Promise you won’t. Yes, Cass, I promise.
My mouth is hot and stale. I could really use a dip of tobacco to calm the drumming in my skull, but I’ve been leaving my tin in the truck’s glovebox anytime I’m with Cassidy. If a moment comes when I might get to kiss her again, I’m not risking her turning me away because of some tobacco in my lip.
Thank God it’s not long before she’s leading me out of the exam room. I don’t even wait for the main office door to click shut before my mouth opens. “Not saying you aren’t crazy anyway, but that doctor was a motherfucker.”
“The worst.” Her voice breaks, and it takes everything in me not to head back inside and have a few words with the doctor. If she starts crying, he’s in for it.
“Hey, don’t let him bother you. The guy’s a prick.”
A storm must’ve passed through while we were inside because massive puddles fill the parking lot and give off a wet soil smell. We walk side-by-side—taking long leaps over the biggest puddles and speed-walking through the open parking lot, crisp, damp air nipping at us.
“He’s not totally wrong, though. I probably shouldn’t be eating potatoes for every meal. Just because I’m pregnant doesn’t mean I need to gain a hundred pounds,” she says, hopping over a puddle. “Plus, I’msingle and would likesomebodyout there to find me attractive when this is all over.”
“Fuck that.You’ll be a smokeshow no matter what.” I open the passenger door of my truck for her, staring intently at her rear as she climbs in. She’s been wearing leggings alotlately, and the way they hug her ass makes my dick pulse with every glimpse. “We’re getting French fries and milkshakes for the drive home, and you’re eating it.”
She laughs. “No need to lie to spare my feelings. But yeah… I need French fries. I’ve been getting them after every appointment, and baby knows the routine now. That’s all I’ll think about until I have some.”
I’m recklessly tempted to tell her how hard my dick gets from just looking at her. That she’s beautiful and cute and sexy as hell. That I seriously doubt her body changing because ofmybaby is going to do anything except turn me on more. But I can’t say what I’m thinking, so I shut her door and take a deep breath of the humid air before climbing into the driver’s seat.
As with every shared meal, I’m fully affected by the little moan of pleasure with her first taste. The muscles working in her throat when she swallows the strawberry milkshake send a rush of blood to the area below my belt.
“Did you know the baby’s actually the size of a potato right now?” She holds up a French fry as she speaks.
“Very fitting for our little spud.” I can’t help but smile any time she’s within twenty feet of me, but especially anytime we’re talking about the baby.
“Little Spud. I like that.” She rubs her stomach. “Are you spending Thanksgiving at the ranch?”
“Yeah, the girls tend to go all-out for any holiday, so I’m sure we’ll have a huge feast. What about you?”
“Me and Dad. Same as always.”
I roll my lips, trying on the sentence before saying it. “You could come to the ranch.”
“That’ll be an easy thing to explain to my dad, I’m sure,” she says sarcastically.
She could justtellher dad about us.That’s an option. But I’m not dumb enough to get into that fight twice in one day, so I zip my mouth shut and focus on the empty road ahead.
After some time, she blurts out, “Do you visit your parents or siblings for Christmas?”
I laugh under my breath, running a hand across the back of my neck. “Definitely not my parents. And my siblings are either equally fucked up or they have their own families. Nah, I usually spend it at the ranch… Just you and your dad for Christmas, too?”
“Yup. But then I’m going to go visit Blair for a couple days.”
That’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time.
“Like… Denny’s Blair? I didn’t know you two were still friends.”
“Denny’s Blair?” She laughs. “Are we fifteen again? Jesus, they dated in high school, and you know better than I that Denny has long since moved on. But yeah, she’s still my best friend. She lives in Vancouver, and I usually visit her every couple months. With being so sick, I haven’t seen her since she visited her parents at the start of summer.”
My stomach flip-flops, fingers tightening around the leather steering wheel. “You’re driving to Vancouver in the dead of winter?”
“Yes, I am…Dad.” She flashes a side-eye at me before shoving a fry in her mouth.
“Is she not coming here to see her parents for Christmas?”
“Oh, she is.” She holds up a finger, finishing her mouthful before continuing. “She doesn’t like sticking around here any longer than necessary, though. And we’ll know the sex before then so I can do some shopping while I’m there. Shit, I guess we’ve never discussed that—do you want to find out or keep it a surprise?”
“There are two options, Cass. I’m not going to be surprised unless the baby’s born with a tail or some shit.”
