Page 57 of Ghosted By Texas

“Fine,” I huffed as I snatched the door open. Honestly, I didn’t have the energy to argue with him because the race to the toilet took precedence.

“Rebecca Robinson,” I told the receptionist as I tried to check in.

“Have a seat,” she lifted her chin to indicate the lobby seating area.

“Um, listen, I had to walk here because someone blocked off the parking lot and now, I have to pee like you wouldn’t believe. If you need a sample from me, then this is the time, otherwise…”

The woman rolled her eyes at me and hit the buzzer to allow me in back. Austin moved to follow. “No. Sit down, I’m just going to pee in a damn cup, and then I’ll be right back. You don’t need to be there for that.”

He huffed, but followed my directions, clearly thinking I was going to leave him high and dry in the lobby. That wasn’t the case. He was already there, so we’d make the most of this visit and see how it went.

Once I was done, I headed back to the lobby and took a seat next to Austin who was reading a Parenting magazine.

“Did you find something interesting?”

“Yes,” he leaned closer to whisper. “If I don’t look completely engrossed in this magazine, people start asking me questions about why a good-looking man, such as myself, is sitting in the lobby of an obstetrician’s office all alone. As if I’m here trolling for pregnant women to date.”

I couldn’t help it. The laughter bubbled out of me at the ridiculousness of what he was implying. That was up until a woman tapped me on the shoulder from two seats down. I turned to see her smiling at me.

“Are you his sister? Is that why he’s here? I don’t see any rings, so obviously he’s not your husband.”

“Maybe, we don’t believe in wearing rings as a construct of trust,” I explained to her. “Some people might need things like that, and even stupidly believe those symbols will work to keep husband hunters away from their men, but I can assure you, I know women who will go after anyone’s man, even if they know there’s an attachment.” I felt Austin stiffen beside me, clearly thinking that I was talking about Jordan, when in reality, I was warning the weird lady away from my baby’s daddy. I would not, at any point in the future, examine why I felt the need to do that.

“I see,” the woman stated and leaned back into her own space as her cheeks flamed bright red. Austin finally realized what I’d done and patted my thigh.

“Thanks for being my human shield against unwanted overtures from women in the baby doc’s office.”

“This isn’t the baby doc’s office, Austin. That’s called a pediatrician. This is a woman’s reproductive health doctor.”

“Does your doctor delivery babies regularly?”

“Yes.”

“So, baby doc.”

I rolled my eyes at him. “Whatever you want to call it, Aus.”

His grin widened. “I always love when you shorten my name that way.” The smile on my face immediately slipped into a frown as I lifted his hand off my thigh, where he’d left it.

“Becs,” he pleaded.

“You’re here to find out about the baby, not to touch me or get cozy in any way.”

“Becs, I’m sorry, please don’t shut me out again.”

“What would you have said at the movie theater if I’d asked you the same? Oh, right, I don’t need to ask because I sent you a text begging you not to do that to me, and you know what your response was?”

“Becs,” he moaned.

“No, I didn’t even get that much from you. All I got was your silence. Why in the hell should I give you anything more than you ever gave me?” This was the first whisper-level argument I ever had, and somehow it was far more poignant than if we were yelling at one another.

“I’m sorry.”

“You know the great thing about apologies?”

“What is that?” He looked worried as he asked, and rightfully so.

“I don’t have to accept them to make you feel better about what you did. And for the record, in case you missed it, I don’t accept. You’re here for the baby, not me. Let’s keep things exactly that simple.”

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