Chapter 26
CHAPTER 26
NORA
“ S ixteen weeks today, Pip,” Atlas says as I walk into the kitchen.
“You keeping track?” I sass back, even though I know he is.
In fact, just the other day, I saw a baby-tracking app on his phone that tells him little facts about not only the baby but my pregnancy as well.
“Abso-fucking-lutely.” He slides a plate of avocado toast across the bar.
“Seems fitting since our jellybean is the size of a small avocado.”
I glance down at my ever-growing belly.
“Hard to believe I’m this big when he’s still so small.”
“First of all, there’s nothing wrong with your size. You’re perfect.” He stalks around to my side of the bar, claiming the stool next to me.
“Secondly, he huh?”
“Well, it’s a fifty-fifty chance, right?”
“You got a preference?” He’s asked me this before, but my answer’s still the same.
“No.” I shrug and take another bite of my toast. It’s surprisingly tasty.
“Just a gut feeling.”
“Well, in just under an hour, we’ll know for sure.” He jumps up from his stool and rushes around the island to the fridge.
“Almost forgot your OJ. Scarlet said to drink a glass before your appointment to make sure baby is active.”
Internally, I swoon.
Atlas is so thoughtful.
And not just when it comes to the baby—but me, too.
He hasn’t said those three little words to me again, but he shows me daily how he feels…
The night we saw him on the news and he held me while I slept was the best sleep of my life.
And I told him so, and he’s slept next to me every night since.
I keep expecting him to push for more—physically—but he’s held true to his word about doing things right.
After our front seat make out session, he told me he wanted to take me on a real date.
I told him it wasn’t necessary; he insisted it was, and now, finally, today is the day.
Well, tonight is anyway.
First up is my ultrasound appointment.
I’m not sure which one I’m more excited for.
Or nervous.
Gah! It’s like my emotions are a tangled-up ball of yarn, fraying and lopping, and hopelessly intertwined.
“Thank you,” I say once I down the entire glass.
“Are you okay?” Sometimes he’s so perceptive it hurts.
There’s no sneaking anything past him.
“I’m…” I pause to really think on how I’m feeling, but that stupid ball of yarn is so jumbled, I can’t seem to differentiate the threads.
I’m excited for my ultrasound, I’m eager about our date—and maybe a little apprehensive about what may come afterward, I’m anxious over Rand still being out there somewhere, but mostly, I think I’m good.
“Overwhelmed.”
“In a good way or a bad way?” He sips his coffee, studying me over the rim of his mug.
Again, I mull over my answer before replying.
“I think good. Things are definitely better than they’ve ever been.”
He gives me his best, most heartwarming smile.
“The best is yet to come, Pip.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
“Didn’t I already tell you I’m always right?” Atlas grabs both of our plates and deposits them in the sink.
“Now, c’mon or we’ll be late.”
The drive to Dr. Snider’s office is uneventful, and sadly, there’s no parking lot make out session this time either, because Scarlet is at the door waiting on us.
“Are you ready to see baby again?” she asks, stepping back so we can enter ahead of her.
“Yes!” Atlas and I answer in unison, causing Scarlet to roll her eyes.
“Never took you for a dad-type, Atlas.” Her tone is sour, but she’s smiling.
I’m typically pretty good at reading people, but Scarlet is one tough cookie.
“I’m full of surprises,” Atlas deadpans as we step into the triage alcove.
“That you are,” she replies before focusing her attention back on me.
“Same as last time, Nora. Urine, weight, blood pressure, and since your iron was low at your last visit, I’d like to check it again today.”
She quickly moves through my work-up—I’ve gained weight and my iron is looking better—and before I know it, it’s ultrasound time.
“Again, Nora on the table, Atlas in the chair, goo may be cold.”
“Anyone ever tell you have great bedside manner?” Atlas asks, helping me up onto the table.
Scarlet screws up her face as she mocks him.
All I can do is giggle at them both.
This dynamic we have is so totally weird, and yet I can’t help but feel right at home with Atlas and Scarlet.
“Okay, here we go.” She squirts some of the gel onto my stomach and begins moving it around with the wand.
“Going to take some measurements and then we’ll get to the good stuff.”
Despite not understanding much of what is happening on the screen, I watch with a laser-like focus as she clicks around.
“And here’s baby’s?—”
The door to the room flings open and Ellis barges in, fully in uniform.
“What in the actual hell?” Scarlet shrieks as Atlas asks, “Is everything okay?”
“Did I miss it?” he asks, frantically looking from my bare belly to the screen to Scarlet.
“Am I an uncle or an aunt?”
“An idiot, that’s what you are. An absolute idiot.” If looks could kill, Scarlet would have eviscerated Ellis on the spot.
“Didn’t know you were joining us,” Atlas says mildly, once it’s clear nothing is wrong.
“I invited him.” I duck my head.
“I guess I forgot to mention it. Sorry.”
Atlas grins.
“Should’ve known. You two are like peanut butter and jelly.”
“No,” Ellis scoffs.
“We’re popcorn and movie theater butter.”
“Oh my God, I’m surrounded by morons.” Scarlet rolls her eyes.
“Can we please get on with it? We do have other patients…”
My cheeks burn with embarrassment.
She’s right, I’m not her only patient, and both she and Dr. Snider are giving up their lunch hour for me.
The least I could do—again—is be respectful of their time.
“Sorry, Scarlet.” I recline back against the paper-covered pillow.
“We’ll be good.”
She gives me a tight smile.
“As I was saying, here’s baby’s heartbeat.”
A gentle whooshing sound fills the room, bringing tears to my eyes.
Seriously, that is the best sound I’ve ever heard.
“Hey, Scar,” Atlas whispers.
“You think I can record that?”
Maybe it’s a trick of the light, but I swear, her eyes get a little bit misty.
“Go for it.”
With the hand that isn’t holding mine, Atlas slides his phone out of his pocket and begins recording the sound of our baby’s heartbeat.
“Damn, that’s my favorite sound.” His voice is thick with emotion, which only feeds into how I’m feeling, and before I know it, tears are rolling down my cheeks.
“Don’t cry, Pip.” Atlas slides his phone back into his pocket and then wipes away my tears.
“I’m not sad.” Truly, I’m not.
If anything, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.
“Promise.”
“If you’re done crying, we can check and see if baby will give us a peek at the goods.”
“Anyone ever tell you that you’re kind of a bitch?” Ellis asks, steepling his hands beneath his chin.
“Anyone ever tell you that only guys with small dicks call women bitches?” she fires back.
“We playing two truths and a lie or something?” He leans back in his chair, crossing his legs so that his right ankle rests on his left knee.
“If so, let me think of something else true, because everything you just said was a damn lie.”
“I swear to God?—”
“Children!” Atlas growls, cutting her off.
“I’d like to know if I’m about to have a son or a daughter, so if y’all could just save your fucking foreplay for later, that’d be great.”
I lean over and grab Atlas’s hand, pressing a soft kiss to his knuckles.
He mouths my three favorite words— I love you —and then turns his attention back toward the screen.
“It’s not foreplay,” Ellis mumbles, but Scarlet just glares.
The room falls quiet as she rolls the wand over my belly.
“Sure is active. Wiggling and rolling all around in there.”
Atlas beams. “I made her drink some OJ with breakfast.”
“Aren’t you just a peach—oh hey, look!” She snaps a still image and freezes the screen.
“Looks like y’all are having a baby boy!”
“I’m going to be an uncle!” Ellis claps his hands as he springs up from his chair.
“Congrats, you two, I gotta bounce.”
“You won’t be missed, Officer Jackass,” Scarlet says, but he’s already out the door.
“Really?” I ask, even though the evidence is plain as day.
“A boy?”
“Yup.” Scarlet’s lips curl in the most genuine smile I’ve ever seen from her.
“Congrats, Nora.”
“Hot damn,” Atlas murmurs.
“We’re having a boy, Pip. Guess we need to start talking about names, huh?” His cheeks turn a deep pink color.
“I mean, uh, if you want my input, that is.”
“Of course, I do.” I squeeze his hand.
“We’re in this together, right?”
He grins, and I swear, I feel it all the way down to my toes.
“Damn straight we are.”
DIARY ENTRY, PRESENT DAY
Dear Diary,
A boy.
We’re having a boy. A sweet baby boy.
A sweet, healthy, baby boy.
Scarlet said everything is measuring just right and his heartbeat sounded strong and steady.
I need to remember to ask Atlas to send me the recording.
Our baby boy needs a name besides jellybean.
I want to ask Atlas to help me come up with something.
Maybe I will tonight…
on our date.
Is it weird that I’m nervous?
I’m eighteen, pregnant, and going on my first date.
I’d say a therapist would have a field day with me, but Maggie’s never been anything but professional.
Still, I bet I’m one heck of a case.
Some days, it feels like my life is the plot of one of those Lifetime movies Mama liked so much.
Got sidetracked there, Diary, so let’s get back to the point.
I’m as anxious as I am excited for tonight, because I think I want to go all the way with Atlas.
I want us to have sex.
For him to be my real first. He’s a man worthy of it, and I know he’ll take care of me—and more importantly, I know he’ll stop if I say so.
But what if I’m… bad at it?
What if he doesn’t enjoy being with me?
What if I flip out, and he realizes how broken I really am?
What if he decides I’m not worth the trouble?
NO! STOP IT, NORA!
Atlas is a good man.
The best kind of man.
He is everything I’ve ever wanted and never thought I would have—and then some.
He is kind and caring and patient and has the gentlest heart out of anyone I know.
He’s the kind of man my parents would have loved.
He’s worked tirelessly to earn my trust, and deep down in my soul, I know he loves me.
No matter how things go between us tonight, I know it won’t change the way he feels about me. Flustered, Nora