Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Bellamy
I’m sitting in the waiting room, scrolling through my phone, minding my own business, when someone sits in the seat next to me. Never mind there are several other unoccupied options. This person decides they need to be all up in my space. On instinct, I glance over, and my mouth falls open. “Reid.”
“Hey, Dream Girl.” He leans in for a kiss, one hand resting on my cheek, while the other presses gently against my belly.
“What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be at practice.
” Training camp has been over for a week.
Just as he requested, I stayed at his place and haven’t left since.
I still have to move all of my things and handle my lease.
I’ve been going and grabbing more clothes as I need them.
Eventually, I’ll have everything moved. There’s a part of me that wants to hold on to my place just a little longer, but that’s not fair to Reid or me.
I told him I’d give this a shot, and I am.
We’ve just been busy and haven’t had the chance.
“You’re here.”
“You’re supposed to be at practice.” I raise my eyebrows because he’s avoiding the question.
“Yeah, about that. I might have pissed your dad off so bad he decided I was done for the day.”
“What did you do?” Dread washes over me. I don’t want to come between the two of them. They had a good working relationship before I came into the picture.
“Told him I was leaving early.”
“So he punished you by giving you what you wanted?”
Reid shrugs. “Yep.”
“What are you not telling me?”
“This is your first appointment, and I wanted to be here. I told Coach I had to leave an hour early, and he wasn’t impressed.
He wanted to know why, and I told him it was personal.
He didn’t like that either. He ran me hard, and when it was time for me to leave, I started to walk off the field.
He screamed and yelled, said he would fine me, and I kept walking.
He then shouted after me to get out of his stadium. ”
“I’m sorry. It’s my fault he’s being hard on you.” It makes me despise my father even more.
“It’s not. That man makes his own decisions. I can see where he’s coming from. They pay me nineteen million a year. I’m supposed to be there, but this was more important.”
I choke on my spit. I knew he made good money, but damn. “I could have told you what the doctor had to say.”
“You could have, but I’d rather be here to hear it on my own. It was an hour, and I gave him everything while I was there, just like I do every other day. I’ve never missed a practice for any reason. He can fine me. It’s fine.”
“In the future, I’ll make my appointments later in the day.” I should have done that with this one, but I thought we were good for me to come on my own and report back to him. I should have known better. If I know anything about my baby daddy, it’s that he doesn’t do anything halfway.
He kisses my temple. “I’ll be here,” he assures me.
My heart squeezes in my chest. He’s never hesitated.
Not once. He’s a solid foundation that I find myself leaning on.
There’s still a little voice in the back of my head, telling me that I can’t trust this flutter in my chest when he’s near or when I think about him, but I push it away.
Reid is not my father.
My gut tells me this is true. My head still stumbles from time to time, but that’s okay. I know it will take some time, but I’m not fighting this. Heartbreak be dammed. At least I won’t ever have to ask myself what if.
“Bellamy Warner.” My name is called, and we stand. Reid grabs my hand, and together we make our way to the exam room. “I see you’re here to confirm pregnancy?” the nurse asks.
“Yes,” Reid and I reply at the same time, making her laugh.
She rattles off questions about how I’m feeling, the first day of my last period, and if I took a home test. She takes my temp, has me step on the scales, which are in the room instead of the hall, something I’ve never seen before, and takes my blood pressure before handing me a gown, telling me to strip down and cover up with the blanket.
“We’ll take a blood test after you see the doctor.
She’s running about fifteen minutes behind, but she’ll be with you as soon as she can. ” The nurse smiles and leaves the room.
“You need some help?” Reid asks.
“I can manage.”
“You sure? I think you need help.” He stands from his chair and walks toward me. No, that’s not right. He’s not walking. It’s more of a swagger.
When he steps in front of where I’m sitting on the exam table, I open my legs for him to step between them.
He smiles softly as he cups my cheek and kisses me.
That’s all he’s done is kiss me. Don’t get me wrong, I love his kisses.
There isn’t a single part of this man that’s not addictive.
He holds me every night, but never takes things further.
Two weeks of sleeping next to the sexiest man I’ve ever seen, hormones from my pregnancy in overdrive, and I feel as though I might combust.
“I’m sure,” I say, once he pulls his lips from mine.
“I don’t know… I think you could use the help.
” His hands find the hem of my blouse that I wore to work today, and he lifts it over my head.
I watch as he folds it neatly and walks it to one of the extra chairs before coming back to me.
“What about this?” he asks, running his index finger under the strap of my bra.
“That can stay,” I say, not recognizing my own voice.
“Bummer,” he says, bending his head and placing a kiss on my bare shoulder. Stepping back, he removes my shoes one by one, before his hands grip my hips and he lifts me from the table.
I stand with my arms at my sides, my body aching for his touch as he unbuttons my dress pants, lowers the zipper, and pulls them over my thighs.
“Lift for me,” he says, and I do, raising one leg, then the other to step out of my pants. He folds them neatly just as he did with my shirt, before he’s back to me. This time, he stands before me, letting his eyes roam.
“Reid,” I murmur, and his eyes find mine. They’re filled with the same heat that I feel coursing through me. “We can’t do this. Not here.”
He nods and clears his throat. Reaching for the gown, he helps me into it before reaching beneath and tugging off my panties.
He brings them to his nose, and I can feel the blush coat my cheeks as he inhales deeply before slipping them between my shirt and my pants on the chair.
“I’ll help you,” he says when he sees me moving to get back on the table.
His hands again find my hips, and he lifts me effortlessly.
“You’re beautiful,” he tells me, giving my hips a gentle squeeze before releasing me. He moves back to his chair and sits. I watch as he adjusts himself.
“You all right there, big guy?” I tease him.
“I’m used to it,” he replies. “Any time I think about you, this is what happens.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask him why he’s not acting on it when there’s a knock at the door, and the doctor walks in. I guess she’s not running as far behind as they thought. My eyes find Reid’s, and he winks.
“Hello, Bellamy, I’m Doctor Armstrong.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Doctor Armstrong turns toward Reid and offers him her hand. “Reid Montgomery, baby daddy.” He grins, and she laughs.
“Well, all right, then. So, I see here you’ve taken a home test?” she asks.
“I did. It was instantly positive.”
“Okay, well, we’ll take a listen and see what we can find. If the dates of your last period you gave the nurse are correct, then that puts your due date on March third.”
“After the season,” Reid says, his smile growing. We’d already worked that out in our heads, with the help of the internet, but it’s good to have it confirmed.
“Lie back, and we’ll take a listen. It might be too early yet, but from the dates you provided, you’re close enough that we’ll give it a try.” Doctor Armstrong smiles politely.
I do as she says and lie back. She arranges the blanket to cover my lower half before she squirts warm gel on my belly and places the Doppler there.
“What are we listening for?” Reid asks. The words are barely out of his mouth when a loud whooshing sound echoes around the room.
“That.” Doctor Armstrong smiles at him. “Your baby’s heartbeat.”
“Wow.” Reid moves next to me and reaches for my hand.
His eyes are glued to my belly, and tears burn the back of my eyes as I watch him watching me.
When he finally breaks his gaze and looks at me, his eyes are glassy, too.
Bending, he kisses me softly before resting his forehead against mine. “Our baby,” he whispers.
“Our baby,” I repeat.
“We’re going to do blood tests just to confirm, and should have the results in a couple of days.
Usually it’s the next day, but I like to warn that it could be longer if the lab runs behind.
” Doctor Armstrong wipes off my belly, and Reid helps me pull my gown back together.
“I do need to check you. Is it okay if this one stays in the room?” she asks, pointing to Reid.
“It’s fine,” I assure her. I raise my hand, and Reid laces his fingers through mine.
“I’m here,” he says, bending to kiss my temple.
I follow the doctor’s instructions, who tells me to put my feet in the stirrups and scoot down.
This is the worst part, but I knew from my online research that they’d do an exam today.
Reid’s grip on my hand tightens, but he doesn’t say anything.
The exam is over just as quickly as it started, but that doesn’t make it any less humiliating.
“All set. Do you have any questions?”
I look up at Reid, and he shakes his head. “No, thank you.” I smile at the doctor.
“You can get dressed. Take your time. When you’re ready, stop at the counter. The receptionist will have a new mom packet for you. We’ll see you back in four weeks.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Reid tells her, and she closes the door, leaving us alone.