Page 79 of His to Save

“Children!” Atlas growls, cutting her off. “I’d like to know if I’m about to have a son or a daughter, so if y’all could just save your fucking foreplay for later, that’d be great.”

I lean over and grab Atlas’s hand, pressing a soft kiss to his knuckles.

He mouths my three favorite words—I love you—and then turns his attention back toward the screen.

“It’s not foreplay,” Ellis mumbles, but Scarlet just glares.

The room falls quiet as she rolls the wand over my belly. “Sure is active. Wiggling and rolling all around in there.”

Atlas beams. “I made her drink some OJ with breakfast.”

“Aren’t you just a peach—oh hey, look!” She snaps a still image and freezes the screen. “Looks like y’all are having a baby boy!”

“I’m going to be an uncle!” Ellis claps his hands as he springs up from his chair. “Congrats, you two, I gotta bounce.”

“You won’t be missed, Officer Jackass,” Scarlet says, but he’s already out the door.

“Really?” I ask, even though the evidence is plain as day. “A boy?”

“Yup.” Scarlet’s lips curl in the most genuine smile I’ve ever seen from her. “Congrats, Nora.”

“Hot damn,” Atlas murmurs. “We’re having a boy, Pip. Guess we need to start talking about names, huh?” His cheeks turn a deep pink color. “I mean, uh, if you want my input, that is.”

“Of course, I do.” I squeeze his hand. “We’re in this together, right?”

He grins, and I swear, I feel it all the way down to my toes. “Damn straight we are.”

DIARY ENTRY, PRESENT DAY

Dear Diary,

A boy. We’re having a boy. A sweet baby boy. A sweet, healthy, baby boy.

Scarlet said everything is measuring just right and his heartbeat sounded strong and steady. I need to remember to ask Atlas to send me the recording.

Our baby boy needs a name besides jellybean. I want to ask Atlas to help me come up with something. Maybe I will tonight… on our date.

Is it weird that I’m nervous? I’m eighteen, pregnant, and going on my first date. I’d say a therapist would have a field day with me, but Maggie’s never been anything but professional. Still, I bet I’m one heck of a case.

Some days, it feels like my life is the plot of one of those Lifetime movies Mama liked so much.

Got sidetracked there, Diary, so let’s get back to the point. I’m as anxious as I am excited for tonight, because I think I want to go all the way with Atlas.

I want us to have sex. For him to be my real first. He’s a man worthy of it, and I know he’ll take care of me—and more importantly, I know he’ll stop if I say so.

But what if I’m… bad at it? What if he doesn’t enjoy being with me? What if I flip out, and he realizes how broken I really am? What if he decides I’m not worth the trouble?

NO! STOP IT, NORA!

Atlas is a good man. The best kind of man. He is everything I’ve ever wanted and never thought I would have—and then some. He is kind and caring and patient and has the gentlest heart out of anyone I know.

He’s the kind of man my parents would have loved. He’s worked tirelessly to earn my trust, and deep down in my soul, I know he loves me.

No matter how things go between us tonight, I know it won’t change the way he feels about me.

Flustered, Nora

CHAPTER 27

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