Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Foster
When the nurse calls Callie back, I’m thankful to be away from the prying eyes. I purposely picked the two chairs in a corner with a plant in front of us so no one could get a clear picture. Who am I kidding though? They’ll manage it if they want one.
All the patients’ eyes were on us, as if they were trying to figure out our dynamic. It’s not that hard to figure out. I’m with a woman in an OBGYN office. Two plus two equals four. Or plus one in this case.
The nurse doesn’t do anything more than give me a polite smile and quick glance before asking Callie to follow her. Which is nice to see. Callie should have all the attention. She’s the one taking one for the team between the two of us.
We’re shown to an exam room, and the nurse leaves, telling us the doctor will be in soon.
I’m minding my own business, sitting in the chair the nurse told me to, when Callie flips around on the table toward me. “You doing okay?”
Her smirk says she thinks this whole experience is funny.
Probably because she believes all the rumors that to be in an OBGYN office with a woman I spent one night with would be a nightmare scenario for a guy like me.
And maybe it would be… but it’s her. Somehow, she seems to make all the difference in the world.
There’s some truth to the rumors that fly around about me. I haven’t been fucking celibate, but I’m not entirely who she thinks I am either.
“You think I’m gonna run or pass out?”
Her legs swing back and forth. She’s cute as hell, and isn’t that the number one problem with this entire situation? “It’s a nightmare, right?”
I tilt my head and cross my arms. “Haven’t we already been over this?”
“You wanting to be part of the baby’s life and you still thinking this is the last possible thing you would have wanted are two very different things. Neither of us planned on this happening.”
“True.” I’m not going to lie and say I dreamed of this scenario. “But here we are.”
“I can handle this, you know? You’re midseason.”
My first reaction is to go on the defense because it feels as though she’s pushing me away.
That old wound opens up, telling me I’m not good enough.
That Callie would rather have gotten pregnant by anyone but me.
But part of me suspects that Callie’s hyper-independence has nothing at all to do with me.
So I inhale a deep breath before I say something I’ll regret and decide to voice my suspicions. “Callie, who hurt you?”
Her usual teasing smile slips. I lean forward, ready to tell her to forget my question and declare my intentions again, even if they fall on deaf ears. Anything to see that smile again. But a knock sounds on the door, and a woman with a white coat walks in.
Maybe the interruption is the best thing that could happen because this isn’t really the best time for us to have this conversation.
“Oh…” The doctor’s attention snags on me. “Hello. Usually my staff tells me when we have clients who have more discreet needs.” She steps over to Callie and holds out her hand. “Hi, Callie, I’m Doctor Amato.”
“Hi.” Callie shakes her hand. “So you recognize Foster.” She puts her hand out as though she’s declaring me as the prize.
I mentally scoff. I’m no one’s prize.
Dr. Amato laughs. “You kind of stick out.” She holds her hand out for me, and I shake it. “In a good way.”
Her smile is kind, and I want to trust her to do what’s right for Callie and our child, I do. But trust isn’t the easiest thing for me.
She walks over to the computer. “Okay, so let me gather some information, then I’ll have you change into a gown, and we’ll take a look on the ultrasound.” She looks really excited, but I guess that’s why she picked this profession, right? “Let’s start with the date of your last period.”
Callie tells her, and I mentally try to figure out the math, although we only slept together once, so I guess the date of conception is obvious.
“So you’re about six weeks then.” Dr. Amato types on the computer. “And you’re the father?” She pointedly looks at me.
I refrain from making some smart-ass comment. “I am.”
“But we’re not involved.” Callie waves a finger between us. “I mean, it was just one night.”
Dr. Amato smiles at her and nods. I wait for her judgmental look—like of course you had sex with her and got her pregnant—but it doesn’t come. “Okay, and you’re all right with him being here during the visits?”
What kind of question is that? Don’t I have some rights here?
“Yes. We’re doing this together.”
Thank God, seems Callie finally got the memo.
“That’s great. So, let’s talk family history.”
My gut twists. My family is the absolute last topic I ever want to talk about.
Callie gives the doctor her family history. Of course it’s all picture perfect and could be wrapped up in a suburban home with four bedrooms, perfect parents, a brother who adores her, and a big fucking bow tied around the white picket fence.
Dr. Amato turns toward me, and I’m ready to excuse myself just to get out here. I feel as if the collar of my coat is strangling me.
Callie doesn’t know a lot about my family or me, and divulging all the sordid details in front of the doctor seems wrong since all my fucked-up family problems will inevitably affect our child, no matter how much I try to keep them away from it. God knows I’ve tried to escape them to no avail.
“I’m a twin,” I admit, figuring this is something the world already knows.
Dr. Amato’s eyes light up. “Oh…” She types, then looks at Callie.
“I didn’t even consider…” Callie cradles her nonexistent belly. “Could there be two babies?”
Dr. Amato laughs. “It’s not as common as you think. If you were a twin, the chances would be a little higher. You can breathe now.”
Callie’s shoulders lose the tension, and mine do too, because I don’t want that for my child. Being a twin isn’t the dream most people think it is.
“Identical or fraternal?” Dr. Amato asks.
“Fraternal.”
“Yeah, they’re so different.” Callie chuckles. “Not only in looks…”
Dr. Amato’s eyes widen, and her mouth falls open. “Decker Davis is your twin. Sorry, I knew that. My husband is a die-hard Colts fan, and he’d be embarrassed that I even had to ask.”
I shake my head. “It’s fine. Really.”
“Well still… so fraternal twin. Do you know if your mom went through fertility treatments or conceived you and your brother naturally?”
I never asked, and since my relationship with my mom is nonexistent, it’s not like I can ask her. “I’m not sure.”
“Well, it’s really just for the probability. It’s not that important. Anything health wise or family history I need to know about?”
She and Callie are looking at me. My neck beads with sweat, and at this point, I wish I would’ve done what Callie expected from me and bolted from this appointment. Why was I so adamant about coming here?
What do they want to know? My dad is a deadbeat dickhead, but other than high blood pressure—which could be from his temper and anger issues—he’s in good health. My mom I have no fucking clue about, except she’s still alive because she sends me a birthday card every year that I don’t open.
“They’re alive.” I do my best to keep my voice even.
Callie’s smile drops. I’m sure she’s disappointed and appalled by my lack of family. I really hope she doesn’t try to get me to patch things up with my mom. If so, I’ll just have to get used to her disappointment.
“Okay.” Dr. Amato slides away from the computer.
Thank fuck that’s over with.
“I’ll let you get changed and be back in a few minutes. Then we’ll do the exam and hopefully get your first picture of your baby.” Dr. Amato smiles at me, pats Callie’s knee, and leaves the room.
I stand to follow the doctor out.
“Where are you going?” Callie asks.
“I figured you’d want privacy.”
Plus I need to take a second to catch my breath before all my insecurity about becoming a father suffocates me. I had a shit role model, so I’ll be learning on the fly. Despite my best intentions, what if I end up making the same drastic mistakes my father did?
“Just turn around.” She hops down from the exam table, and I hear the crinkling of the paper as I turn my back to her.
I’m still very attracted to Callie, so the fact she’s getting naked right behind me is all I can think about. It takes all my self-control not to look over my shoulder.
More paper crinkles, then she says, “You can turn around.”
I circle around as she places her clothes on the chair next to me. And although she’s tucked her underwear under her pants and shirt, a satin piece of purple fabric peeks out, which I’m pretty sure is her panties.
Fuck me. My dick twitches. This is the worst possible time for me to be picturing Callie standing in front of me wearing just those panties.
The doctor knocks, and Callie tells her she’s ready.
Dr. Amato smiles and glances at me, her grin growing wider. She goes over to the sink to wash her hands. “Okay, let’s take a look.”
She gets the stirrups out, and without instructions, Callie seems to know what to do. She slides down the table, and the sheet covers her lower half as Dr. Amato slides her chair between Callie’s legs.
It’s nearly impossible not to envision what’s under that thin piece of paper covering Callie’s lower half.
I want to pull it away. Instead, I stuff my hands in the pockets of my jacket, clenching them and trying to appear as though my mouth isn’t watering from thinking about touching Callie, tasting her.
“Because it’s so early in the pregnancy, we’re going to have to do a vaginal ultrasound.” Dr. Amato puts on a new set of gloves, gets the machine ready, and puts a condom-looking thing over a dick-looking thing, and it disappears under the sheet.
My eyes widen as Callie shimmies a bit on the table. I feel as if someone put me in a torture chamber.
I’m not sure if I make a noise or what, but Callie glances over, smiling. “It’s not as enjoyable as it might look.”
I blow out a breath. “I am a bit self-conscious right now.”
Both women laugh.
“It’s just the tip,” Callie says and turns her attention to the screen.
Not helping.
I stand to get a better view. I have no idea what we’re about to look at, but Dr. Amato grins at me and nods. What she’s seeing must be good then? The baby is good?
“So, this is the little one.” She points at the screen. “And this little flicker? That’s your baby’s heartbeat.”
My eyes transfix on the flicker. It’s blinking so fast. It’s nothing more than a speck, but that flicker means life.
A rush of emotion swells from my breastbone up my throat. My hands slide out of my jacket, and Callie reaches up, grabbing one hand for a moment, but she quickly tries to pull away. I clench her hand harder until her soft palm loosens.
“Everything’s good?” I ask, my vision blurring for a moment.
Dr. Amato looks at both of us. “Perfect.”
Callie and I lock gazes, and all the shit coming our way disappears. We made that little one together, and it’s going to depend on us.
So I make the same promise I already did to myself, but this time I make it for him or her. I will protect you and love you forever. You’ll never have to deal with the kind of shit I did. Ever. And in protecting you, I’m going to protect your mom, so you’ll always have her in your life.