There’s an urgency in his tone that wasn’t present a moment ago. I think back to my doctor’s visit in New York, where we had our first ultrasound. The moments sitting in Dr. Slosher’s office, waiting for her to come in were made less anxiety filled with Travis there beside me.
The warmth of his presence, magnified by the way he held my hand as we heard the baby’s heart, played on a loop in my mind for days afterward.
And the insistent look in his eyes now, are all reasons why I reply, “Okay,” instead of telling him he doesn’t need to come.
“Did you know the baby’s hearing will develop by week eighteen?” he asks.
“That’s next week.”
“I know. Which is why it’s a good thing for you and me to spend more time together.”
I stop short.
“I want the baby to get used to the sound of my voice,” he tells me.
“Is that all?”
“No.”
My head juts back in surprise at how candid his response is. “That’s just the first reason.” He glances over my shoulder, looking up. “That’s my building by the way.”
I look across the street, and sure enough, there’s his apartment complex.
“If you lived here, it would be less than a ten-minute walk to the office.”
“We’ve been through this,” I respond, letting what he’d said a moment ago drop.
“Did you have breakfast this morning?”
I wrinkle my forehead. “I bought a croissant on the way to the train.”
He frowns. “That’s it?”
“It was delicious.”
“You need protein and some fat in there.”
“Are you a nutritionist?”
“I’ve worked with enough over the years to know an unbalanced diet when I see it. Also, the pregnancy book I’m reading now?—”
“How many books did you buy?”
His mouth twists. “Purchased two more the other day. I have a lot of time to read on flights.”
“I eat well enough. I’ve just never been much of a breakfast person.”
He doesn’t look like he likes my answer.
“We’re almost here,” I say as we bend the corner and the building where the satellite office of my organization is housed comes into view.
“Good luck on your first day,” he says, and something inside of me melts a little.
I’ve started three different new jobs, all in different cities that I lived in after college. This is the first time I’ve had someone wish me luck on my first day of work, in person.
Travis’ eyes drop to my lips, and that’s when I realize I’m smiling.
“I should go,” I say, sounding eerily like I’m ending a first date instead of going off to work.
