Page 28 of Shattered Love

Avery

The weeks flyby and today is our first scan. All day I’ve been anxious. What if something is wrong? What if I’m not pregnant and I’m just fat? The full belly that seems to be getting bigger by the day could just be the mint chocolate ice cream I can’t seem to stop eating. My ass will have its own zip code soon.

I meet Dominic at the clinic because he had some paperwork to finish off first.

My mother has been ringing daily and the awkwardness is finally leaving. It was easier to figure out my father after he called Dominic ‘son’ as he was leaving. Dominic couldn’t hide his surprise and stood watching the door long after my dad had gone. When he finally turned to me, he told me that no one had ever called him ‘son’ before.

My heart aches for the little boy I sometimes see in his eyes. I try to imagine a small Dominic alone, scared, questioning why he didn’t have the love given so freely to everyone else. What made him so unlovable? The truth was loving Dominic was as easy as breathing.

I walk into the clinic.

“Hello, Mrs. Stone.”

I smile at Cassie. “Have you seen Dominic?”

Cassie shakes her blonde hair, popping her bubblegum. “Nope. Officer Stone hasn’t been by?”

I turn when a feeling comes over me and see him rushing through the doors.

His eyes land straight on me, as if he has built-in radar. “Hey.” He crosses to me. “Did I miss anything?” He sounds out of breath.

“No, I just got here.”

He lets out a deep breath. “Good, I didn’t want to miss anything.”

I don’t miss the way the women’s eyes slide to Dominic. It normally doesn’t bother me. I know he has that irresistible look that women swoon over, especially in his uniform, his ink peeking out. He wasn’t the type to play up his looks, the type that would make me jealous. In fact, if a woman showed him attention, he normally pulled me closer, saying without words that he was taken. But with my body changing, I suddenly wanted to scratch all their eyes out.

“Avery Stone.”

He holds his hand out, helping me up and placing a hand on the small of my back. Kissing my cheek. “Let’s go see our baby, beautiful.”

A goofy grin takes over my face as I walk to the room.

“I forgot to tell you, you look beautiful today.” He growls next my ear.

My body heats instantly. I turn around and, leaning up, I place a kiss on his lips.

“Avery.”

I smile as the doctor holds out his hand.

“I’m Doctor Hill.”

I shake his hand as he turns to Dom, who nods.

“If you would like to get on the bed, we’ll see if we can see this baby. I’m putting you around fifteen weeks. Is that correct?”

I smile as I slide on to the bed. “Yes.”

Dominic grunts. “Fifteen weeks and three days.”

The doctor's eyebrows raise. “I’m sorry.”

Dominic nods.

I hide my smirk. The doctor lifts my top, squeezing the gel on. I suck in a breath. Shit, that’s cold.

“Get your hands off my wife, now.” His voice is low growl.

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