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God, I was generally a very happy, laid-back person. I surfed and painted. Aside from the shit show of living with my parents before coming here, my life had been relaxed. They were the ones that needed so much. I hadn’t. I had been content with the art supplies that I made enough money by waitressing in high school to purchase, usually, and Regan made many of our clothes.
Lately, I was on a roller coaster of emotions and anger. It sucked. And Phoenix’s lack of reliability was tipping me over the edge of crazy. I didn’t like it.
He turned to face me. “I didn’t know your dad worked at Bennett Property Management for my grandad.”
What the hell?Defensive. That was me. But really—he was bringing that up to remind me he was the fancy rich guy and my family was barely hanging on. I knew it.
“Good thing about the insurance.”
I let my head fall back and clamped my mouth even tighter before I laid into him because it seemed like he’d just thrown in my face how his family provided the insurance for my dad. The same insurance I was using for the pregnancy. Nope. I couldn’t do it. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I hissed as quietly as possible because we were getting way too much attention from the other patients waiting to be called back.
His brows furrowed, and the brackets around his mouth deepened as a storm brewed in his silver eyes. “It doesn’t mean anything, Aspen. I didn’t know your dad worked for my grandad. That’s it. I was worried about the insurance.”
Bullshit. And I was going to tell him that, but the door opened, and my name was called. I stood on shaky legs, barely looking at him. He could come or not. I didn’t care.
The technician, who was female and clearly fixated on Phoenix, led me back to the room then instructed me to get on the exam table. It was raised slightly so that my head was elevated.
She ignored me and flirted, touching his arm then showing him where to sit, which was in the chair beside me, the pregnant one. The only saving grace was that he’d severed the contact immediately and shifted his focus to me, ignoring her until she told him to have a seat. It didn’t change how angry I was, but it helped.
The lighting in the small room was dim, and I appreciated that so much. Scattered around were several instruments whose function I couldn’t identify and two monitors. I assumed those would be where we watched the baby. My doc said they would be doing an ultrasound at the same time. The doc, an older man with salt-and-pepper hair and a kind smile, came in, and I relaxed a tiny bit.
“I’m Dr. Harrison. And you’re Aspen Reid?”
“Yes.” I felt shaky. The pressure on my bladder was intense. I wasn’t even sure I could make it through the test without peeing myself. My cheeks flamed at that unpleasant thought.
Phoenix noticed and frowned.
Whatever. He could think anything he wanted.
Dr. Harrison shook Phoenix’s hand. “Mr. Reid?”
“Phoenix Bennett, but I’m the baby’s father.”
Interesting. I was slightly fascinated by his reaction because it was open and honest. He was claiming rights. Part of me loved it, and the other half… well, the jury was still out.
The same annoying technician entered, and Phoenix turned away from her, taking my hand in his instead. I allowed it only because of her. I glared, and she caught it. So did the doc. Good. Maybe he would have words with her later.
“I’ve been informed that you finished your second glass of water a half hour ago, Aspen?”
“Yes.” And we needed to hurry along.
“What we’re going to do is have a look at your baby with the ultrasound. Then you’ll feel some pressure and a pinch of pain from the needle while I extract a small amount of the amniotic fluid. I don’t want you to worry. Everything will be fine, and we’ll all be watching where your baby is in relation to the needle. How are you doing so far?”
“Fine.”
“Wanting to get this over with?” He chuckled, and I grinned.
“Very much so.”
“Okay.” He nodded to the tech, and she adjusted my clothing to expose my stomach and the tiny baby bump forming.
Phoenix’s hand spasmed in mine, and I turned to catch his stunned expression. Then it hit me. He hadn’t seen the slight change in my body because I hadn’t been wearing tight clothing for a couple of weeks.
It made things more real.
The doc squirted warm gel on my stomach then pressed the wand against my belly, moving it around to get all the angles he needed of the little alien growing inside me.
“Hold it here, Becca.”
