Page 151 of Stay With Me

“Youdo? Why?”

“It’s cool to watch, and I like reading the updates. At ten weeks, the baby has all of its organs. Oh, and it officially graduated from an embryo to a fetus this week.” He leans over and fist-bumps my belly, which is no longer flat and instead looks like I’m bloated. “Congrats on the achievements, Fishy.”

I stare at him in shock and awe that he’s not only keeping track but reading about it.

“Oh, and it says you may start to get more constipated so maybe add more fiber into your diet.”

“Okay, no more reading for you,” I deadpan.

Talking about my bowel movements is where I draw the line. I’m still trying to wrap my brain around how a baby the size of a watermelon is going to launch out of my vagina without tearing me in half. I’ll probably never have sex again.

“It’s common in the first trimester!” He waves out a hand as if this is general knowledge to everyone. “It also mentioned mood swings, so…” He side-eyes me as if he’s waiting for me to snap at him any minute. “You might be crankier or weepier than usual, which is totally normal for the first trimester. Resting, eating healthy, and avoiding stress are key to help balance your hormones.”

“Are you seriously mansplaining hormonal changes to me?”

“Nope. Just sharin’ the data. But there was an informative section about vaginal discharge too if you wanna?—”

“Please shut up.”

He clamps his mouth and stays quiet for the rest of the drive.

It’s bad enough I have to go through these changes. I don’t need the man I was sleeping with to know about them, too.

Although he’s respected my wishes to return to friends, he continues doing sweet things for me and making it hard to resist falling back into old habits. Even though he’s not crossed any lines, he’s still acting like a caring boyfriend, and that messes with my head. I have to remind myself that this is for the best.

We arrive at the hospital, and after he helps me out of his truck, he takes my bag and holds it as we walk side by side. The receptionist smiles when she sees us approach, and I know it’s only a matter of time before someone asks if he’s the dad. I haven’t quite figured out how to answer that question without it making things awkward.

No, he’s my ex who I broke up with after I found out I was pregnant with another man’s baby and although we aren’t dating, we live together.

Totally normal.

“You can take a seat, and the tech will be out shortly to grab you and your boyfriend.”

Welp, there it is.

“Thank you, ma’am.” Tripp grins, then grabs my hand and intertwines our fingers. “C’mon,love.”

There’s a faint smirk on his face, and I know he enjoyed that way too much.

I follow him to the waiting room and sit next to him in a separate chair.

“Ya know, it’s only a matter of time before people find out I’m pregnant.”

“Okay, and? Are you plannin’ to deny it and say you’re just puttin’ on weight?”

I smack his thigh at his smart-ass comment. “And if you letpeople think you’re my boyfriend, they’re gonna assume the baby’s yours. So you might wanna correct ‘em before rumors spread.”

“And say what? That I’m your gay best friend here for moral support?”

I roll my eyes at his dramatics. “That we’refriends. Or even roommates.”

He leans in closer. “Hmm…doesn’t feel appropriate for someone who’s had their whole face in your pussy.”

“Tripp!” I whisper-hiss, glancing around to make sure no one else heard him.

He shoots me a grin, then places his hand on my shaky leg. “Relax. Who cares what they think?”

I swallow hard, lowering my gaze. “Well, I figured you would. Not gonna help ya out in the wholedatingdepartment if chicks think you have a baby on the way.”