Chapter Twenty-Two
Ivy
June/July 2023
God, this feels amazing.
My creativity has been suffering tremendously since I found out I was pregnant. I haven’t been able to put my mind to drawing anything worthy of being shown in even the shabbiest of galleries.
But today, today my brush collected the paint on her fine, little tips, begging to spread her ink on my canvas like the dirty, little slut she is. My hands wrapped tightly around the handle, her very own hand necklace. I loved the way she felt there, letting me control her every move.
This was what I’ve been missing, and I knew the reason behind my sudden burst of inspiration.
Abel.
Ever since our first appointment and every one, after that, he’s all I think about. Each time we meet, it’s like our first time all over again, except without all the hot sex. It’s like playing twenty-one questions each visit.
So, here I am, waiting to have an ultrasound… Again. They were so close the last time, but Bug led everyone on a wild goose chase and still didn’t cooperate. “Alright, Bug, today is the day. You’ve got to act right so I can know what to call you. Alright?”
I feel a little kick, like they’re agreeing with me. Lifting my shirt, I sit back on the cold table, chill bumps erupt across my skin from the cold AC blowing my way. I use the blanket at the edge of the table to toss over my legs, trying to keep myself warm just a bit when suddenly the door pops open.
The room seems to light up when he walks in, eyes finding mine as soon as he enters, causing a smile to grace his lips. I swear, if I weren’t already pregnant, that would have did it.
His smile.
It’s as beautiful as he is.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, completely speechless to the fact that he’s here and looks good enough to eat in regular clothes.
I mean, I knew he was hot, but those tattoos cover every inch of his body that I can see. Whoever said tattoos were okay has obviously never seen a doctor covered in them.
Cam was supposed to be here, but canceled at the last minute. I have a feeling I know the truth behind the cancellation now.
“As your doctor,” He says with a smirk that confirms I may be correct, “It’s my duty to be present.” It’s not really, but my face flames beet red anyway.
“Lies, you do not have to be here.”
“You’re right, I want to be here.” Stop it right fucking now or I’m gonna cry. “I hope those are happy tears.” Too late, cue the waterworks.
It’s absolutely astronomical that I cry for every little thing these days. “It is.” I hiccup. “I just think it’s sweet of you to be here.” I bite my tongue because I almost said that since Cam can’t be here.
“Did you just call me sweet?” He asks with a slight frown.
“I called what you did sweet, not you, per say.” I clarify.
“You know just how rough I can be.” He says for my ears only, leaning down and placing a gentle kiss on my forehead.
“Don’t.” I warn.
“Don’t what? You know what I want.”“Do I?” Absolutely. He’s made it clear on several occasions that he wants me… And answers.
“You’ve got about twenty minutes to tell me what I want to know.”
“Twenty minutes?”
“Yeah, that’s all the tech would give me until she came in to tell us the sex of our baby.” I stop breathing. Time as I know it has stopped, silence fills my ears as I stare at him. Did he say what I think he just said? “Judging by that look on your face, I’d say you know I’ve just confirmed what you felt in your heart was true.”
“Abel, I-” He holds up a hand to stop me, perching beside me on the table.
“I’m not mad at you, upset that I’ve missed almost the entire pregnancy and the chance to cater to you and our child, but there’s no time like the present.” He says, pushing and sliding down to a kneeling position on the floor.
“Abel, get up!” I whisper shout.
“What? Oh, no, I ain’t proposing… Yet.” He winks. “If you want to take it slow, we can, I don’t want to, but I also don’t want to scare you off from how intense I can be.”
“You won’t, Jake was the reason I left that night. It was a cowardly move, but I was scared. You didn’t deserve to be the rebound guy.”
“Trust me, darlin’, I wouldn't have been a rebound anything. You said it yourself, that was the best night of your life. To me… It was so much more.” My mouth hangs open as if someone just slapped the taste from it. I try to breathe in some air, but I’m stuck. “I don’t know what it is about you, but you’re different. You have a heart of gold, a kindred spirit, and the courage of a warrior… I want you.”
I open my mouth to speak, but he’s already rising up and pressing his lips over mine in a very demanding kiss.
A growl is released, and I’m not sure who it came from as he switches his position to place both hands on each side of my face, caging me in.
This kiss.
This kiss says he wants me.
Begs me to believe every word he said is true.
I knew it then, just like I know it now.
“Please say you’ll give me a chance.” He begs against my bruised lips.
He doesn’t look like the type of man to beg for anything. Knowing that, makes my decision just a little bit easier. “I’ll give you a chance, Abel. Can you forgive me for doing what I did to you?”
Resting his forehead on mine, he says, “Knowing that I’ll be a part of my child’s and your life is all that matters. Why hold a grudge? Life is too short for that. Besides, I knew Camden was same-sex oriented when I saw the two of you out on the dancefloor that night.” He smirks. “And you had the nerve to tell me he fathered your child… Ha!” He laughs.
“But how did you know he’s same-sex oriented? You have to admit, he hid it pretty well.”
“He did, but when I went over to your place, I threatened to kill him if he didn’t tell me the truth.” He says, sounding very proud of himself as he pulls a chair closer to my bed.
“You didn’t?”
“I did. There are a few things I don’t fuck around with. My money, my business, and my woman.” He says, taking my hand in his beautiful, inked one.
“I’m not your woman.”
“Give it time, you’ll see differently.”
We get lost in each other, just staring, committing details for each other to memory.
I want to remember this moment.
Him, asking me to give him a chance. He doesn’t look like a man that begs or asks for anything. More like a man that takes what he wants.
That’s one thing he doesn’t have to worry about when it comes to me… He can take it all whenever he wants because it’s already his.
“Alright, honey, are you ready to see if I can tell you what you’re having?” A lady with long, blond hair asks, sashaying inside the room with the brightest smile ever. “Oh, Dr. Iverson, I didn’t know you’d be here with her for this.” She winks.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. That’s my kid in there.” He smiles, never taking his eyes off me.
“What? You didn’t tell us you had a baby on the way, you sly little devil.” She giggles. “Wait until everyone finds out. This kid is gonna be spoiled.”
“Tell me about it.” Grabbing my hand and pulling it to his lips, just to place a kiss in my palm. “Ready to find out what we’re having?”
“I think so.” God he’s so beautiful. “Oh!” I grunt, clutching my stomach.
“What? What’s wrong?” He asks, concern etched on his face as he grips my hand for dear life.
“Oh, the baby just kicked.” I chuckle, grabbing his hand and placing it on top of my belly. “Here, can you feel it?”
Waiting for the little guy or girl to show his or her daddy what he’s working with, I wait a moment for the kick to happen.
Just when I think it won’t happen again, I watch Abel’s face light up before unshed tears prickle at the corners of his eyes.
“That’s my baby?” I shake my head yes, tearing up myself.
“Steph, can you tell us what we’re having already?” He laughs.
“Sure thing.” While Steph gets to work squirting that jelly on my stomach, working her mojo, Abel can’t take his eyes off me. At one point, his phone goes off, he looks at the screen but ignores the caller.
“You sure you don’t need to get that?” I ask, wondering who that was.
“Ahh, there she is. You’re having a girl!”
“What?” We say in unison.
“Oh, you guys are so cute.” She gushes, but then Abel makes a face at her and she quickly recovers. “Sorry, congratulations, you guys are having a girl.”
No words are exchanged, just silent thank yous as his lips find mine once again. This is a happy moment. Yet another one I’ll cherish for years to come. “You’ve made me the happiest man alive, Ivy. Now, I have to share the news with the crew.”
“Absolutely. Yeah, you should, you should go do that.” I say, holding back my emotions and tears until he leaves the room.
He turns back to me. “We’re having a fourth of July cookout at The Sandlot, I want you to come.” He says, stopping in the doorway. “Say you’ll come.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Think hard because I want you there. I’ll see you later.” This time, he really leaves, and I’m left feeling as though I’m on cloud nine.