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And here we are, despite every messy thing we’ve been through, preparing for that moment together.
I do myself the courtesy of leaning in to the experience. Of turning off my mind and letting my back fall into the pillar of Harrison.
He supports my weight easily, much in the way I know he’ll support me and our baby for many years to come. The whole thing was a shitshow, but on some subconscious level, I knew I was choosing an incredible partner. One who will never let me down because he’s got something more important going on or his own needs to see to.
Harrison is selfless and caring on a level I’ve never experienced before.
God, how did I get so lucky?
For the next fifteen minutes, I relax my mind and my body and fully give myself over to Amy’s instructions and the feel of Harrison’s hands as they knead their way around my body. My shoulders, my hips, right in the center of my back—his fingers dig in with just enough pressure to relieve the knots I’m pretty sure I’ve been carrying for close to twenty-five years.
“So, coaches…for the next week,” the bubbly instructor announces, “you’re going to immerse yourself in a crash course about what it’s like to be your pregnant partner.”
Harrison glances to me with a smirk while a titter runs through the rest of the room and pretty much all the guys look ready to bail.
Amy walks over to the closet at the back of the room, continuing to speak as she opens the door and starts handing sealed plastic packages to the class assistant.
“I have an eight-month belly for each of you—twenty-five pounds of extra weight, ready to be strapped to your front.” My eyebrows shoot to my hairline. “You’re going to have to wear this for an entire week, experiencing what the women in your lives will have to experience for months on end throughout this pregnancy.
“In addition to the stomach, I’ll also be asking you to make hourly trips to the bathroom, whether you have to go or not. Pregnancy is a miracle and a blessing, but it’s also a giant inconvenience you’ll never truly empathize with unless you experience it for yourself.”
The idea of Harrison—one of the sexiest, manliest guys I’ve ever met—walking around wearing a big, fake pregnant belly is ridiculous enough on its own. But when I realize what his work schedule looks like this week, it becomes downright impossible.
“You don’t have to do this,” I lean over and whisper into his ear. “You have an important week in New York. It’s no big deal if you don’t do it.”
Harrison rubs at his jaw and nods before jerking his head toward me and leaning in. “You know what? No. It is important. You didn’t plan on carrying your belly around to all of your events and shit, just like I didn’t plan on wearing it to New York, but it’s happening all the same. We’re in this together, and I’m going to make damn sure I know what you’re going through as best as I can.”
It’s speeches like that that make me want to fall in love with him.
Which is probably also why speeches like that scare the piss right out of my low-lying bladder.
“You have meetings,” I insist on another whisper. “Important meetings with people who—”
“Who should understand that my dedication to you and this baby is a great indication of the level of dedication I provide to my company and the ones we deal with.”
I sigh. Goddamn you, Harrison. Why you gotta be so sweet?
“Don’t stress over this, Rocky. It’ll be fine.” A playful smile slides across his handsome mouth. “My only regret is that I won’t be in town, here, with you, where you can crack jokes at the appropriate times.”
“That is disappointing,” I say with a laugh. “I’m very funny.”
Harrison’s smile stretches the entire width of his face. “You can text me when you think of stuff.”
I push my lips into a pout. “Ah, but without you here, I’ll be lacking the real motivation for material.”
“What about…” Unspoken words linger in the air for a few seconds before he shakes his head. “Never mind.”
“No. What? What were you going to ask?”
“I just thought…maybe you’d want to come with me.” He squeezes my knee. “But I know you’re busy here. You have a lot going on, and your entourage would be lost without you.” He laughs. “So, don’t even worry about it.”
“No, I…” I lick my lips and nod confidently. I’ve never been a wallflower. No reason to start being one now. “I want to. New York has a hell of a lot more anonymity than here. It sounds nice, actually.” I pull up short as something occurs to me. Maybe he changed his mind because he doesn’t want me to come. “Uh, if that’s okay with you, that is. You don’t need to feel like you have to—”
