“Yes.” Her eyes grow wide. “Izzy hinted at the fact he’s unbelievably attractive, and I might accidentally fall in love with him and want to commit lewd acts. And seeing that I’m prone to bouts of promiscuity, I think you, as my next of kin, should come in and protect that poor man against my hypersexualways.”
A dull groan comes from me, and we head on in together. “You do realize what end he’ll be looking at, don’tyou?”
“Please. We had basic anatomy together in high school. Consider this a much-delayed field trip where you find yourself up close and personal with female genitalia.” She bites down her lips, and a laugh bubbles from her. “Kidding. I’ll have you sit behind me. You won’t see a thing. Maybe a boob shot if you’re lucky.” She gives a little wink. “And you would be lucky. They’ve nearly doubled in size.” She takes me by the hand as we head to the back. “Do you think Little Fish is already putting in its order for a double vanilla shake? Because it sure feels likeit.”
I belt out a riotous laugh, and the nurse raises a brow. “That’s one lucky baby,” she chortles. “You two sure are in love. Keep it up. A kid these days needs two good parents on its side.” She has Sunday step on thescale.
“This is the part where you look away.” Sunday gives me a light nod in the otherdirection.
I do as I’m told and turn around. That nurse thinks we’re together. She thinks I’m the father. She would be right, but Sunday doesn’t know that. It almost doesn’t seem fair. Hell, I know it’snot.
Sunday takes off to the restroom to pee in a cup, and once she’s through we head into a private room and Sunday is given a paper gown to put on. As soon as the nurse leaves, I hold up ahand.
“I know the drill.” I turn and stare at the pebble grained wallpaper while listening as she jumps around behind me, the rustle of paper as she curses under her breath. I’m not big on doctors’ offices. Heck, I can’t remember the last time I was at the doctor’s myself, but the scent and the look of this place makes me feel lightheaded. I’ve got an iron stomach. I can watch a gory horror flick with the best of them, but you put me in a tiny cubicle filled with needles—that aren’t even pointed in my direction—and I’m tempted to voluntarily black out. “Anytime you want to give me the boot, just say the word.” Please say theword.
A laugh bubbles from her. “Turn around, you coward, and comehere.”
Sunday greets me with an unsure grin as if maybe she was feeling a little cowardly herself. But she’s no coward. Sunday is the furthest thing from it. She’s been sicker than anyone should ever be, and I haven’t heard her complain about itonce.
Her eyes flash to mine. “I’m not a fan of being poked and prodded. And for the record, I’m not a fan of spreading my legs for a man I don’t know.” She rolls her eyes. “My God, how ironic is that?” Her chest bounces with a sad chuckle, and that pink gown opens enough for me to have a view I shouldn’t be looking at. “That’s what landed me here to beginwith.”
I take a seat on the rolling stool and land beside her. “Don’t beat yourself up over anything. What’s done is done.” Let me beat myself up over it, because at the end of the day, this is my fault. If I didn’t coax her into imbibing half that keg with me, neither of us would be here right now—certainly not that baby we made. I look up, and her pale amber eyes connect with mine. You can see the fear percolating in them, and all I want to do is hold her. “Sunday”—her name presses out of me with grief—“I want you to know that you’ll never be alone in any of this. You’ll always have me. I’ll help you raise the baby. I’ll be there for you, on call, at all hours. If you need diapers or sushi at three a.m., I’m your man. And that offer stands for as long as I’mbreathing.”
“Seth”—she breathes my name as if it took everything in her to say it—“that’s awful nice of you.” A swell of tears fills her eyes, and she blinks them away. “But life is going to change for the both of us. You’re going to get married one day and have a family of your own. I’m pretty sure your wife isn’t going to appreciate me and my kid taking up your time.” She averts her gaze to the floor a moment. “You know I used to hear that phrasedamaged goodsand never thought anything of it, and as silly as it sounds, that’s exactly what I feel like. For so long I thought I had the advantage in life, and here I am at Whitney Briggs, one of the top private schools in the world, and I’ve just altered my destiny in a huge way before I even got out into the real world with my golden ticket—the degree that it will probably take me ten times longer to earn if they don’t kick me out before I finish it. I’m already struggling to keep up in my classes. I’ve gone from being an A student to a failure atlife.”
“Hey”—I bark it out a little harsher than I meant to before picking up her hand—“you’ll never be damaged goods. You’re beautiful, smart, and funny. You’re going to make a great mother. Don’t get discouraged, and don’t let those negative thoughts weigh you down.” It’s clear she needs me here more than ever, if for nothing else than to present her with the truth when her mind insists on heading into darkplaces.
Her fingers press over mine, and that heavy look of grief on her face lightens. “What did I ever do to deserve you? You’re way too good to me, you knowthat?”
Here it is, that cracked door I’ve been waiting for to share my true feelings for her. Sure, that kiss should have shouted it from a mountaintop, but things have been so insane I think I need words to get it out. “Sunday, I’ve been meaningto—”
The door swings open, and in breezes a six-foot wall of muscles with a toothy grin, and the worst part about the dude is he actually seems likeable. He’s young, just a little older than us in fact. There’s no way this is a realdoctor.
“Dr. Green here. Look at this”—he grins our way before glancing over the chart—“lovebirds. I’ll admit, it warms my heart to see people so in love.” The nurse comes back in and gets quietly to work pulling out a plethora of medieval lookingdevices.
That’s two for two. Maybe they’re supposed to say things like that—keep it light, avoid the fear and bloodshed most couples want to resort to in places like this. I bet wives want to slaughter their husbands once they realize a human the size of a football has to squeeze out of their most delicate orifice. Heck, I’d bepissed.
“Oh”—Sunday laughs as she pulls her hand free—“we’re not together. Seth is just a good friend I brought along forsupport.”
Dr. GQ leans back on his Italian leather shoes as he cuts her a curious look. “So, he’s not thefather?”
“Nope.” Her cheeks flush a bright pink. “The father’s not even in thepicture.”
Yes, I am. I’m right here, Sunday. I promise you I’m not goinganywhere.
“So, you’re single?” the not-so-good doctor dares to ask as he pulls on his latexgloves.
Sunday giggles like a schoolgirl and, holy crap, is she still blushing? Is that for him? She’s not into this crackpot, isshe?
“I guess, if you say so.” Her eyes fall to mine for a moment. “Single and eating for two. Not exactly where I thought I’d end up on Valentine’s Day thisyear.”
“Ah”—he rolls over on his seat and pumps up the table Sunday is sitting on—“it’s rare for any of us to end up where we think we should be. Life has a way of surprising us, doesn’tit?”
“That’s for sure,” she chirps as she falls back on her elbows, knees parted, that paper gown opening like a flower forhim.
He taps her thigh. “Lie down and put your feet in the stirrups. I’ll take a look and feel around, then we’ll get to the funpart.”
I bet you will, dude.My blood boils so hot so fast I’m this close to pushing him through a wall. Who the hell does he think he is talking to her likethat?
