Page 48 of Don't Fall For Your Grumpy Neighbor

I try to remember all the words I’ve read in The Expectant Father, but I’m coming up empty. “Braxton Hicks?”

Felicity nods, her eyes searching mine. “False labor.”

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, relief flooding through me at the explanation. "Okay, okay. That's... that's good, right?" I stumble over my words, still grappling with the fear that had gripped me only moments ago.

Felicity nods, her smile growing slightly more genuine as she squeezes my hand again. But there's a shadow lingering in her eyes, one that tells me there's more to the story than she's letting on.

I swallow hard, trying to push down the rising panic threatening to consume me. "I'm here, Felicity. I'll stay with you no matter what," I promise, my voice unwavering despite the turmoil swirling inside me like a storm.

Felicity's gaze softens, gratitude shining through the pain etched on her features. "Thank you, Shepherd," she whispers, her voice barely above a whisper. And in that moment, as we sit hand in hand in a sterile hospital room I know we will face whatever lay ahead together.

I study her, moving closer to her. “What are we doing?” I ask her.

She stares up at me, confusion clear on her face. “What do you mean?”

“You and me? What are we doing?”

“Um, having a baby.”

I smile with a tiny laugh. “Felicity, I’m crazy about you. I don’t want this friends-with-benefits thing. I don’t want us to raise the baby separately. I want a real chance at this. I want to be a real couple.”

Her eyes fill with unshed tears.

Tears spill down Felicity's cheeks, her grip on my hand tightening even more. "Shepherd, I... I never thought you'd want that," she admits, her voice thick with emotion. "I've... I've been scared to hope for more."

I reach out to gently wipe away her tears, my heart aching at the vulnerability in her eyes. "I want this, Felicity. I want us," I declare, my voice unwavering and sure. "I want to be there for you and our baby, every step of the way."

A mix of emotions flits across her face - joy, disbelief, and a glimmer of hope shining through the tears. "I want that too, Shepherd," she whispers, her voice barely above a breath. "I want us to be a real family, but I’m afraid you’ll leave again."

My brows dip as I stare at her, confused. “What? I haven’t left.”

“Yes, you did. After the Christmas party. After we had sex. You left without so much as a word. No phone call, nothing for months,” she says, tears filling her beautiful eyes.

“Felicity,” I start, sighing as I grab the back of my neck. “I’m not going anywhere. I was an idiot to leave without telling you first. I thought after we were together that night, that we’d be together. I’ve never had a serious relationship before, and I guess now you can kind of see why.”

She laughs a little.

I keep going, “I honestly thought I’d be gone maybe a few days, and I’d come home and ask you out, but their brewery was in worse shape than I ever could have imagined, and days turned into weeks. I kept thinking, I’ll ask her out when I get home. And when I came back I thought you and that asshole…” my words fall away, and Felicity squeezes my hand.

“When I found out I was pregnant, I was scared. I didn’t know what to do, and Karl found me when I was most vulnerable. He won’t come around ever again. Why would he?”

I laugh at that. “I want us to be a real couple.”

Felicity's eyes shimmer with renewed hope as she looks up at me, her hand tightening around mine. "I want that too, Shepherd," she whispers, a small smile playing on her lips. "I want us to be a real family."

I feel a weight lift off my chest, a sense of relief flooding through me at her words. I lean in closer, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead before meeting her gaze with unwavering determination. "We'll figure it out together. We'll take it one step at a time," I promise, sincerity lacing every word.

Felicity nods, her brown eyes locking onto mine with a newfound strength. "One step at a time," she echoes, a sense of resolve settling over her features.

The doctor walks in, a smile on her face.

“Dr. Kass,” I say with worry in my eyes. “I didn’t think they’d call you down here.”

“I just happened to be here and saw you on the patient list. How is everything?” she asks Felicity.

“I had some horrible cramps,” Felicity says, and my worry grows.

“We’ve run some tests and everything looks good. I think what you’re experiencing is Braxton Hicks. It’s very normal.” Dr. Kass feels Felicity’s belly. “Let’s have a listen to the baby.” She squirts a bit of jelly onto her belly and runs the Doppler over her skin.

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