Page 63 of Strike Zone

He’s transfixed by the squirming tiny baby on the screen, swimming around, becoming a fully formed person. It’s—breathtaking.

“I’m her barnacle, doc. She keeps trying to shake me off, but she’s stuck with me. I don’t scare easy.”

“Would you like me to show you your baby?”

“Yes.” Linc’s voice is like a bucket of ice water, shocking me back to reality. His eyes are filled with childish wonder, and that’s what scares me more than anything. He’s being swept up in the everyday miracle of pregnancy without thinking of what our version of co-parenting is going to look like.

My OB traces the lines on the screen. “There’s a little head and a hand waving.” Her southern drawl is oddly comforting like smooth, velvety hot chocolate on a cold winter night, warming me from the inside out.

“Holy crap, she’s waving at us, Diana. Look. She’s waving.”

She.

“Is it healthy? That’s all I care about.”

“Yes. All measurements are on track. How’s the hyperemesis?”

“I don’t want to speak for her, mainly because she’ll kick my ass, but I know she’ll say she’s fine. This woman doesn’t like to admit anything but one whiff of the wrong thing, and it’s still a race to the trashcan.” His features are different somehow as I search his expression for a hint of what he’s feeling.

“You can look forward to some new pregnancy symptoms as your pregnancy progresses.”

“Like what?” My heart sinks. What’s the next hurdle to get over?

“A lot of women report a significantly increased libido later in pregnancy.”

An ache swells between my legs that kicked in the moment I first felt Linc’s kiss between my legs, and it’s never gone away. “Already there.”

Linc’s face grows somber, and he drops my hand. “Doc, will it damage the baby in some way if we get jiggy wit’ it?”

“Did you just quote Big Willy Style?” We both erupt into an easy laugh, sidestepping everything he just said.

The OB interjects. “No, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Mr. Nash, but no matter how blessed you may be between your legs, you’re not going to reach the baby.”

“Even if it’s huge?” He gestures a length before shifting his hands a further few inches apart.

“Even then.”

I stare at him in disbelief. “Did you really feel the need to ask that question?”

“I like to cover all my bases, southpaw. If you jump me the second we get you home, I need to know it’s not going to cause any damage.” He wiggles his eyebrows at me, and it ticks me off that a thrill courses through me. If I thought he was going to ravish me, then by all means, ask the embarrassing questions. But the fact that I’d be flying solo with my vibrator negates the need for this awkward moment.

Linc’s attention quickly goes back to the ultrasound and the baby. “Wow. Just incredible.”

“I’ll print some pictures for you. Do you want to know the sex?”

“Hell, yeah!” he blurts out before turning to me like a kid in a candy store, eyes wide and filled with excitement. “If you want to know.”

“I guess it’s good to be prepared.”

“Exactly.” He’s grinning ear to ear as he looks back at the screen with an innocence that comes from honest, uncomplicated, heartfelt joy. “How can you tell? I get the basic anatomy is visible, but surely, it’s difficult to be certain of finer details unless it’s a boy, and he’s hung like a donkey.”

“Linc!” I can’t believe he just said that. Thankfully, my OB has a sense of humor and finds it funny.

“Well, that certainly makes my job easier, but once you’ve done a good number of these scans and you know what you’re looking for, it’s like anything else… you get better at identifying the markers. There does need to be an element of baby cooperation. If they don’t open their legs during the scan, then I may not get a look at the necessary body parts.”

“Ugh, isn’t it a nightmare when they won’t spread their legs?” He says it with such a straight face I can’t contain my laughter.

“Oh my God. You can turn anything into a dirty conversation.” A snort slips out, and I descend into an uncontrollable kink.

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