Page 11

CHAPTER

SIX

ARCHIE

It’s been two 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-ups that 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 ca rd 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 really dated anyone, 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.

We walk through the doorway and pause, waiting for the nurse to tell us where we need to go.

She starts walking, then stops at a door next to a small counter space that has a computer, a tablet, and some urine cups. She picks up one of the cups and wraps a label around it, then hands it to Emma .

“I need you to give us a urine sample to confirm the pregnancy. Use the sanitizing wipes first, then fill to this line.” She points to a line on the cup and then hands it over to Emma.

Emma looks at me, hands me her backpack and the clipboard, then goes into the restroom.

“Oh, here, I can take that for you.”

The nurse reaches for the clipboard. I gladly hand it over. She walks away with it, then comes back just as Emma is coming out of the restroom, urine in hand.

The nurse takes it from her and sets it on the counter. She steps around us, and we follow her down the hallway to a scale. She instructs Emma to step on.

Emma looks over at me. “Turn around. You don’t need to see how much I weigh.”

I bark out a laugh. “Darlin’, you can’t be serious?”

With her finger, she twirls it in a circular motion. I sigh but turn around.

I hear something sliding, then hear the nurse say, “Sixty-nine inches.”

I can’t help myself. I turn my head and meet Emma’s eyes with a big-ass smile on my face.

She rolls her eyes and steps off the scale.

We follow the nurse farther down the hall to an open doorway. “Go ahead and have a seat. I’m just going to take your blood pressure and vitals.”

Emma sits in the chair next to the countertop that has a jar of cotton balls, long Q-tip-looking things, and a box of gloves.

The nurse takes Emma’s arm and wraps the cuff around it. While that expands, she drags a thermometer across Emma’s forehead, then places a heartbeat-button thing on her finger. She writes something on a paper on the desk, then looks at a box, checking her blood pressure.

“One eighteen over seventy. Good. Are you taking any medications right now? Even over-the-counter ones count. ”

“No prescription meds, but I do take a multivitamin and a probiotic,” Emma answers.

“Okay, that’s fine. And when was the first day of your last period? Doesn’t have to be exact, but as close as you can estimate,” she says.

“I can’t remember the exact date, but it was mid-August.”

The nurse nods and writes something on the paper, then stands. “Dr. Landy will be in soon. Go ahead and undress completely and put the gown on.” She points to the exam table, then opens the door and leaves the room.

Emma and I look at each other. I smile, but she looks a little shy.

“Do you want me to leave the room, darlin’?” I ask her. I never want her to feel uncomfortable with me.

She shakes her head. “No, it’s fine. Not like you haven’t seen it, but I’m just feeling a little bloated now.”

“Emma, you are the most gorgeous girl I’ve ever seen.” I smirk.

She laughs. “You are ridiculous.” But she starts to remove her clothes.

Do I watch? You bet I do. I’m not missing a minute of seeing her body again. It’s been months, and I still see it in my mind. Seeing the real thing? Yeah, nothing could pull me away.

Her back is to me, but when she bends down to remove her pants, I see a tiny tattoo on the small of her back that I make a note of to ask about later and the swell of her breast from the side.

“Hey, Em, are your boobs starting to hurt yet?”

She whips her head back to me. “Archie, seriously?”

“What? I’m just curious. I read that they might start to get sore early in the pregnancy, all the way to the end. So, I was just curious.”

My eyes are still glued to her as she wraps the gown around her. Once it’s tied, she reaches under it and pulls her panties off. They’re pink .

She hands me her clothes and settles herself on the exam table. I set her bag down and fold her clothes before placing them on the counter next to me.

“Are you good? Do you need anything?” I ask.

“I’m good.” She holds out her hand to me so I lean forward and take it in mine. “Are you nervous at all? You seem so calm. I’m kinda freaking out a little. Like, Archie, this appointment is going to make this very real.”

Before I can reply, there’s a knock on the door, and then it opens. The doctor walks in, followed by the nurse, and the door closes.

“Hi, Emma. I’m Dr. Landy. So, I can confirm that you are pregnant.

Congratulations. I’m going to do a short exam here, but then I’m going to bring in the technician for an ultrasound.

She’ll do a transvaginal ultrasound to help me confirm your due date and just make sure we don’t have any additional challenges.

But you’re young and healthy, so I don’t anticipate any issues.

We also need to discuss your family history based on your intake form. ”

She looks over at me. “Are you the father?”

“I am.” I beam.

“Congratulations to you both then. Go ahead and lie back, Emma.” The doctor pulls a pair of gloves on and sits on a rolling stool and rolls her way right up into Emma’s honeypot. I mean, right on in there.

I’m still holding Emma’s hand, but locked in on what’s happening at the end of the exam table when I feel Emma squeeze my hand. I look at her, and she’s watching me.

“Look at me, please.” Her eyebrows rise.

“You got it, darlin’.” I wink at her.