Page 169 of Chasing Sparks

“We good here?” the doctor presses, looking between us.

“Oh, I’d saygoodis a stretch,” I mutter under my breath, earning a quick glare from her.

Dr. Fulton sighs, glancing between us before setting the chart down. “I’ll give you two a moment to sort this out.” He pauses by the door. “Let me know when you’re ready.”

Can’t blame the man for wanting to hightail it to safety.

Ori throws up her hands in resignation before flopping back on the table. “How is it you’re so cool and collected regarding your baby with Lucille, but with me, you’re a bundle of nerves?”

I’m ready with a withering remark when I stop, realizing the truth—she doesn’t see the difference. And why would she? She’s in the dark about the entire Lucille situation.

Crossing the small space, I place my hand on her stomach, my voice softening. “Because it’s you.”

Her lips tremble as she looks away. “I’m not going to break, Ash. You can go.”

“Don’t you get it?” My voice tightens, thick with emotion. “All I want is to be here with you.”

Seems my words finally break through as tears slide down her cheeks. “All I want is for you to be here, too.”

My resolve softens as I take her hand in mine. “Then there’s no problem.”

I poke my head into the hallway. “We’re ready.”

“Now we’re good?” Dr. Fulton asks, a smirk tugging at his lips as he steps back into the room.

“Absolutely. Even if she is a royal pain in the ass.”

“Me?” Ori’s jaw drops, a look of feigned shock on her face.

“Yes.” I lean down, brushing my lips against hers in a soft, lingering kiss. “You. Let’s check on our baby, and then you can go back to fighting me on everything. Deal?”

Ori chuckles, and for the first time in forever, it sounds genuine. She tilts her head up for another kiss before nodding toward the doctor. “Deal. Go ahead, Doc. What’s the plan?”

While the nurse draws Ori’s blood, I slip into the hallway and find Dr. Fulton at a workstation, typing notes into a computer. His fingers hover over the keyboard as he glances up, his brow lifting when he sees me approach.

Thankfully, we’ve been friends for years, so I’m banking on him agreeing to my plan.

“Can you do me a favor?”

Dr. Fulton stops typing, turning his chair slightly toward me. “I can try.”

“Can you recommend Ori rest for a week or so?”

“Bed rest? That’s likely unnecessary, unless there’s something you’re not telling me,” he says, his tone cautious.

“No, but here’s the thing—she won’t rest. The woman works 24/7 and never stops. Ever. But if you mention it to her, she’ll listen.”

Dr. Fulton leans back, folding his arms as he considers my request. “You want me to recommend bed rest to a woman who doesn’t medically need it?”

“Not bed rest,” I clarify, running a hand through my hair and glancing down the hall toward Ori’s room. “Just rest. I want to take care of her, but she has to stop moving for a hot minute for me to do that.”

Dr. Fulton’s serious expression softens into a faint smile. “I can phrase it in a way that’ll get through to her. If she’s really overextending herself, then yeah, she needs to slow down.”

“Exactly. So technically, you’re just telling her the truth.” I shove my hands into my pockets, releasing a loud sigh.

“Anything else, Ash?”

I hesitate, clearing my throat as I glance at the computer screen. “Yeah, actually. Is it safe for her to, uh, you know—” I gesture vaguely, feeling like a kid in junior high asking about the birds and the bees.

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