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“Mom! We don’t have any milk left!” Bryce bellows from the other side of the bedroom door, and I freeze while his words replay in my mind.

CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR

REED

My leg bouncesuncontrollably as I take in the waiting room. I scan the area, regretting not insisting on a home visit. At the right price, you can make anything happen, even a home consultation with a baby scanner.

Gia strokes my knee as if trying to reassure me, but it’s impossible. The thought of the germs surrounding me and those I love is all-consuming. My skin feels like it’s prickling, and I try but fail to get lost in my mind while being surrounded by the hazards and chaos of a doctor’s waiting room.

“Mrs. Mathers.” My heart plummets on the nurse’s words, and my body stills as a red haze of anger takes over me. She needs my surname. This is our baby. Ours.

Not his.

“Reed, that’s us.” Her voice is a delicate whisper, and all I can manage is a grunt. Then she takes my hand in hers and our gazes collide and every wrong is suddenly righted. “Are you ready to see your baby?”

“Our baby,” I quip back, and she smiles.

“Our baby,” she corrects with an encouraging nod.

“Come on. You’ll love it. Seeing our baby on the screen is a gift.” She tugs me to my feet, and I want to tell her I already do love the baby, and I love her too, but I keep my mouth shut. I don’t want to freak her out; she’ll think I’m crazy, that this is too soon, but I feel it deep inside.

They’re my everything.

My heart pangs in my chest, and I swallow back the rare emotion in the back of my throat at the way she acknowledges our baby as ours, then gift her with an even rarer smile, one she mirrors, with her teeth sinking into her bottom lip.

Tugging her toward me, her bump clashes with my front. “Let’s do this.” I place a playful kiss on the tip of her nose and delight in the hitch of her breath when I pull back. “You can thank me properly for the gift after.” I wink at her, then lead her by the hand to follow the nurse.

GIA

My eyes remain locked on the look of pure wonderment on Reed’s face. He pulled out his phone and began reading off a catalog of questions I’ve never even thought of, and whenever the doctor began talking technically, Reed asked him to slow down while he made further notes to research later.

“And this here is the baby’s head.” The doctor points to the monitor.

“I think our baby is going to be a genius.” Reed grins. “A real fucking genius, Gia.” His face is alight with happiness.

A giggle bubbles inside me, but I keep it locked down. “How’d you come to that conclusion?”

“The baby’s head is pretty big.” He winces. “That’s going to hurt.” Then he leans forward and kisses my bump. “Don’t hurt your momma, little one.”

My heart swells at his gentle tone and endearment.

“Would you like to know the sex?” the doctor asks, his eyes darting from mine to Reed’s.

I lift a shoulder and look at Reed. “You decide.”

Reed looks like all his Christmases came all at once, and his body practically vibrates with excitement. Honestly, his enthusiasm is incredible to witness. “Absolutely.” He grins back.

The doctor clears his throat. “Congratulations. You’re having a little boy.”

Reed blows out a deep breath, and my giggle erupts. Then he turns to face me, his eyes swimming with unshed tears. “This is the best moment in my entire life. Thank you, Gia.”

I narrow my eyes. “Just don’t let me down.”

He swallows thickly. “I won’t. I promise.”

“Promises can be broken, Reed,” I whisper, knowing how true that is, especially after Jaxon broke his promise to be with me for the rest of our lives.

“You’re my family now, Gia. You and our boys.” His words hold truth in them and sincerity pours from his eyes as I seek reassurance in them.