Page 23

Chapter twenty-two

Hudson

I totally get why people say three’s a crowd.

Previously, I’ve been quick to make a joke about three being a great number in the bedroom, but I’ve just spent the last hour in Liv’s car, sandwiched between two women. One carrying my child. The other being her best friend. I can totally see why three is a crowd because this whole experience is awkward as fuck.

So tell me why my mouth and brain disconnect at this very moment…

“You know,” I say, breaking the awkward silence, “this kind of feels like a really weird threesome. Except nobody’s having fun.”

Daphne groans, burying her face in her hands. “Hudson. Oh my god.”

Yeah, I really said that. Fuck my life. Where’s the guy in her dorm earlier? The one who knew exactly what to say? Did I lose my charm?

Beside me, Liv chokes on a laugh. “Okay, I hate that I’m laughing, but that was good.”

“See?” I point at her, grinning. “Someone appreciates my sense of humor.”

Daphne looks between the two of us, her lips twitching like she’s trying not to smile. “I’m literally about to pee in a cup to confirm that my life, our lives”—she gestures between her and me—“are forever changed, and you’re making jokes about threesomes.”

Liv shrugs, her tone light. “What? I didn’t say anything bad.”

“You didn’t have to,” Daphne mutters, then exhales slowly. “Let’s just get through this, okay?” But I definitely see the side of her mouth twitch again before she settles back down in her seat.

The nurse steps into the waiting room and calls Daphne’s name. We all stand, like some weird, synchronized trio ready to walk onto the stage. And then Liv sits back down. “I think you need to do this together,” she says.

“But you came all the way here…” Daphne frowns.

“And I’d do it again, but you two need this. I’ll wait.”

That’s actually nice of Liv, and I appreciate the moment with Daphne. Except the closer we get to the room, the more panic sets into my lungs, restricting that airflow. Suddenly, all the joking feels stupider, because fuck, fuck, fuck… I’m about to find out when our baby is going to be born. A real-life doctor is about to confirm that we’re having a baby. Shit got real, really fucking fast since last night.

I take a deep breath to try to calm myself down.

The nurse gestures us into a small room, and I swear it feels even smaller once we’re all inside. Daphne takes the seat closest to the doctor, the nurse settling on the other side of doc, leaving me standing near the door.

Do I sit? I don’t know if I’ll be able to get back up if I do. Oh shit, what if I pass out? Then I’d really be stealing the thunder of this appointment, which is a dick thing to do, considering I’m the one who asked to be here. Jesus, get a grip, man.

“Hudson? You okay?” Daphne asks.

“Yeah,” I force out. “I’m fine. Shall I sit?”

Shall I sit? Did I really just ask that?

“Please,” Daphne says, nodding quickly.

I grab a chair and sit next to Daphne, trying to keep my knees from bouncing. This should be simple. Sit, listen, be supportive. But my brain won’t shut up. What if I faint? Or say something stupid again? Or worse, look like I don’t care? Focus, Hudson.

Dr. Carter offers a kind smile, pulling my attention. “I’m Dr. Carter. It’s nice to meet you both.” She looks at Daphne first. “Alright, let’s start with a few basics, and then we’ll go through next steps.”

Daphne nods and sits up straighter. “Sure.”

Dr. Carter begins asking questions about when her last period was, how she’s been feeling, any morning sickness. Daphne answers each one calmly, but I can’t help noticing the way her hands fidget in her lap. I try to keep myself still, but my fingers keep clenching and unclenching on my knees. Without thinking twice, I move my hand to cover hers, and she instantly squeezes my fingers.

Her eyes meet mine and they glisten with gratitude. “I’ve been feeling sick. Around my birthday, I had what I thought was a stomach bug, but I guess it was, well…all of this.”

“Feeling tired and nauseous is common at this stage. It’s your body adjusting to the pregnancy hormones. Would you be okay to provide us with a urine sample to confirm the pregnancy?” the doc asks gently. “The restroom is just across the hall.”

“Got it.” Daphne grabs the cup and disappears, leaving me alone in the room with Dr. Carter and the nurse.

Silence stretches awkwardly, so I clear my throat. “So, uh…this is normal, right?” I ask, waving vaguely at the empty seat Daphne left behind. “All these tests?”

Dr. Carter’s smile is patient. “Yes, completely normal. We just want to confirm everything and make sure she’s healthy. It’s early, but the tests give us a clearer picture.”

“Right, okay.” Nodding, my fingers tap against my leg. “And…I mean, should she be doing something specific? Eating differently or…I don’t know, taking naps or something?”

The nurse hides a smile, but Dr. Carter answers without missing a beat. “A balanced diet and prenatal vitamins are key right now. Rest is important, but so is staying active. We’ll go over everything in detail once we’ve confirmed the results.”

I nod again, trying to absorb it all. I want to make this easy on Daphne. I remember vividly my mom being so sick with my little sister, Rory, and I was the one who would look after her when she’d been up all night throwing up or couldn’t manage to get up off the couch because her belly was so big and she was exhausted. I was only six, but I remember trying to always be there, and not much has changed. She worked overtime after Rory was born so she could send me to football camps and get all the gear for local teams. When I make the pros, I’ll be paying her back and some. That kind of love and respect is exactly what I want to show our kid.

Before I can ask anything else, Daphne walks back in, dropping into her seat with a relieved sigh. “Done.”

The nurse takes the cup and moves to the sink. Dr. Carter waits while the nurse preps a needle, too. “Next, we’ll draw some blood. Hormone levels, blood type, and standard screening.”

Daphne rolls up her sleeve, calm as ever, but I notice the tiny movement of her fingers twitching against her leg. Without thinking, I lean forward. “You good?”

She glances at me, her lips quirking. “I’m fine. Are you okay with blood?”

I nod. It’s not like I’m squeamish, but there’s something about seeing someone else’s blood, specifically hers, that makes me feel protective in a way I can’t explain.

The nurse works quickly, and I force myself to stay focused on Daphne, not the needle. When it’s done, she flexes her hand as the nurse tapes a bandage over the tiny spot on her arm. “All set,” the nurse says with a smile. “You’re doing great.”

Dr. Carter sets the clipboard aside and leans forward slightly. “Everything looks good so far. Based on the dates you’ve given me, you’re likely just over eight weeks along. We’ll schedule your first ultrasound for around ten to twelve weeks to check everything.”

The words land heavy and light at the same time, filling the air between us. I glance at Daphne, but her expression is hard to read. Shit, I’m not even sure I can say how it’s making me feel either. Seeing the doctor write ‘Confirmed Pregnancy’ on the chart makes my chest tighten. There’s no more ‘what if.’ This is real.

We’re going to be parents.

“We’ll confirm with the lab results in a day or two, but I don’t anticipate any surprises. After that, we’ll schedule an ultrasound and discuss the next steps. At your next appointment, you’ll hear the baby’s heartbeat too. I estimate your due date to be June 23rd, so you can update any apps following your pregnancy.”

Apps? There are apps for pregnancy? I need to get up to speed with all this. That’s a lot of information to absorb. Dates. Scans. Apps. Yeah, there’s no way I’m letting Daph do this alone.

“Also,” the doctor continues. “Just to confirm this is the number to reach you on.” She angles the screen toward us, and Daphne nods. “Great. Here’s a list of recommended brands and prenatal vitamins to take, and at the bottom is a list of foods and drinks to avoid. Do you have any questions?”

Daphne hesitates, glancing at me. I can’t tell if she’s waiting for me to speak or deciding what to say herself. Her mouth opens and closes, but she finally shakes her head, and I feel like I should step in. “Uh, actually…I have one.”

Dr. Carter turns to me. “Of course.”

“What’s, um… What’s the best thing I can do for her? Right now, I mean. I don’t… I don’t want to mess this up.” The words spill out, not nearly as smooth as I’d hoped, but they’re honest.

Daphne’s head snaps toward me, her eyebrows lifting just slightly, her lips parting as if she’s about to say something but doesn’t. Dr. Carter smiles. “That’s a good question. The best thing you can do is to be supportive. Listen, be patient, and help her navigate the changes ahead. And if you’re not sure what to do, just ask.”

I nod, her words settling something in my chest. Daphne watches me for a moment longer before turning back to Dr. Carter. “Thanks.”

“Congratulations, again, Mom and Dad.”

Mom and Dad. Gulp.