Page 55 of Rockstar's Accidental Marriage

“That’s... it?” I whisper, trying to hide my disappointment. “I don’t see anything.”

“That’s normal,” Amy reassures me, adjusting the monitor. “You can’t see much now. Only the head, this bean shape right here.” She smiles and adds, “You’ll see more at 12 weeks. Today is mostly for determining your due date and checking the heartbeat.”

After the appointment, we walk back to the car in silence. The ultrasound photos are tucked safely in my bag, along with a dozen or so pamphlets, but I can’t stop thinking about the sound of the heartbeat, the tiny flicker of life on the screen.

Sam unlocks the truck and turns to me, his hand brushing against mine.

“Do you feel better now?” he asks, his voice gentle.

I nod, a smile breaking through the lingering nerves. “Yes. I do feel better.”

“Good.” He grins, pulling me into a quick hug. “We’re having a baby, Em.”

A lighthearted laugh escapes my lips. “You’re just figuring that out now?”

The evening air is cool, and the scent of the sea lingers as I set the table on the deck. String lights drape across the railing, adding a festive air to the space. Sam stands at the new grill, his sleeves pushed up, flipping burgers with practiced ease. He looks calm, but I wonder if he’s as on edge as I am.

“Everything will be great. I’m sure my dad won’t be too hard on you,” I say, more to reassure myself than him.

“He already knows me,” he replies, with an unconcerned shrug, not looking up from the grill.

“They know Sam, Cass’s best friend, the guitar player and jokester,” I counter. “Not Sam, their son-in-law and the father of their future grandchild.”

He glances at me then, his lips curving into a lopsided smile. “Same guy, Em. Relax.”

I take a deep breath, trying to let his calm demeanor settle my nerves. But the truth is, my parents can be intense. Not in a bad way. I mean, they handled learning about their first grandchild, Cassidy, Cass’s daughter, just fine. But when they're worried, they have this way of looking at you, as if they can see straight through to your soul.

The sound of a car pulling into the driveway makes my heart leap, and I wipe my hands on a dishtowel, forcing myself to smile.

“Emily!” Mom’s voice rings out as she steps onto the deck, her blue eyes sparkling with excitement. She’s the spitting image of me—or maybe I’m the spitting image of her—petite with fair skin, wavy dark hair, and blue eyes.

“Hi, Mom,” I say, stepping forward to hug her.

Dad follows, taller and broader, with the same quiet confidence as my brother, Cass. His smile is warm as he pulls me into a hug.

“George,” Sam says, extending a hand.

“Sam,” Dad replies, shaking it firmly. “Looks like congratulations are in order.”

“Thanks,” Sam says, his voice steady. “And Linda,” he adds, turning to my mom. “It’s good to see you again.”

Mom smiles, but there’s a glint of curiosity in her eyes that makes me nervous.

Dinner starts off easy enough. Sam’s burgers are a hit, and my mom can’t stop gushing about how nice it is that we now live in the same house that Cass used to rent.

“This is perfect,” she says, cutting into her salad. “I can see why you chose this beach house.”

“It’s been nice,” I admit, glancing at Sam.

“And how’s the band?” Dad asks, his tone casual but his gaze sharp.

“Good,” Sam replies. “We’re gearing up for the next leg of the tour. But for now, we’re just enjoying the downtime.”

Dad nods, but I can see the question forming in his mind before he even speaks it.

“So,” he begins, setting his fork down. “How do you plan on taking a baby on tour—”

Hurriedly, I cut in, “Dad, we have six months to figure that out.”

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