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I shake my head in not only disbelief, but thankfulness. “Sure thing,” I respond, smiling wide and trying not to laugh. “I’m…”
He leans his head across the center console, pointing to his ear and waiting for me to continue.
“Really…” I keep going. He’s got the patience of a saint. “Really…”
I exhale, taking in his handsome features as he drives ahead. “Sorry…” I spill the last and final word before I feel the car come to a quick stop, August astonishing me.
I’m a very lucky woman because, halted in the middle of three lane traffic, August shifts the car into park, clicks his hazard lights on, and crashes his lips to mine.
We could get killed out here, but there’s not a chance in hell I’m stopping him. No part of me expected this, and that’s what makes the thrill even more spectacular.
The kiss is messy and hurried, but everything I want. I taste the mint on his tongue as he sweeps past my lips, giving me enough to surely crave more of him later. Just when I’m about to all but get comfy on his lap, he pulls back and softly grips my face with his strong hands. “You were already forgiven because there’s nothing to forgive.”
He pecks my lips one last time and shifts the car into park.
August kissed me.The one thing I’ve tried to avoid, and I know I’ve officially lost the battle against myself. He also forgave me.
I’m losing, and we’re only halfway done.
Is it finally time to wave the white flag?
“Areyou ready to see your baby?” The ultrasound tech spreads the glob of cold gel across my belly and glides the wand in gentle circles.
August sits beside me anxiously, his eyes dialed in on the screen of black and white. I see his caramel swirls searching for answers, knowing how confusing the monitors are. There’s nothing but numbers and measurements.
Nothing that he or I understand and everything we dream to know.
“We are,” he answers before me, and it’s cute to see him so excited.
I’m excited. More than I feel like I’m allowing myself to show. For the first time, I get to see the perfectly knitted features of our child up close.
Nothing can take away from the joy I feel in this moment.
The joy August seems to feel, too.
“It looks like your baby would rather sleep than let you see them today,” the tech comments playfully, causing us to laugh.
“Stubborn just like its father,” I say, gesturing toward August, but he’s in his own world.
He looks adorable. Knees drumming against the cold tile and fingers coursing through his mustache. He’s doing nothing to hide his nerves, and it’s the most endearing thing I’ve ever seen.
“I just need to know, Doc. How long are we talking his arms will be? I need to make sure he’s got the wingspan to get a leather ball from third to first in no more than a second. A rough estimate is enough.”
Once an athlete, always an athlete.
Thetechlaughs. “First off, I’m not a doctor,” she giggles. “Second, I need baby to turn toward me just a little, and then I’ll get those measurements for you, Mr. Graves.”
“Great. Thanks.” I’ve never seen him like this. So interested and serious.
“What if it’s a girl?” I ask August, reaching for his hand by my side without thinking. He doesn’t miss it, his eyes dropping to where we’re joined and smiling softly.
“Then it’s a girl and she’ll make history.”
I laugh and feel the tech nudge my side slightly with the wand. “As a future third baseman?” I question.
“Hell yeah. We’re makin’ legends, Mama,” August proclaims. I smile wide and keep it there for good measure. That sounds a lot like a planned life together. A life filled with Little League games, concession stand duties, and trading off between innings with the younger kids.
It sounds like a family.
