Page 66 of Together

“I can handle it.”

“You shouldn’t have to,” she says sadly.

She’s right about that. “Maybe not,” I agree, reaching over for her hand. I have no idea why I can’t stop holding her hand, but it’s become more than habitual. It’s natural to be holding her hand when we’re together. “But if I have to defend myself or us to her and the rest of your family or anyone else, for that matter, I’ll do it. It’s no one else’s business but our own, anyway.”

“You’re right. It isn’t.”

“Don’t let her words put a damper on getting to hear the baby’s heartbeat today.”

She grins. “You’re right. I’ll try not to.”

“Good. Now, tell me what I’m walking into at the appointment. Will you be getting naked?” I joke. Only, I am curious.

“Ha! You perv. You just want to see me without clothes on again.”

“Damn right, I do.”

She blushes. “I assure you, nothing has changed.”

I make a big show of looking her up and down, focusing on her breasts that have gotten bigger. Not incredibly noticeable, but I’ve paid close attention and have a lot of good memories with her breasts. I remember them fondly. “Well, that’s not exactly true.”

She rolls her eyes. “Oh, shush. You can’t even see anything because of my winter coat.”

“I saw you before you put it on,” I remind her.

“You’re so ridiculous.” She laughs.

“For real, though, do they have to examine you today or do you keep your clothes on?”

“I think since I was examined last time I get to keep my clothes on today. Last time they did all the bloodwork and pelvic exam. This time, they’ll do the regular checkup stuff and listen for the heartbeat against my stomach but I won’t have to strip down for it.”

“Damn,” I joke and she laughs lightly. I pull into the parking lot and find a spot fairly close to the front door. “Nervous?”

“Nope. You?”

“No. I’m more excited than anything. I’ve never heard a baby’s heartbeat before.”

“Me either. A first for both of us!” She kind of cheers.

I help her out of the pickup and we walk into the doctor’s office side by side. She signs in with the front desk and they direct her to sit down and wait for the nurse to call her back.

My leg bobs up and down and I sit up perfectly straight in the hard, stiff chair, my hands on my knees.

“Thought you weren’t nervous?” Ashley mutters next to me.

“I’m not for the appointment. Just don’t like being in hospitals and stuff.”

“You were fine when we were waiting for Josie’s baby to be born,” she reminds me.

“That was different.”

“Why’s that?”

Thankfully the nurse calls Ashley’s name before I have the chance to answer. Especially since I don’t know how to answer her. There’s no logical reason for me to be nervous right now, but a big part of me keeps wondering what would change between Ashley and I if something were to happen to the baby. I don’t know if she would even want there to be anything between us. If I’m being completely honest with myself, I don’t know if I do, either. I like Ashley. A lot. For more reasons than the fact that she’s carrying my child. But if we take the baby out of the equation, is there still anything between us?

I’d like to think so.

And maybe that’s what has me so nervous.

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