Page 55 of Seven of Hearts

It was probably something I should unpack in therapy, but that meant I’d have to take time off work and spend money.

“Right,” Kristin said. “Dinner with the Holloways. Enjoy walking into your own execution.”

I chuckled, because there was no sense in pretending like it was going to go well. Leah’s parents didn’t like me. Frankly, the feeling was mutual. But she wanted to do a gender reveal with them after we got the news at her appointment in just a little while. If it was important to her, it was important to me.

“Do we get to find out?” Kristin asked as she walked me to the door.

“That’s up to Leah, but I don’t think she plans on keeping it a secret.”

“Good,” Kristin said. “I’ll see you whenever you get back.”

“After dinner with the Holloways,” I clarified.

Kristin just shrugged and shoved me out the door. “Or just stay with Leah. See what happens.”

I paused on the porch. “Are you trying to set me up with my baby mama?”

She grinned. “Maybe. Besides, the sooner you show Kylie you mean business, the sooner she’ll get her head out of her rear end.”

I just shook my head as I jogged down the porch steps right as Leah slipped out of the DeRossis’ house.

“You ready?” she asked as she shouldered her bag and slowly eased down the slight embankment that sloped from the DeRossis’ property down to Kristin and Will’s.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” I said as I ran over and reached for her. “Easy. You don’t want to slip and fall.”

Leah rolled her eyes, but took my hands and slipped her fingers between mine as we walked to the car.

She was so fucking pretty today. Her blonde hair was in a thick braid with a few little pieces hanging around her face. I liked that slightly imperfect side of her. Staying true to her declaration that she didn’t want to waste money on maternity clothes, she was in a pair of leggings and a thick, oversized sweater.

I wanted to unwrap her like a present.

We made the drive to her obstetrician’s office in Morehead City in silence, but Leah never let go of my hand.

I put my arm around her while we sat in the waiting room, and Leah rested her head on my shoulder. When a mom with a newborn in tow commented on what a cute couple we were, neither of us made any effort to correct her.

“Leah Holloway?” a nurse said as she poked her head out of the door.

Leah took a deep breath and pushed up on the arm rests, but I was already in front of her, offering a hand up.

Hurry up and wait was the name of the game. Leah was rushed from one kiosk to the next, having her vitals taken before we were led to an ultrasound suite to wait, yet again.

“Where do you want me?” I asked as she settled on the exam table. The back was lifted so that she was mostly sitting.

“There’s fine,” she said as she pointed to the vinyl chair that was parked right beside her. “That way you can see the screen too.”

“Are you nervous?”

She shrugged. “A little. It’s always kind of tense while the sonographer is trying to find the baby and get the heartbeat. I always freak out and assume something’s wrong.”

I wrapped my hand around hers and brought it to my mouth. “I’ve got you,” I promised as I kissed the back of her hand.

“Hi, Leah!” the woman wearing scrubs said as she dipped into the room and dimmed the lights. “And we have a guest with us today,” she said. “Want to introduce me?”

Leah smiled nervously. “This is my . . . Logan.”

The nurse nodded. “And is your Logan a support person or?—”

“I’m the baby’s father,” I said as I shoved down the creeping anxiety that had started to claw its way up my neck. I gave Leah’s hand a squeeze.

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