Page 21 of Love is a Drum Beat
“It is.”
She searched around the room, her heart hammering in her chest. She should want to know, right? Then, she could be prepared.
“Okay.” She said the word slowly, like she had to force it out.
Dr. Lawrence smiled. “Congratulations, you’re having a boy.”
“Oh, thank heaven.” A weight lifted off her shoulders. “I wouldn’t know what to do with a girl. I don’t know what to do with myself.”
Even Dax smiled at that.
Dr. Lawrence looked from Jo to Dax. “So, Jo, are you going to take my son up on his offer? You could also hire someone to stay with you and take care of you. Like a home nurse.”
She could. It wasn’t like Jo couldn’t afford it, but something about having a stranger in her apartment gave her the creeps. At least she knew Dax’s brand of strange. And his house was a dream. She met Dax’s gaze. “Okay, roomie, I’m in. But I get the feeling you’re the kind of person that eats healthy, and I will not be subjected to salads as meals. They aren’t meals! They’re sides.”
Dr. Lawrence sent Jo a playful scowl. “You’re pregnant, Jo. You should be eating healthier.” She leaned in and dropped her voice. “And my son could stand to have his ordered world cracked a bit.”
“I’m standing right here.”
His mom turned to him. “You better take care of her, Dax. Anything she needs. And call me if she has trouble.” She looked back at Jo one more time. “And you… don’t be difficult.”
“I’m never difficult.”
“Mmhmm. Well, this should be interesting at least. Your discharge papers are done. I will email you some preventative measures. Mostly, just rest and drink plenty of water. You were a bit dehydrated today. You can leave any time. I’ll have a wheelchair brought.”
“I don’t need a wheelchair.”
She arched a brow. “Policy. You will sit in that chair, and you will be grateful. I’ll see you in a week.” As she left, silence stretched between Jo and Dax.
Jo sat up, the pain in her head intensifying. She groaned, and Dax’s eyes widened in alarm. “Jo…”
“I’m all good, Dax. I just want to get out of here.” She glanced at the door. “I think your mom just mothered me.”
An affectionate smile graced his face. He was much more attractive without the broody awkwardness. “She does that.”
They barely spoke as they waited for the wheelchair. A nurse knocked before opening the door. “Hello? I have a chair for you.”
Dax blocked him, and Jo was grateful. The fewer people who saw her here, the better.
“I’ll push her.” Dax’s tone left no room for argument, and the nurse left. “Do you have a disguise with you?”
Jo sighed. She did, but he was going to laugh at her. She pointed to her bag sitting in the empty leather chair next to the bed. “It’s in there.”
Dax unzipped the bag and froze. After a moment, he pulled the Batwoman mask out. A smirk came to his lips. “Y-you came to the hospital dressed as Batwoman?”
“I didn’t have many options. Just hand it here.” She held out a hand.
He relinquished the mask. “We can’t go out the front. It’s flooded with paps.”
She sat up so suddenly, it felt like her brain sloshed around in her head. “The paparazzi?” That could only mean one thing. “They know.”
True remorse shone on Dax’s face. “Yes, they do.”
Jo’s hands clenched the mask until her knuckles turned white. “I can’t… Dax, I can’t breathe.” She’d felt it coming, the panic. Soon, the entire world would know she was pregnant. Then, the guessing would come. Who was the father?
Yet, even if the fans found out it was Blake, it wouldn’t change how they saw him. But her… a woman… She lowered her face to her hands as she tried to catch her breath.
The bed dipped as Dax sat beside her, and a strong arm wrapped around her shoulders. “Jo, it’s going to be okay.”
