Page 17 of Can We Try?

“What are you doing here?” He looks down at his computer screen, worried he missed something on the schedule, I’m sure. “I thought you had the day off.”

“I do. But I don’t have anywhere to be until later today, so I thought I’d come in and work on some drawings.”

“That defeats taking a day off,” Forrest says, walking out of his room. He shakes his customer’s hand before pointing toward Drake to take care of the cash-out.

“Yeah, well, I’m restless at home.”

He nods. “Yeah, before Briar and the girls, I did a lot of the same on my days off. You need a good woman to help occupy your time.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him I have one, and she’s having my baby, but I manage to bite my tongue. I promised Maggie I would wait until after today’s appointment, and I never break a promise, especially to the mother of my child.

“Maybe.” I shrug as if I’m not hiding this huge, life-changing secret from my closest friends. It’s not just me anymore. Maggie and our baby come first, and I know the guys will understand that, but I still feel bad for not screaming from the rooftops that I’m going to be a dad.

“Forrest, your next appointment is here,” Drake tells us.

“Go do your thing, brother. I’m going to be in here working on some mockups for a few customers. Get ahead a little.”

“Don’t work too hard,” Forrest says, and there’s a hidden message in his words. He knows I’m using work as an escape, but what he doesn’t know is that after this afternoon, I won’t need to hide what’s on my mind.

Once in my office, I shut the door, put on my headphones, crank up my favorite playlist, and get to work. Thankfully, I’m able to get lost in my art, and before I know it, it’s just after two o’clock, and I decide to drive to Maggie’s work and pick her up. We can grab her car later.

Stepping out of my office, I can’t hide my smile. Finally, the moment is here.

“Well, you’re much more chipper than you were when you went in.” Drake laughs.

“I wasn’t not chipper before, just restless, but I’m heading out.”

“Hot date?” Drake asks.

“Something like that.” I smirk and walk toward the door, throwing my hand up in a wave on the way out.

The drive to Maggie’s work is only five minutes, so I have time to stop and pick her up a ginger ale. She says it helps to settle her stomach. I buy some peanut butter crackers and a bottle of water for each of us, too, just in case she’s not feeling the ginger ale.

When I reach the parking lot of the surgery center, which is connected to the hospital, I find her car easily. And today must be my lucky day because the spot next to her is open. I back my truck into the spot, so I’m sure not to miss her when she comes out. Not even two minutes later, she’s walking across the parking lot. When she notices me parked next to her, she smiles, and I swear that smile twists something inside me.

I climb out of the truck, rush to take her bag from her, and lead her to the passenger door.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m taking you to our appointment.”

“You know you’re not the one being seen, right?” she teases.

“I do, but you and our baby are, so it’s ours. Deal with it.” I wink, and she grins, shaking her head. I wait until she’s in the truck to hand over her bag. “I got you some snacks. They’re in there.” I point to the bag lying on the console. “Buckle up.”

“Yes, sir.” She salutes as she chuckles.

After rushing around to the driver's side, I hop back in, and make sure she’s buckled her belt before I pull out of the lot. “So, we get to hear the heartbeat, right? This app I downloaded on my phone says he or she should be the size of an apricot.” Reaching over, I place my hand on her belly. “So tiny,” I murmur, keeping my eyes on the road.

“You downloaded an app?” she asks, popping a peanut butter cracker into her mouth. “Oh, these are good.”

“I read that they help with nausea and the protein is good for you and the baby.”

“Thank you, Lachlan. This was very sweet of you.”

“I’m the daddy. That’s my job.”

“I can’t believe we’re going to be parents. It’s so surreal.”

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