“No shit.”
“Still planning to propose?”
I sit back and stare at him. “Why? You planning to come watch or something?”
His shoulders lift in another casual shrug. “Just wondering where your head is at, that’s all.”
“Were you this involved when Rock was courting his girl?”
“Yes,” Rock answers in a tired voice.
“I’m sorry, did you say courting?” Murphy laughs.
So much for no one paying attention to us. “Don’t you all have other places to be?”
Z stands and clasps my shoulder. “I gotta be up here Friday. I can stop by and help if you need an extra set of hands.”
“I’ll let you know. Thank you.”
I stand and also prepare to leave. Don’t like that inquisitive look on Rock’s face. If he probes too much, I’ll break and spill all the things eating me up inside.
Chapter Fourteen
Serena
“Someone’s going to think I’m your father.” Gray casts a suspicious glance around my doctor’s office. No one’s paying attention to us, though.
I can’t lie. I’m concerned about that myself and I don’t want anyone to make him uncomfortable today. So, I squeeze his hand and tug him toward the receptionist’s window.
“Serena Cargill. I have an eight-fifteen appointment.”
“Sure.” She barely looks at me but taps my information into her computer and loudly asks for my information. Gray hovers protectively behind me. I lean in to give her what she wants, then pass her my insurance card.
“Have a seat, someone will be with you soon.”
“Serena?” someone calls.
“Guess we won’t have to wait long,” I say.
Gray follows me to the open door and the waiting nurse. “Hi, my partner’s going to join me. Is that okay?”
She eyes Grayson up and down before nodding and waving for me to follow her. She stops at a scale, and I groan.
“Look away,” I whisper to Grayson.
He rolls his eyes in an are you kidding expression but turns slightly.
I squeeze my eyes shut and wait for the nurse to tell me she’s done.
“All right, follow me.” She tucks her tablet against her chest and power-walks through the hallway.
We stop at the last door on the right and she opens it, breezing inside.
Thankfully, it’s a larger room but with the three of us inside, it still feels awfully cramped.
I shift on my feet, waiting for her instructions.
Change into the gown, pee in this cup, wait for the doctor.
About what I expected.
“You can use the restroom right through there and leave your sample on the windowsill,” she instructs.
The door closes behind her.
Gray and I stare at each other.
“Not as exciting as you thought, huh?”
“Do you need help?”
“No.” I lift the gown, clutch my cup in my other hand and duck into the bathroom.
Why am I so nervous? I’m a medical professional myself. This isn’t anything unusual.
I leave my sample where the nurse told me to and change into the gown.
Is it anxiety I’m feeling or fear? Maybe if I can correctly identify my emotions, it’ll help.
Fear. If I’m wrong and not pregnant, Gray will be pissed at me for putting him through all of this and I’ll lose him.
You don’t need a man to survive, Serena.
I step out of the bathroom and lean against the door for a second, taking a long, deep breath. No matter what happens, I’ll be okay.
“How’d it go?” Gray asks from the chair across from me.
I slowly open my eyes. “Nothing exciting happened yet.”
Anxiety. Gray seems unsure himself. His gaze darts from the door to the window. Every noise from the hallway has him sitting straighter. Maybe his unease is putting me on edge. At least I sort of know what to expect from this visit. He has no idea.
I hop onto the exam table and face him.
“Did you ever…go to the doctor with Rose?” I ask to smooth over the awkwardness. Although, once I hear myself say the words, the situation feels even more uncomfortable.
“Once,” he answers in a distant tone. His gaze shifts to the window, then back to me. “She had a miscarriage. We never had a chance to try again.” He shrugs. “Now, I’m glad we didn’t.”
Considering everything he’s been through, that somehow seems tragic. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” His gaze lands on my feet, as I swing my legs back and forth. The corners of his mouth lift. “Every part of you is cute, you know that?”
“What?” I glance down and wiggle my toes.
“Your little sparkling gold toenails are cute.”
“Oh!” I stare at my feet and grin. “Libby, Emily, and I had a facials and pedicures night.”
“Sounds fun.”
“It was.”
Silence descends on us again.
But at least the quiet feels less awkward.
Someone knocks and a few seconds later, the door pushes open. “Hi, Serena. I’m Dr. West. How are you today?”
“Good. Dr. West, this is my…partner, Grayson Lock.” I sweep my hand in Gray’s direction, wanting to establish from the beginning he’s the baby’s father. Not mine.
She turns and offers her hand. “Nice to meet you. Thank you for joining Serena today.”