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“I wanted you, and everything that comes along with you, Bella. If I’d only taken a minute to step back, take a breath, and approach this with some form of rationale then we wouldn’t be in this position.” He swallowed hard. “I’m so fucking sorry I hurt you, and while I can’t take back what’s been done, I can go forward and prove to you I’m a much better man than that,” he finished, his voice shaking.
Our eyes locked. I wanted to be in his arms so bad it hurt. Tears rolled down my cheeks. I hadn’t wanted to cry in front of him, and yet here I was, sitting in my car, in a grocery store parking lot, a sobbing, crying mess.
He reached over and cupped my cheek, wiping the tears away. “Shall we try again?”
Asher
Six WeeksLater
I openedmy locker and pulled out a clean pair of scrubs. I stripped off the dirty ones and threw them into the hamper at the end of the aisle. I glanced to the clock on the wall. It was almost two. I threw on the pants and reached into my jeans pocket, pulling out my phone. Sure enough, I had two missed messages.
BELLA: I’m here.
BELLA: I hope you’re going to make the appointment in time.
I threw my shirt over my head, locked my locker, and rushed out of the change room heading toward the elevator. The second I’d hit the button, I messaged her.
ASHER: On my way.
Bella and I had worked every single day on our relationship over the past six weeks. She even admitted to me after we’d gotten back together that she’d asked Sawyer to set her up with a psychologist to work through the trauma her ex had caused. I could tell she’d been nervous when she told me, but I listened with patience and understanding, letting her know that there was nothing wrong with that. I’d even attended a couple of her sessions with her.
The door to my office waiting room was open, and I saw Bella sitting in the corner. She waved and placed the magazine she’d been reading down. I walked over and sat down beside her, kissing her cheek. “How you doing?”
“Okay.” She smiled, taking hold of my hand. “How was your morning?”
“Crazy busy. I almost didn’t think I was going to get here in time,” I said. “I even put on clean scrubs for the occasion.” I winked at her.
Bella laughed. “I’m kind of glad you did. It may traumatize me seeing you covered in all the… Oh God, just the thought of it is going to make me sick,” she said, sitting forward and covering her mouth.
“Just breathe,” I said, rubbing her back.
A few moments later, we made our way down the hall to one of the exam rooms. I waited outside while Bella changed, and when she called to me, I stepped inside. She sat at the end of the table, her socked feet dangling as she held her gown closed. I walked over to her and kissed the side of her neck.
“None of that now.”
“None of what?”
“Patient/doctor shenanigans.” She giggled.
I laughed. “In order for that, you’d have to be my patient. You chose my colleague.” I tsked.
A knock on the door caused us both to jump a little, and in walked Alonzo. “Hey, guys,” he said, washing his hands in the small sink. “How are we today?”
“A little tired,” Asher said.
Alonzo looked at Bella and then at me. “Asher, I meant Bella.”
The three of us laughed.
“I’m good. Feeling good,” she said.
“Well then, let’s get to it, shall we?” Alonzo took a seat beside the table, while I adjusted the back of the table and guided Bella to lie back. Alonzo squirted some of the jelly onto Bella’s barely-there baby bump.
“God, I hate that part. It’s so cold,” she said, taking my hand.
I placed one elbow on the back of the table and stood beside her, my hand over hers, as I watched the screen as Alonzo moved the wand around. Then he stopped. “Before I continue, I just want to make sure you both want to know what the sex is.”
Bella looked up at me, and I to her, both of us saying yes at the same time.
