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Nathan rolls pillowed lips between his teeth. “Can I say that I’m jealous it wasn’t me giving it to you?”
Fu-crap.
“Ugh, don’t say things like that.” I conceal my face with both arms but peek through the gap. “I’m about to have a probe the size of a good dildo shoved inside me, and if I come again, I will literally die.”
Fascination rearranges his features. “Are you really?”
“Shut up. Pinch me or something.”
Nathan encircles my elbow and yanks my arm. “What do you think the tech would do if she walked in on me screwing you in the stirrups?”
I bare my teeth. “You. Are. Not. Helping.”
He grins an adorable, dimpled grin and leans over to deliver a peck on my downturned mouth. “I couldn’t help it. Don’t worry, I’ll be on my best behavior.”
“Please.” The heat in my cheeks recedes some.
The tech enters the room and starts the show. The probe isn’t as big as my earlier exaggerated statement, but after what happened during a standard pelvic exam, I can’t anticipate anything to go as expected.
“Are you two ready to see your baby?”
Nathan delivers my hand a sharp squeeze, and we study the black and white amorphous video.
“There.” She indicates the whitish blob within the square. “There’s your baby, and that little flicker in the middle is the heartbeat. You look to be right at eight weeks and three days.” She clicks on her computer.
Nathan and I are engrossed by the image. The baby is real. This little smudge of black and white is more than a mere bundle of cells. We created a life.
“Whoa,” he mumbles. He scrubs his hand across downturned lips. I crease my brow at his expression.
“You okay?”
He nods, but his pallor makes him look ill.
“Maybe you should sit down. There’s a chair behind you.”
He stumbles back heavily without a care to where he lands. His ass claims the seat, and his elbows support his weight on his thighs.
I stroke his forearm, hoping to provide comfort without words. On my third pass toward his elbow, he snatches my hand. I brace for him to throw it off. A squeak of surprise leaves me as he drags it tighter into his body and secures it to his mouth. His breath hits my skin in warm pants.
“Take your time, honey.” I return my attention to the screen to give him a modicum of privacy. The tech’s eyes glitter with questions. I subtly nod and hope she catches my meaning. He needs a minute, so let him have it.
She clicks a few more buttons on her machine. “We’re done here. I’ll just print out a few of these for the baby book!” Several pictures print off by her knee before she tears them off and hands them to me. “You can get dressed, and you’re good to go. You can stop by and make your next appointment for four weeks from now, or you can call and set it up when you get home.”
“Thank you so much.”
The door latches behind her. I wipe myself off and dress in order to speed walk to the conjoined restroom. When I return, Nathan hasn’t twitched. I’m afraid to break the silence, but I don’t have a choice. Our appointment is over.
“Are you ready to go?”
“Hmm? Oh, sorry.” Nathan rises and wipes damp palms on his navy uniform pants. He gestures for me to lead the way and waits patiently aside while I set up my next three appointments.
The sun blazes hot overhead as we step from the dim interior. I’m instantly blinded from the shock to my pupils. Nathan retrieves his shades, shielding me from his nonverbal thoughts.
“Are you okay to head back to work? Maybe you need a little time off.”
“Kiersten, I’m fine.” His hands slide into his pockets.
“If you say so. Here, these are for you.” I extend half the ultrasound pictures. “It doesn’t look like much more than a blob, but I thought you might want some for yourself or to show your mom.”
