Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 69775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
He didn’t complain when I practically cut the blood circulation off to his hand.
He just closed his fingers over mine and walked with me like we were walking off the plank of a pirate ship.
The woman smiled, her eyes happy and excited. “Y’all ready for your first doctor’s visit?”
This technically wouldn’t be my first. Not even with this pregnancy.
But I didn’t bother correcting her of that.
She led me through the usual rigmarole. She got my weight, my blood pressure, then used the doppler on my belly to find the baby’s heartbeat.
My hand never left Boone’s as we waited with bated breath to hear that whoosh-whoosh.
My heart lurched into my throat when the heartbeat sounded, fast and strong.
Boone’s hand on my own became tighter.
“One-sixty-two.” She smiled. “That’s perfect.”
I knew that.
Yet, again, I didn’t correct her.
She asked me personal questions, which funny enough, Boone answered half for me before she left.
Dr. Sanjay arrived two minutes later, a look of worry and concern on her face as she took me in.
“Nettie, Boone.” She smiled, her eyes sad. “I’m so glad to see y’all here.”
I smiled, though it didn’t reach my eyes.
This woman was the woman that’d seen both Boone and me at our lowest.
Sixteen and seventeen, holding the tiny little baby in our hands, crying our eyes out.
Because, she may have been unplanned, but she wasn’t unwanted.
“We’re nervous as fuck,” I blurted out.
Dr. Sanjay smiled. “I’m sure you are. The heartbeat sounded really good. Want to take a look?”
I looked at Boone, who was nodding furiously, lips thinned and wearing his heart on his sleeve.
“Should be more than far enough along to see on the outside then,” she rolled the cart toward her and got to work on the sonogram.
Two and a half minutes later—I was counting the seconds—our baby appeared on the screen.
“Whoa,” Boone said. “That’s a baby.”
I snickered.
“Bigger than you expected?” she asked with a small smile, her eyes still on the screen.
“Yeah,” he croaked.
“You said she was nineteen weeks along?”
“Yes,” we both answered.
“Well, she’s measuring right on time.” She paused. “I do hope that I didn’t just ruin the surprise.”
“No, we already knew,” I answered. “I got the genetic testing done with this one.”
I wanted to make sure I had zero surprises.
This baby had a helicopter mother already.
Poor thing.
The rest of the appointment was fairly routine, though Dr. Sanjay took her time and answered all of our questions.
By the time we were walking out of the hospital, I was feeling much better for some reason.
And worse, too.
Because at some point during the appointment, Boone had pulled away.
He hadn’t let go of my hand until I was getting dressed, but it was like he’d taken a step back mentally.
When we got to the parking lot where we’d have to go our separate ways, he stopped and studied me for a long time before speaking again.
“I’ll see you when I get off work,” he said, shoving his hands into his pocket instead of reaching for me like I so desperately wanted him to.
Giving me space.
The space I asked for…
“Bye,” I said softly.
His smile was strained, then he gestured toward my car. “Get in so I can leave.”
I rolled my eyes, and his lips twitched.
A little bit of the tension that’d been building since we’d left the doctor’s office dissipated.
I walked to my car and got in, locking the doors.
I backed out of my spot, and still he was standing there in his jeans and khaki shirt, still doing it for me.
The man could pull off many things, but seeing him in his park ranger getup? That had set me off the first time I’d seen him walk out fully dressed.
He looked so cute.
And boyishly happy.
Not today, though.
Not today.
Fifteen minutes later, I pulled up outside Margery’s place and got out.
I didn’t look toward the main house.
I never did.
Best to ignore that woman, or I might literally take the choice out of Boone’s hands and do it myself.
I knocked on the door to the cottage and waited.
When she finally came to the door, she was looking haggard.
“You little liar,” I growled at her.
She smiled, though feebly.
“I didn’t want you to worry.”
I rolled my eyes and said, “Do you think you can make it to my car?”
I was glad to have it back.
I’d let Holly use it for two weeks, and I’d been stranded at home or at Boone’s office.
Nothing against either of those things—because I loved being stranded with Boone—but it was hard being around him and his space and not want to bury myself in him or his scent.
And it looked weird when he came home randomly and I was face deep in one of his previously worn hoodies.
Best to not be here and pretend that I wasn’t dying piece by literal piece as I continued to keep that wall up between us.
We hadn’t talked with Margery, either, about the status of our relationship.