Page 51 of Can We Try?

Chapter

Twelve

Lachlan

* * *

My palms are sweating. I’ve wiped them on my jeans at least a dozen times, and they still feel clammy. I’m ready to stand and pace this damn waiting room, but I remain seated next to Maggie. Outside of wringing her hands together in her lap, she appears to be calm, cool, and collected.

“I’m freaking out too,” she tells me when she catches me staring. “We get to see our baby today. We get to find out if we’re going to have a son or daughter.” Her face lights up.

She’s glowing, and I want nothing more than to kiss her, and I’m considering it when the nurse opens the door to the back office and calls her name.

We stop at the scale, and I turn my head. I don’t give a fuck what the number says, but I know Maggie is self-conscious because of the dickwad she dated before, so I do the honorable thing and don’t look.

“We’re going to take you to the ultrasound tech first, and then you’ll switch rooms to see the doctor,” the nurse explains. She leads us farther down the hall and to the right to another long hallway. “Take a seat on the exam table. Sandra will be right with you.”

I help Maggie up onto the table, not that she needs my help at this stage of her pregnancy, but it gives me a reason to get my hands on her, and that’s something I will never pass up.

Bending, I press my lips to her forehead just as the door opens. I step back and wait for the ultrasound tech to enter.

“Hi, I’m Sandra.” She offers her hand to Maggie.

“Maggie, and this is Lachlan.” She nods toward me. I also shake Sandra’s hand.

“Are you ready to see your baby?” Sandra asks.

“We are,” we say together as we share a smile.

Sandra dims the lights and moves toward the exam table. “Can you lift your shirt for me, Maggie?” she asks, typing on the screen.

Maggie does as she asks, and I grin as she bares her baby bump. There is a tiny piece of us that’s growing inside her, and that’s the coolest fucking thing that’s ever happened to me. To get to witness her body grow and change for our baby, it’s truly a miracle.

“I’m going to use some gel. It’s warm, but I still like to warn you.” Sandra squirts gel all over Maggie’s belly, and I move in closer, not wanting to miss a single second of what’s to come.

She moves the wand all around, and the screen is still facing her. “I’m just going to get some measurements for the doctor.” Sandra works quietly and efficiently while I stand next to the exam table with bated breath, waiting to see my son or daughter.

“All right, all the technical stuff is out of the way. Your baby is very active. Do we want to know the gender today?”

“Yes,” we answer together, making Sandra laugh.

“Well, you’re in luck because this little guy wants to be seen.” She points to the screen. “Right there. Congratulations, Mom and Dad, you’re having a boy.”

A boy.

A son.

Tears well in my eyes as I let that news sink in. I reach for Maggie’s hand and my knees hit the bed. When I look down, I find her smiling up at me with tears in her eyes. She’s fucking stunning, and I have to kiss her.

I have to.

Bending my head, I press my lips to hers. “Thank you.”

She laughs through her tears. “Why are you thanking me?”

“For our son. For being my favorite human. I have an entire list if you want me to keep going.” I kiss her one more time, then move my forehead to hers. “A boy, Mags. We’re having a boy.”

“We are.”