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“Will do.” I nod.

He stands and closes the door, taps the hood twice, then backs up.

I pull out of the spot and start driving. I can’t help but look in my rearview mirror and see him standing there with his hands in his pockets, watching me drive away.

CHAPTER

SIX

ARCHIE

It’s beentwo weeks since Emma told me she was pregnant. We’ve talked every day, and we’ve seen each other just about every day too. Our schedules are busy, but we’ve been able to meet for lunch on campus, and we’ve spent some time together at her apartment, getting food, and running errands together. Coupley type of shit. And I love it.

Emma seems to have gotten over the complete freak-out about being pregnant. I like to think I have something to do with that. I try to make her feel good every time I see her or talk to her. We talk about the baby some, but I really want to get to know her too. It turns out, she’s not just a smokeshow, but she’s really cool too.

Like how in the summer months, she mentors young golf players who are pediatric oncology patients from the nearby hospital. She’s also crazy smart, and she’s taking the most advanced science classes the college offers. There are words on the page that I can’t even pronounce. She takes school seriously and studies a ton.

She loves comedians. Her reels are full of clips of stand-upsthat make her giggle. Don’t ask her to recite one though because she’s terrible at delivering a punch line.

She’s also mad competitive. We’ve played a few board games she keeps in her closet. The old-school kind, like Monopoly. The girl can’t handle losing her cash to my epic hotel empire. Not gonna lie—I’m equally competitive so I refuse to let her win just because she’s a girl.

I did, however, take my shirt off to distract her as I put her homes in foreclosure. I caught her ogling my chest and might have kept my shirt off the rest of the night just to keep her hot and bothered.

My favorite thing is how when she scratches her nose, she uses two hands, which makes her look like a rabbit, and it’s really fucking cute.

And we’ve done a whole lot of kissing, but nothing much more than that, even though I’m dying to, but up until a few days ago, she hasn’t been feeling all that great, so I’m letting her take the lead.

Today is our first appointment with the obstetrician. My last class ended just before it was time to leave to get there, so I’m meeting her at the office.

I’m taking the stairs two at a time so I don’t miss anything. Plus, she told me she’ll have to fill out some paperwork and might need some of my medical history. I’ve never had anything happen to me minus minor injuries from football, and other than my gramps’s heart attack, my family is pretty healthy.

I find the doctor’s office and open the door. As soon as I walk in, every lady in there turns to look my way. There are a few other men in the waiting room, too, and they nod at me.

Emma is sitting in the corner, filling something out on a clipboard. I walk over and sit in the seat next to hers. “Hey, darlin’. How’s it going?”

She looks up at me and smiles. “Hey. It’s going … I’m almost done with the paperwork. I just need you to answer these four questions, and then I can go turn it in. I’ve used my insurance card from my parents, so I’m gonna have to tell them before they get the explanation of benefits.” She winces. “Maybe we should coordinate our timing for telling our families?”

“Yeah, baby, we can do that.” I look at the form. “The answers are no, no, no, no. BOOM. Done.” I clap my hands together.

“Archie, shh! There are other people in here with us.” But she says it with a laugh.

Her laugh makes me smile, and I want to kiss her.

“Come here.” I crook my finger at her.

She turns her head toward mine. “What?”

“I want those lips.” I take her chin between my thumb and forefinger and lead her closer.

Her lips pucker, and she leans in to kiss me.

I hum against her lips. I’m getting addicted to kissing her, and—I can’t lie—I’m dying to get into her pants again. The number of nights I’ve come home and jerked off … I feel like a teenager. I’ve never reallydatedanyone, and considering we’ve only just started spending time together, I’m trying to be patient. It’s not easy. I like sex, and I liked sex with Emma a lot. Big fan. Can’t wait to do it again. When she’s ready, of course.

A door opens, and a lady in scrubs props the door. “Emma Tucker.”

Emma stands and grabs her purse from the floor and slides it over her shoulder, then moves the clipboard to one hand and reaches for my hand with the other.

Despite the fact that we’re really still getting to know each other, I love that Emma feels comfortable with me. She’s not timid, so her affection with me is natural.