“That’s fair. But we’re getting down to the wire. In two weeks, you won’t even technically be considered early labor if it starts, so I’d like to have some idea which way you want to go the next time I see you.”
“I…is it safe?” Fallon asked, pressing his hand over his stomach. “The hysterectomy and C-section together?”
“Yes. Very. In fact, it’s safer in some cases to have them both done in the same surgery because it means you won’t have to go back under again. The recovery will be the same. But it is permanent. There’s no going back after that.”
Fallon licked his lips. In the past, he hadn’t wanted the surgery because he wasn’t sure. Now, he was feeling a bit more like he knew what he wanted. But he also wasn’t alone in this. Not anymore. “I need to talk to my boyfriend.”
“Of course. But remember, it’s your body.”
Fallon laughed. “I know. And he wouldn’t let me forget. I promise.”
He hopped off the table, his head a bit more full than when he got there, but he wasn’t feeling so off-kilter as he grabbed his keys off the counter. “Wait,” he said as the doctor reached for the door.
The doctor froze and looked at him, brows raised.
“I need to ask one more thing, but I think you need the context.” Fallon sat back down in a chair and unloaded the bare-bones story of Charlie and how everything came about. Then he told the doctor about the test. “How common is it for those tests to be wrong? Like…likethatwrong?”
The doctor frowned. “The tests aren’t a hundred percent, but it’s far more likely that if the test is wrong, it’s due to tampering or mismanagement. And those cases are very few and far between.”
He bit his lip. “It’s just…I don’t see how it’s possible. I’ve only been with two people like that in my whole life, and Charlie was the only one who, you know. Ejaculated inside me.”
“And the other person?” the doctor asked. “Was it penetrative sex inside the vagina?”
Fallon flushed and stared down at his feet. “I mean, we, ah…we. There was penetration. But not completion.”
“I’m not going to tell you what to do, but it might not be the worst idea if you ask your other partner to take the test.”
Fallon’s gaze shot up. “Even if he didn’t?—”
“Yes. Because even that—those little bits before ejaculation—can result in fertilization. Also rare, but not impossible. I can’t tell you how many of those rare babies I’ve delivered over the years, but it’s definitely more than I can count on two hands.”
Fallon blew out a puff of air and didn’t let himself think about what would happen if it was Gage because, well…well.
Well, that would be a fucking miracle.
And he didn’t know if Gage would thank him for it.
He left after grabbing his next appointment and made his way back home. Gage was already back, sleeping in the bed, so Fallon curled up on the couch, afraid to disturb him. If Gage so much as woke up with that much on Fallon’s mind, he wouldn’tbe able to keep his mouth shut, and for the moment, Gage deserved peace.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
GAGE
Staring down at his boyfriend,Gage felt a rush of affection. Fallon was sleeping a lot more now that he was getting near the end of this whole situation. He was more uncomfortable, so Gage didn’t take it personally that he’d chosen the couch instead of the bed when he got home from his appointment.
But it was getting close to dinner, so Gage had heated up some of the stir-fry they’d had the night before and had it all laid out on the coffee table. Even if Fallon didn’t eat much, he wanted him to have a little something.
Dropping to his knees, he ran his fingers through Fallon’s hair until his eyes opened. He looked a bit disoriented at first, then smiled as he realized who was hovering over him.
“I slept.”
“Mhm. Tough appointment?”
“No, not really.” Fallon swallowed heavily, then pushed himself up to sit. It was more of a struggle these days, and Gage wanted to help, but Fallon didn’t love when he jumped in without asking, so he held back. Rubbing at his face, Fallon yawned loudly, then stared at the food on the table. “Oh. I think I’m hungry.”
“Good.” Gage set his plate on a pillow and nestled it on Fallon’s lap. “Everything go okay today?”
“Yeah. Mango’s growing. I’m almost to full term.”
