Page 102 of Never Forever

“You’re kidding,” I said.

“I’m not. I would like to be married. For our child.” He said it like a speech he’d practiced in the mirror. “Also for my dad.”

I looked at him sideways. He knew I couldn’t resist Patrick. “Low blow.”

“It’s a reality. My dad is a part of this. Just like your mom.”

The smile fell from my face.

“She won’t like this,” he said, his hands white-knuckled on the wheel. “That’s for sure.”

“Let’s just get through today,” I said.

I had to make fists of my own, so I didn’t put my hand over his. Didn’t stroke his fingers until they relaxed. Until he turned that hand around and pressed his palm to mine. Entwined our fingers.

That’s how we used to do it. In the old days.

At the doctor’soffice I peed in a cup and gave blood. Then sat with Matt in the beautiful waiting room that had a huge number of ferns. Like ten ferns. That was too many ferns.

“What is this?” Matt asked, pointing to the small beverage area.

“Drinks.”

“Yeah, but that.” He pointed to the fancy water infusers.

“It’s cucumber water.”

“Why would you put cucumber in water?”

“It’s refreshing.”

“Water is already refreshing.”

“It’s good. Try it.”

Matt walked across the thick Persian carpet while the subtle flute and wind chime music was piped in behind the ferns that filled the corners. He wore jeans, a dark blue tee shirt and a pair of work boots. That world-class ass of his looked particularly good. The nausea was gone and my body had a wild hard clench of what I could only call need.

For him.

I had an impulse to follow him across the room. Turn him around. Kiss him. Press him against that thick carpet. Undo those pants and climb on top of him.

Whoa.

The craving for Matt Sullivan was as real and as intense as my cravings for cheeseburgers.

I was dizzy.

And to my profound surprise – wet.

“You want some?” he asked and I shook my head, turning my face away so he couldn’t see what I was thinking. He filled an elegant glass with water and took a sip.

I waited for the face he would inevitably make and smiled when he made it.

“Tastes like salad water. No one wants salad water.”

The door to the offices behind the receptionist opened and I stood up. Every muscle shaking.

“Carrie?” the nurse said with a smile, into which I tried to read a thousand things. “Come on back.”

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