Page 21 of Keeping Promises

“No, don’t worry. This is perfectly safe. The baby is about the size of a cherry, so we have to use this wand transvaginally. It will transmit a high-frequency sound wave that bounces off the fetus and sends the signal back to this machine. We will be able to see an image of the baby and hear the heartbeat.”

She goes back to her prep work, pressing buttons on the machine and asking me to prop my legs up in the stirrups. A giggle slips from my lips. This position seems somewhat similar to how we got into this situation.

“I wasn’t sure you were coming,” I admit as I turn to face Asher. I wince at the slight discomfort of the wand sliding inside me. Asher surprises me when he reaches over and grabs my hand. I don’t know if it’s to distract me or for him to calm his nerves. Whatever his reasoning, it’s setting my mind and body at ease.

“I wasn’t sure I was either.” His expression doesn’t give much away, but I can see in his eyes that he is truthful. For a moment, I allow myself to get lost in his gaze, completely forgetting that Dr. Gilbert is in the room or that there is a giant stick shoved up my vagina. That is until a new sound fills the small space.

“Woah, what the fuck is that?” Asher jumps at the sound.

“That’s your baby’s heartbeat,” she assures us. “And if you look right here at the monitor, there’s your baby.”

I don’t know who moves first, but our hands are readjusted before I know it, and our fingers are now linked as we see our little peanut on the screen. It is so tiny that it looks more like a floating blob, but it feels so real now, seeing it.

I watch Asher in my peripheral vision as he is lost staring at the monitor. A crack in my heart appears when I realize I should have told him sooner. Had Ben not let the news slip, would I have ever come clean? I couldn’t imagine sharing this moment with anyone else than Asher.

Without breaking his gaze off the baby, he brings our conjoined hands to his lips, pressing a soft kiss against my knuckles. Did he know he did it? Was it just in the moment? I try not to let my thoughts stew too long.

Dr. Gilbert checks the baby, and everything looks great. She even prints off extra copies of the sonogram photos for both Asher and me to take home.

Standing at the checkout counter, Asher still has his eyes plastered on the small black-and-white images of our baby.

“Okay, Dr. Gilbert wants to see you back in four weeks,” the girl behind the desk says as she types away on the computer. “Is there a time of day that works better for you or your husband?” She glances over my shoulder at Asher.

“Oh no, we’re not married.” I laugh awkwardly. “We’re not even together.” I don’t know why I just said that. The words are already out in the open, and I can’t take them back.

“Jeez, Hadley, tell me how you really feel,” Asher scoffs behind me before stepping up beside me.

The girl forms an o with her lips, and her eyes rake up and down Asher’s body. A fire in me sparks, and I want to jump over the counter and slap her. Just because we aren’t together doesn’t give her the right to ogle him openly. Like, we’re having a baby, bitch. I have no claim to him, though.

A million questions race through my brain.Will Asher still date while I’m pregnant? Will he eventually find the one and our child will have a stepmother?Jealousy and anger begin to fill my veins.

She takes two business-card-size cards out of her drawer and writes information down. “Well, here is an appointment reminder card for you.” She hands one to me before turning toward Asher. “And this one has my number on the back. In case you have any questions. You know, my friends and I like to hang out at Lawson’s Tavern on Fridays after work if you’re ever looking for something to do.”

Is this bitch for real right now?

I shove the appointment card into my purse. I don’t bother looking back at Asher before I head for the door.

I’m standing there waiting for the elevator to arrive when Asher finally catches up to me. “Hadley, wait up. Where’s the fire?”

I press the button, thinking the more I do it, the quicker the elevator will arrive.

A hand wraps around my bicep, and I jump back. Turning, I find Asher staring at me with concern. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I reply in a clipped tone.

“Do youmaybewant to go get something to eat? All this craziness kind of sparked up my appetite, I guess.” He shoves his hands in his pockets and looks so innocent and nervous as he rocks back and forth on his heels.

Where’s the Casanova that was just in my presence? It’s already bad enough that he’s slept with half the city; he doesn’t need to flaunt his charming skills in front of me. Trust me, I’ve experienced them, and I’m not sure that’s a rabbit hole I’m willing to take another journey down.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. Look, Asher, thanks for coming with me today, but let’s not make this more than it is. We’re having a baby and, well, that’s it.”

The elevator dings, alerting me of its arrival. Thank God. I don’t allow him to respond before I step into the elevator and press the button for the doors to close.

When our eyes meet, his are full of confusion.Yeah, well, that makes two of us.I don’t know where this jealousy comes from. “Have a good evening, Asher.”

I place my hand over my stomach and rest my head against the wall as the elevator begins to move.

Damn you, hormones, for messing with my head.

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