Page 35 of Love or Tequila in Unexpected Places

“It’s just what you do,” Angelo replied, shrugging as if it were no big deal. “This is awkward enough as it is, and you don’t need me ogling you while you’re exposed.”

She could hear the teasing lilt in his voice, and it made her feel a lighter. After a moment, he turned around slowly, peeking to check if she really was decent. Once satisfied, he walked over to her and sat on the tiny chair meant for spouses. It was almost comical how such a large man could fit into such a small space, but he managed to pull it off with grace.

As he settled in, Allison noticed his hand flex again, and she realized he wanted to reach for her. The gesture was sweet, but the thought of him touching her while she was in such an exposed position made her stomach flip.

Their moment was interrupted by the sudden arrival of Dr. Malory. “Hello, Allison! Congratulations—Oh.” She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening as she took in Angelo’s huge frame in the chair. “I’m guessing this is the father?” Dr. Malory asked, her tone sounding more like a question than a statement.

At Allison’s nod, the doctor smiled warmly. “Well, get that towel off you so we can check.”

Allison felt her running pulse. “Right. Sure. No problem,” she stammered, pulling the towel away. It was as if the words had left her mouth before her brain could fully process the awkwardness of the situation.

Angelo’s gaze shifted to the still-black screen, a move that made her feel both shy and comforted. Dr. Malory moved to the ultrasound machine, preparing the wand with gel that would soon make her feel like a science experiment.

“Alright, let’s see that little one!” Dr. Malory said, smiling as she squirted the gel onto Allison’s lower belly. It was cold and slightly sticky, sending a chill through her.

Angelo leaned in a closer, his expression serious now. “This is it, huh?” he murmured, eyes fixed on the screen.

“Yup, this is it,” she said, her chest fluttering with a mix of excitement and nerves. The doctor positioned the wand, and as the screen flickered to life, Allison felt a rush of anticipation. In that moment, the embarrassment faded, and all she could think about was seeing her baby for the very first time.

“Okay, let’s have a look here. Ah, so this right here,” Dr. Malory said, pointing to a tiny blob on the screen, “is your baby.”

At that moment, the world fell away. Everything else—the doctor, the awkwardness, even the hot flashes—vanished. All that mattered was that little shape flickering on the screen. Without thinking, Allison reached for Angelo’s hand, her fingers intertwining with his as they both stared, entranced by the sight before them.

Her baby.Theirbaby. It was only then that the reality of it sank in, hitting her like a wave.

I’m going to be a mom.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she felt a rush of emotion. From the corner of her eye, she saw Angelo wipe his facediscreetly. He was crying, too. The sight made her breath hitch, and she squeezed his hand tightly. He squeezed back, the unspoken bond between them strengthening in that tiny room.

We’re having a baby.

“So, it seems to me that you’re a couple of days over ten weeks pregnant,” Dr. Malory continued, her voice warm and encouraging, “which means that we can try…” She trailed off, pressing some buttons on the ultrasound machine, and just then, Allison heard it.

The most beautiful sound she’d ever heard in her entire life.

Badum. Badum. Badum.

“That’s—That’s the baby’s heartbeat?” Angelo whispered, holding on to Allison’s hand for dear life, as if the sound itself could float away if he let go.

When Dr. Malory nodded, confirmation washing over Allison, the man simply let the tears fall. She, on the other hand, had been crying ever since she heard that firstbadum.

Badum. Badum. Badum.

She was deaf to anything but that sound—the impossible sound of her baby’s fast little heart. The tiny organ inside that tiny baby.

My baby.

In that moment, Allison fell in love.

It was a feeling unlike anything she had ever experienced before. She’d loved in the past—felt that fullness of carrying someone in her mind, that rush of excitement, the warm glow of affection. But this was different. This was something deeper.

She wasinlove. Her heart felt as if it was going to physically beat out of her chest, and in that overwhelming rush, she wanted to give it all to that baby. She felt everything—the joy, the fear, the hopes for the future.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she couldn’t stop them. They flowed freely, mingling with her laughter and thesweet thumping, creating a symphony of emotions. She was absolutely, irrevocably, completely in love.

As she squeezed Angelo’s hand tighter, she could see the same realization dawning on him. His eyes glistened with tears, and his expression was one of awe and disbelief. They were both riding the wave of this monumental moment together, and it felt like they were the only two people in the world.

“Can you believe it?” she asked, her voice choked with emotion, though she knew he could hear the joy behind her words.

---