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Her auburn brows arched and her lips trembled to keep the laughter from spilling from her lips. “Are you asking me or telling?”
I rolled my eyes, internally beating myself up for being nervous and sounding like a fool. “It’s for you.”
“You sure?”
“I am.” I hadn’t been as sure about many things in my life as I was right now. In this moment.
Her smile brightened and she peeked inside the bag, pulling out a stuffed gorilla holding a bunch of stuffed bananas. “For the baby,” she guessed, mouth still trembling with restrained laughter.
“Nope. It’s for you.” I took one final step towards the counter and leaned in with a conspiratorial smile. “The books say that at twenty weeks, the baby is as long as a banana.”
“A…banana.” Her words came out on a choked gasp. “A banana. That’s how big the baby is?”
“Yep. Well, as long as a banana, which doesn’t really make sense because last week they were as big as a mango. But I’m not a doctor, I just thought it would be nice to see how big our baby is.”
“Miles,” she whispered in a watery voice that instantly put me on high alert.
“What’s wrong? Did I screw this up?” My shoulders fell. This was exactly why I stayed away from things like romance and love. There were more landmines than a battlefield and much like those, you didn’t know you screwed up until it was too late. “I’m sorry, Shannon.” I reached for the bag and she smacked my hand.
“Don’t be sorry, Miles. This was really sweet. So thoughtful,” she said and swiped away a tear. A damned tear.
“Then why are you crying?”
“Because I’m pregnant and hormonal and my moods can change on a dime. Right now, I’m overwhelmed and grateful by this thoughtful gesture, but I could easily start screaming at you in a few seconds.” Her smile was as real as her tears and I allowed myself to relax, but only a little.
“Um, okay.”
“Thanks for this. And for reading the books. Does that mean you want to be my birthing partner?” Her brows rose hopefully and once again my heart started to beat in overdrive but for an entirely different reason this time. “Is that look a hell no?”
I shook my head. “What does a birthing coach do? I haven’t gotten to that part yet, though I am an excellent leader.”
Shannon laughed as I meant to her to and she leaned forward, chin resting in the palm of her hand. “I said partner, not coach. And you would be my partner, my source of support while I’m in labor.”
I listened as she talked about being her advocate and holding her hand during labor, shocked and touched that she wanted me beside her during this momentous occasion. “You sure you want me to be there?” Wasn’t this a job for a best friend.
You are her best friend, dummy. Oh yeah.
“I am sure. You military training means you’re probably good in an emergency and I need someone who won’t freak out because I’m sure I’ll be freaked out enough for both of us.” She smiled but it did nothing to hide the worry in her green gaze.
“Yes. Absolutely.”
She blinked. “Really?”
“Yep. This means I’ll be there to catch the baby, right?”
Shannon rolled her eyes. “They won’t be running out of me, Miles.”
I shrugged. “You never know. The baby is half mine and I’ve always been active.”
She tossed her head back and laughed. “You are ridiculous, Miles. But I can’t think of another person I want with me while I go through this.”
“What am I, chopped liver?” Mara glared at Shannon, a move that only made her laugh harder.
“You want the job?”
“Hell no. It’s bad enough I’ll have to go through it all myself at some point, I don’t need any previews scaring me out of it.” She turned her gaze to me and smiled. “But I would have liked to be in the running.”
“You were. If Miles had turned me down, you were next on my list. Promise.”
“Yeah well, I’ll be in the waiting room with post-baby snacks for you. I promise.” Mara reluctantly accepted Shannon’s hug and waved at the young guys behind me in line who were hoping for a few minutes of flirting with Shannon. “Next!”
Shannon flashed a wide smile at me and she looked so happy it took every ounce of restraint I had not to lean over until our mouths met. “You busy tonight?”
“Oh yeah, I have a hot date with my sofa and my TV. Jealous?” Her eyes sparkled with humor that slowly spread to her sweet smile.
“No, because you’re having dinner with me.” The plan had only just started to form but the details came faster and faster. As long as she said yes, the plan could go forward.
Shannon shook her head. “I’m too tired to go out tonight.”
