Page 66 of Love Is Ale You Need

Marcie

I had to lie to your child. I had to tell her you were moving furniture, that’s where all the noise was coming from.

Marcie

When she turns eighteen, I’ll tell her the actual story.

Marcie

Are you done? Already? I’ve had gas last longer than that.

Marcie

Oh! Nope! Just switching positions, I hear.

Marcie

I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone make that noise.

Marcie

Or that one.

Marcie

Twenty minutes and still going strong.

Marcie

He’s a keeper. You’re making me second guess my relationship status. Does he have an older brother? Hot single father?

Marcie

It’s silent. Now you must be done.

Marcie

Fucking hell. DJ just gave Tonya another rose.

TWENTY-THREE

YOU’RE EATING MY CHILD

Trey

I motion for Rylee to enter the exam room ahead of me. She takes a seat along the left wall, and I sit down next to her. Rylee kept her word and as soon as she had an appointment scheduled, she called me. It was the most nerve wracking twenty-four hours of my life. I’ve been in this situation once before, but never made it to the doctor’s office. In all fairness, neither did she.

“The doctor will be with you in just a few minutes.” The nurse closes the door with a soft click.

My leg bounces on the ball of my foot as I glance around the small room. The pungent smell of cloves wafts around me, reminding me of the dentist's office. Sterile.

I jump to my feet, wandering from one side of the room to the other, examining all the pregnancy anatomy models. I stop in front of a baby anatomy poster. The last time I had to look at this stuff was during sex education in grade school.

“Is everything all right?” Rylee asks.

I tilt my head, trying to figure out how the baby fits out of the vagina. “Yeah. Just nervous energy.” I squint.

“That’s understandable. I feel it too.”

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