a small smile. “It’s weird, isn’t it?”

“Very,” I admitted, squeezing her fingers.

Normally, I’m the one who knows everything and is looking at the situation based on data and numbers. It’s work. Nothing more. But now, I’m looking at two lives that mean more to me than anything ever has. I’m terrified I won’t live up to the expectations I’ve put on myself. Last night, I barely slept. I had created a list of things I needed to do. Not just buying a crib and all that shit. I needed to be present. I was her person. She had to lean on me, and I had to prove to her I was the man she could count on.

The tech started the ultrasound. I watched the screen intently, my heart pounding. The baby came into view. I felt a lump rise in my throat. It was real. This was real. The tech clicked the keyboard and moved the wand around.

“Do you know what you’re having yet?” the tech asked, her tone cheerful.

“No,” Amelia answered.

“Do you want me to tell you?” the tech asked as she clicked on the keyboard once again.