Page 181 of The Right Move

Ryan folds his arms around my shoulders, kissing my forehead before leaving his lips to linger there. “I love you.” He threads his fingers through my hair, cupping my head to tilt my attention up. “Promise me you’re not giving up on us.”

“I’m not.”

Bending down, he kisses me with warm, parted lips and I lean into him, deepening it. His fingers curl into my hair, holding me there and I give in, memorizing every pull of his lips, every satisfied sound from his throat.

Pulling away, he dots another kiss on my cheek then on my forehead before sending me on my way back to the house.

He watches as I walk inside, folded arms on the roof of his car. “Tell Rio if he’s gonna fuck up the coffee then he needs to have some delivered for you!”

With a small smile on my face, I close the front door behind me, all while knowing I’ll have a coffee delivered in less than thirty minutes from the man outside.

41

INDY

The fertility clinic’s waiting room doesn’t look much different than that of a hospital. White sterile walls, terribly upholstered seats, outdated oak furniture, and magazines that came out six months ago.

I sit, holding my paperwork with bouncing knees as I wait for my name to be called. The timing of this appointment couldn’t be worse, but with the regular season of hockey winding down, I need to be ready as soon as the playoffs end, whether that’s next week or after another Stanley Cup Final.

Today’s appointment is simply a pre-check to make sure I’m healthy and all my lady parts are cooperating. As soon as the hockey season ends, I’ll begin right away with the injections. Honestly, it’s a bunch of doctor talk that I don’t fully understand, but I do know the process causes my eggs to mature so they can go in, get them out, and put those suckers on ice.

There are three other families in the waiting room. One with a newborn baby, another with a toddler, and the other is a couple who looks hopeful for their first. I’m the only person here alone.

I didn’t tell Ryan that my appointment was today, because in all honesty, I don’t know that I should even be here.

If Ryan isn’t involved, what’s the point? Yes, I’ve always wanted kids, but not without him. That realization hit me like a truck this morning as I was getting in my car to come here, and now, as I sit here alone, I’m still asking myself the same thing.

If he doesn’t want this, do I want it still?

I was already worried this would be a waste of money before I found out it was covered by insurance because who knows if it’ll even work. But now I’m wondering if it’s also a waste of time. I can’t see myself doing this without him.

“Indigo Ivers,” the older woman at the front desk calls out.

“That’s me.” I hold up my paperwork before making my way to her.

She types in some of my info as I stay standing and waiting on the other side.

“How’s your day going?” I ask, attempting to drown out my own thoughts.

“It’s going great, baby, how’s yours?”

“I’m not really sure how it’s going.”

She laughs. “Are you nervous, honey?”

“I think I am.”

“Are you by yourself today?”

A knot forms in my throat. “Yes.”

“Good for you,” she says, impressed as she continues to type, her long nails clicking against the keyboard. “It’s smart to plan ahead for yourself. You never know when you’ll meet the right person.”

“I already have.”

Her eyes lift above the monitor and a sly smile curves on one side of her lips. Just as quickly, her attention falls back to her computer where she tap, tap, taps away, adding all my personal information into their system.

“I should have a copay due today.”

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