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That just makes me grin wider. “Now, darlin’, you know that’s not true.”

“Okay, Emma, I’m going to have you lie back. I’m going to insert the wand into your vagina, and we’ll be able to get some pictures of your baby. You might feel some pressure, but don’t worry; it won’t hurt the baby,” she says as she rolls a condom over the wand, then squirts some lube over it.

I can’t stop the words before they fly out of my mouth. “Um, ma’am, is that a condom and lube?”

“Archie!” Emma screeches. “I’m sorry about him. Just carry on and ignore anything he says.” She turns to me and shakes her head once.

“It’s all good. I’ve heard it and seen it all,” the technician says with a laugh. “First baby?”

Emma and I look at each other.

“Yes, ma’am, it is,” I answer for us.

She stands between Emma’s legs and pulls her cart closer. After she taps some buttons on the computer keyboard, the screen lights up on the monitor. “Okay, let’s get started. Again, Emma, you’ll feel a little bit of pressure.”

I can’t watch her put the wand into Emma, even though I can’t see anything under the gown she’s wearing. So, I squeeze her hand, and she looks over at me. I smile and pull her hand up and kiss it.

“Okay, here we go.”

We hear a swooshing sound come over the speaker.

“Do you see this dot right here?” she asks.

We both nod.

“That’s your baby. I’m just going to take some measurements of the embryo and the uterus. That should confirm your due date.” She holds the wand in place, then takes the mouse and drags it across different points on the screen. Kind of looks like geometry.

Emma’s eyes are glued on the screen. A faint smile on her lips. “Is the swooshing noise the heartbeat?” she asks.

I didn’t even realize that’s what it could be, so my head turns to the technician to hear her reply.

She smiles. “It sure is. Nice and steady, too, at one hundred fifty-three beats per minute. I’ll get some pictures for you to take home too.”

The reality of this whole experience hits me like a truck.I’m going to be a dad. Emma is carrying my baby.

The sense of pride and this need to protect her rush over me. I never in a million years expected I would be sitting in a room with this hot-as-fuck girl I was lucky enough to hook up with, hearing and seeing our baby. It’s wild, to say the least.

I lean in and kiss the side of her head. “You doing okay?”

She turns to look at me, and tears pool in her eyes. “I’m good. This is pretty amazing, isn’t it?” She smiles, then wipes a tear that ran down her cheek.

I return her smile, feeling my own eyes getting glassy. “Yeah, darlin’, it’s fucking incredible.”

Emma puckers her lips for a kiss, and I oblige.

The technician taps a few more buttons on the keyboard, then pulls the wand out. She pulls off the condom and wipes down the wand with a towel, then hands Emma a clean one for herself.

“Okay, Emma, you’re all set. I’m just going to submit the results to the doctor to review, and then we’ll call you with the report. Once you get dressed, go ahead to the checkout counter, and don’t forget to schedule your next appointment.” She looks at the paperwork in front of her. “Looks like she wants to see you again in four weeks. If you have any questions or concerns in the meantime, don’t hesitate to call.”

“Thank you so much.” Emma places the towel between her legs.

Once the technician leaves the room, Emma sits up. “Turn around, Archie.”

“What, why?” I sit up straighter.

“Because I need to wipe down the lady business and I don’t want you to watch me do it.” She looks at me incredulously.

I bark out a laugh. “Okay, fair.” I stand and move to the other side of the small room and turn my back to her.