Devon
I lean against the doorway, watching as her fingernails tap on the counter. She bounces on her toes as she stares at the test.
My attention is drawn to Mike where he sits on the bed, his head hung in his hands between his knees. His foot jiggles nearly in time with hers, and a faint smile graces my lips.
They have been terrified to test. I damn near sent them into hysterics when I brought home a whole bag full of the pregnancy sticks. While Cami had told me about their infertility struggle, I hadn’t given much thought about how much it would affect them to test again.
I turn back to Cami and her white knuckled grip on the counter. Rubbing at my jaw, I push off the frame and walk to stand behind her.
“I have an idea.”
Her eyes catch mine in the mirror. “An idea?”
I nod, reaching around her to grab the unopened test. “How about you pee in a cup or bowl and I’ll take the test alone. You can wait with Mike.”
Her gaze softens, and she looks back to the test. “I’m scared of the result… not the process.”
“Either way, you don’t want to stand over it and wait. You can have Mike hold you,” I say with a shrug.
She glances to the open door. Mike is hidden by the wall, but she knows he’s there on the other side. With a small swallow, she nods and bends down to grab a small basin from under the sink.
When I don’t move, her eyebrows knit together and she throws me a glare. “Get out.”
A laugh barks out of my throat. “Baby, I’ve had my tongue in your pussy and asshole. A little pee isn’t gonna send me running.”
Cami lets out a huff. “And what about privacy?”
“You have none. When you accepted I was going to put my baby in you, you gave me ownership of that body.”
She rolls her eyes and moves the basin into the standing shower. “You’re such a brute. I own my body.”
I smirk, not looking away as she pulls her underwear off and gathers her sundress before moving to squat over the basin.
“I own it. And sometimes I loan it to your husband,” I tell her.
Cami’s eyes flash up to meet mine with a heated look. Her mouth opens as if to fling a retort back, but she snaps it closed.
I raise my eyebrows. “No comment?”
She shakes her head and closes her eyes as the tinkling of her piss echoes in the room. I grab the toilet paper, bunching a few sheets to hand to her as she finishes. Cami grimaces as she wipes and steps away from the basin.“It felt weird to not pee in the toilet.”
“You don’t pee in the shower?” I ask. “No!” she exclaims, giving me an incredulous look. “Please tell me you don’t pee in the shower.” I shrug. “Why wouldn’t I? Two purposes, one drain. Knock both out at once.” Her nose scrunches. “That’s gross. You get piss all over your feet.”
Laughing, I shake my head. “Believe me, baby. That’s not the worst thing I’ve gotten on myself. Now get out of here.” I move out of the way as she washes her hands and hovers by the counter. Giving her a light tap on the ass, I push her towards the door and close it in her face as she turns to say something. Her scoff is audible through the wood and then I hear her stomping away, I assume towards Mike.
I pull out a few more tests, deciding that they’ll need the confirmation. After reading through the instructions, I dip the tests in the pee, waiting for whatever needs to be completely soaked before recapping them and placing them on the counter. Once all four are done, I dump the basin in the shower and wash my hands.
“?” Cami says, knocking on the door.
Glancing at the door, I ensure it’s locked and lean against the counter. “Still waiting. It’s only been a couple of minutes.”
“I’ve decided I want to be there with you,” she says.
I smirk. “Go sit next to your husband, Cami. I’ll be out shortly.”
She doesn’t argue and I turn back to watch the windows on the plastic sticks. It’s intriguing to see the pee absorb throughout and the screen slowly darkens as the liquid spreads. My heart skips a beat as I watch the line confirming the pregnancy form on the first test.
With a smile I move to the next one, it’s still blinking so I grab the other test that’s not digital. My grin widens when the second line is already darkening as well. Exhaling, I rub at the center of my chest as nervous joy starts to flicker there.
We’re having a baby. Cami is having a baby. She can finally set up her nursery. My smile fades at the thought of the nursery. The empty room that Mike has been equally excited to fill. I take a step back from the counter, running my hands through my hair.
I feel sick, like I’m intruding on a moment not meant for me, even though it’s my child. Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve gotten into a groove of normalcy. The days are mine and Cami’s and the nights are for Mike. Most of the time I fuck her while he’s at work, but once or twice an argument at dinner escalated to me fucking Cami in front of him to make a point. I know deep down that Mike gets off on it, but it settles a possessive beast inside me to force him to watch me fuck his wife.
But now as I stare at the fruits of our labor, I’m drowning in penitence. This should have been their moment, and this is another thing I’ve forced myself upon.
“?” Cami’s soft knock has me shaking my head from my rueful thoughts. I clear my throat and glance down at the counter. All four tests are positive. I scoop them up, swallow my feelings and paint a neutral expression on my face as I open the door.
Cami blinks, stunned at the sudden movement. Mike jets to his feet from the bed, staring at both of us anxiously. I hold my hand out for her, but she doesn’t look away from my face. Her eyes water as she stares and her lip trembles.
“Just tell me,” she whispers.
My lips curl into a smile, and she starts to sob. Mike walks up behind her, pulls her into his chest as he grabs the tests from my hands.
“Look, darling,” he says on an exhale.
***
Cami fidgets with her hands in her lap, so I grab one and entwine our fingers.
“What are you nervous about?” I ask, peering down at her.
She sighs. “That the test is false positive.”
I smirk. “All four of them?”
“It could happen,” she teases softly, nudging me with her shoulder. Then she pulls out her phone, checking the time again.
Glancing at the door, my chest aches for her as it still doesn’t open. “Mike said he’s on his way, right?”
Cami nods and looks up at me while biting down on her lip.
I swallow down the emotion in my throat. “I’m sure he’s fine.”
“I know, I just…” Her chin trembles and I wrap my arm around her shoulders, pulling her into my chest.
“Don’t. Wherever your head is going, it’s wrong,” I whisper into her hair.
Cami shakes, her muffled sob quiet as her tears wet my shirt. “What if he left?”
I gather her in my arms, and stand with her huddled into my chest. I give a forced smile at receptionist. “We’re just going to step outside for a moment.”
She nods and I carry Cami through the door of the doctor’s office towards where we parked her car. Setting her down on the sidewalk, she wipes furiously at the tears falling down her cheeks.
“Mike wouldn’t leave you,” I say. A small part of me wishes he would, but my heart aches seeing the pain on her face.
Cami nods, clearing her throat. “I know, I know. It’s just–like, what if?”
“Out of the two of us, it would have always been me who walked away. And even I’m not strong enough to do it.”
She says nothing in return as Mike’s car pulls into the parking lot, and she breathes out a loud sigh of relief. He climbs out, carrying a bag stuffed with tissue paper with him.
Mike glances up at us, waiting on the sidewalk, and grimaces. “Sorry, darling. I was halfway here when I got a notification that this was delivered.” He holds up the present.
She smiles, holding her hand out for it.
He keeps it close to his chest. “Perhaps we should wait until after the appointment.”
I roll my eyes and cross my arms to watch her pout. Cami’s bottom lip pushes out and her eyes water right on time.
“No, I want to see it. Please.”
Mike looks at me, as if pleading for me to help him, but I remain quiet and amused.
“It’s not a big deal, darling. Just something I thought you would like,” he says, trying again to get us back into the appointment.
“Just let her open it,” I drawl out.
She claps excitedly as Mike holds out the gift for her to take. Cami rummages through the paper and pulls out a folded mass.
I groan. “Is that another fucking apron?”
Cami laughs, shaking it out as Mike takes the empty bag from her. “Oh my god. I love it.”
It’s another light blue color, and it has a giant roll looking pastry on the middle section and the words Bun in the Oven scrawled across the top. It’s ridiculously cheesy, but definitely very Cami.
She wraps her arms around Mike, kissing him fully on the lips as I look away.
“Alright. Let’s go back inside, lovebirds,” I say, giving them my back as I walk to the office. Cami comes up to me in the next second, her fingers tangling with mine.
“I love you,” she whispers. I squeeze her hand.
***
Cami pulls up her shirt, baring her taut stomach to the room. I can’t wait for the day it curves with the baby.
The tech smears the gel on Cami’s belly, stepping closer to the bed with the wand of the ultrasound machine. She glances up at us standing on the other side of Cami.
“Which one of you is Dad?” the tech asks, turning back to the large machine attached to the wand.
Mike and I exchange a glance, and I clear my throat. “Uhh. We both are.”
His body sags next to me and he exhales loudly. Cami’s eyes water as she looks up at us. She sticks her hand out and Mike grasps it.
The tech doesn’t comment further and keeps her attention on the screen, moving around on Cami’s stomach with the other hand. Finally, she smiles.
“There we go. There’s your baby.” She points at the monitor, and my heart skips a beat at the small image. It’s like a tiny bean in a big black sack, but I already love it more than I thought possible.
“Fuck,” I breathe out, rubbing at the ache in my chest.
Mike claps a hand on my shoulder, squeezing it gently. “Feel real now?”
I smile. “Feels like we need to decorate the nursery.”
Cami laughs. “I think I have the most perfect shade of green,” she says, staring straight into my eyes.