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Lennon snorts. “Great. Just what I need. Another thing to grow attached to.”

For a second, I wonder what she means, but shake off the nagging suspicion that there is more to it.

Instead, I change the subject. “You came home later than normal today.”

Nodding, she takes another bite of her dinner. “The hospital was insane. There was a big rig that overturned on the highway, which resulted in a five-car pileup. The ER was a madhouse, so I volunteered to stay later.”

“I could never handle something like that.”

Lennon lights up as she sets her empty plate on the coffee table. “It was freaking awesome. The rush is unlike anything else, Easton. That’s part of the reason I want to work in the ER when I’m done with the program.”

“I can see that. Seems like the perfect fit for you.”

Lennon props an elbow on the back of the couch and rests her head in her palm. “I think I just realized I never told you that, huh?”

I shake my head. “Nope. But there are a lot of things we haven’t talked about.”

A chorus of boos erupts from the television, pulling our attention to the game. “Oh, that was a bullshit call, ref! Brush it off, Colt!” Lennon shouts, making me laugh. “What?”

“Just didn’t realize how entertaining watching you watch hockey would be.”

“Yeah, well, I’ve forgotten how much I enjoy it, so you only have yourself to blame for that.”

“I’ll gladly take that blame.” The moms’ group comes rushing back to me, and I turn toward the TV. “There’s something I think we should talk about.”

She eyes me warily. “Okay…”

“Have you given any thought to a birth plan?”

She looks back at the television and sighs. “Not really.”

“Why?”

Her gaze flickers over to me after a few beats. “Because it’s easier to pretend I don’t have to evacuate this baby at some point than to think about the fact that, inevitably, I do.”

“Ignoring it won’t make it go away, Lennon.”

“I know, Easton. The thing is, you can study and read about it all you want, but having to go through it is an entirely different experience.”

I reach for her hand, stroking the top of it with my thumb—even though touching her just awakens other parts of me as well. If she’d let me, I’d haul her into my lap and make her straddle me so she couldn’t look anywhere but at me, and then hold her close so she’d know she’s not alone.

But that might freak her out even more than this conversation.

“Then talk to me about it. Tell me what’s going on in that head of yours.” She’s avoiding my gaze again, so I prompt her with questions. “Like, do you want an epidural, or do you want to try to deliver without drugs?”

Her eyes snap to mine. “If someone denies me drugs, I will sue the damn hospital, Easton.”

A laugh bursts out of me as the vision of Lennon threatening the entire hospital staff filters through my mind. “Good to know. But what if you need a C-section? Are you going to freak out?”

“It’s not ideal, but I will do whatever I need to so the baby is okay.”

I nod. “Okay. If I’m in that room with you, I need to know what you want so I can advocate for you if something happens—”

“Where else would you be?” she cuts me off.

“Nowhere, Lennon. If you think I’m going to miss the birth of our baby, you’ve got another thing coming.”

She looks down at where our hands are joined, and the next thing I know, she’s moving her index finger across my wrist.