Page 74 of Together

Mustering up as much courage as I have, I decide if he’s going to be a stinker — which means our childobviouslytakes after him — then I can be, too.

I pull up every good comeback from childhood to adulthood that I can think of and say, “Wouldn’t you like to know.”

Okay.

Well.

That wasn’t as awesome as I had planned.

He knows it.

I know it.

But maybe he’ll let it slide.

At the risk he isn’t going to, I flash him a boob, cover myself back up, and go to the restroom to get ready for my doctor’s appointment.

Behind me, I can practically hear him gaping.

“That was just mean!”

Smiling to myself in the mirror, I notice something about me that I haven’t seen reflected in a long time.

Happiness.

Scary as it may be, I know that Nik is a huge reason for that.

Maybe he’ll be getting his wish sooner rather than later and I’ll cave, wanting the world to know he’s mine and I’m his.

Or, maybe we’ll continue to keep it to ourselves and enjoy the ride.

It’s sure been fun so far.

* * *

“Okay,Ashley, Nik, I know you’re anxious for this.”

“You could say Ashley’s vibrating with excitement,” Nik says and I elbow him in the side. Actually, I elbow the air because I’m lying down on the exam table and he’s sitting closer to my stomach.

Luckily, Dr. Fletcher doesn’t seem to notice. And if she did, she wouldn’t have a clue what we were talking about anyway. Or, rather, what Nik is talking about. I can tell he has a million questions rolling around in that gorgeous head of his.

“This morning she was moving around the house, practically pulsating from her eagerness to come.” My eyes almost bug out of my head and Nik sits calm as can be, watching Dr. Fletcher do her thing, squirting the warm goo onto my stomach and rubbing it around with the Doppler.

She nods in understanding. “It’s always exciting. Let’s hope the baby cooperates this time.”

“Let’s hope,” I say, trying not to clench my jaw.

I wish I could say that I hated the way Nik’s acting. But the truth of it is, he was right before. I love it. The teasing and playfulness is what makes Nik, Nik, and that’s more than all right with me.

Once we hear the baby’s heartbeat, something that never gets old, we both quiet down, holding hands and staring at the screen. That’s also something that never gets old. Seeing our baby.

“So amazing,” Nik mutters. “He’s inside there, so perfect and healthy and happy. Ready for us to screw him up,” he adds, jokingly.

“Boy, huh? You’re going with my theory?”

He shrugs. “Seems right. Look.” He points to the screen at something that could be an arm, a leg, a stick. Heck, how do we know? We aren’t doctors or ultrasound techs.

“That is not his…”

---