“Can they tell if it’s a boy or girl today?” Tyler asked when we pulled into the parking lot next to the doctor’s office.
“That’s more the next ultrasound. Sometimes they can, but it’s not one hundred percent.” I stilled for a moment when he slid his palm against mine and laced our fingers together as we headed into the office. My heart, as always, did a flip-flop at simple gestures like that. It was ridiculous to get that excited over small things like holding my hand or daydreaming about the moment in my kitchen when he’d called me his pregnant girlfriend.
I never swooned over other guys like this. But other guys weren’t Tyler.
After I checked in at the front desk, I slid into the seat next to him in the waiting room and kissed his cheek.
“I know you said I don’t have to thank you, but I’m glad you’re here.”
His cheeks lifted with a grin wide enough for his dimple to dent the corner of his mouth. “I’m glad I am too.” He kissed my temple and draped his arm around my shoulders.
I sighed and dropped my head to his shoulder, my swooning amplified by hormones.
“Not that we could do anything about it, but any preference for a boy or girl?” I asked as I cuddled into his side.
His brows pulled together. “Not really. This little girl came into the bakery the day you told me you were pregnant. She reminded me of you a little bit. Maybe not as evil.”
I elbowed his side, and he chuckled.
“I’ve thought about her a couple of times since then, but I’m honestly good either way.” He brushed the hair off my shoulder as a smirk tipped the side of his mouth. “I’m not sure how I’d handle another one of you, but I’d do it.”
I darted my eyes away to stare at the floor. A picture of Tyler holding a little girl who looked like me squeezed at my chest so hard, I wrapped my arms around my torso. The joy and sorrow at the thought almost cut me in half as I imagined all the fun she’d have on her father’s arm and how those days for me would always be both my most treasured and most painful memory.
“How about you?” His question knocked me back into the present.
“I don’t know. A mini me who would drive you crazy is fun to think about, but a little Tyler would be nice. I’d make sure that no mean girls would stop him if he ever wanted to bake.”
“With you as his mother, I’m sure no one would be able to stop him from doing anything,” he teased with a small, proud smile drifting across his lips.
“Olivia Sanchez.”
The nurse at the front desk waved me in. I headed inside the room with Tyler behind me.
“Take everything off from the waist down and put this over your legs.” She handed me a paper sheet. “The tech will be in shortly.”
An odd sense of embarrassment washed over me.
“Really, Sanchez?” he said, folding his arms as he leaned against the wall when he noticed my hesitation. “I’ve seen you naked. A lot. I have it all memorized by now.”
I looked away, trying not to focus on the sudden heat in his eyes. “Yes, but this is different. Turn around.”
He grumbled as he turned to face the wall. I made quick work of peeling off my leggings and flats and climbed onto the table, grabbing the sheet and lying down.
“Okay, I’m done.”
“You know I peeked, right?” He quirked a brow as he took a seat next to the bed.
“In a doctor’s office?” I sucked in an exaggerated breath. “You’re an animal.”
He leaned forward to kiss my lips, soft but lingering long enough to sigh against his mouth. “You’re beautiful. Couldn’t help it.”
I bit back a smile, the warmth flooding my chest relaxing me if for only the moment.
“Ready?” My back straightened at the knock on the door.
“Yes, come in,” I cleared my throat, trying to get rid of the rasp thanks to the ping pong rush of emotions all morning.
“Okay, let’s get this started.” A female technician who looked like a college senior at most poked at a computer screen before rolling her stool over to me. “You’re about twelve weeks, correct?”
