Page 60 of The Run Home
“Bye!”
“See you at weight lifting!” I shouted back, barely getting the words out before the door slammed shut.
Shae looked over at me. “She took it well, huh?”
I nodded. “She did. We actually had a nice moment, talking about the responsibilities of being a parent, where I went wrong, and how I planned to do better for both her and the baby.”
Shae reached over and took my hand, giving comfort with the simple gesture. “Speaking of which, you still on for the ultrasound after practice?”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
She went to pull her hand back, but I held her tighter, leaning over to give her a kiss. I wanted to do that the second I saw her come out of her house, only holding back so Kinsley wouldn’t be embarrassed.
Shae’s cheeks went hot, but she didn’t pull away. “Kissing me in public now?”
“I’d do a lot more in public if there weren’t impressionable kids around,” I growled back.
She laughed, grabbing her things and exiting the truck before I got around to help her out.
“Let me help you,” I chastised, wanting to do more to make her life effortless.
She gave me a look that said I was crazy. “I’m not even showing yet. When I can’t see my feet, I’ll let you help me out of the car.”
I grinned like an idiot, thinking of her belly swollen with our baby. Shae elbowed me in the gut before sweeping past me, looking all prim and proper in black skinny jeans, button-down shirt, and a peach sweater now on both arms and even buttoned up the front. I held the office door for her and we both headed for the break room to grab a cup of coffee. Lydia was already there, giving me the hairy eyeball for hovering around her best friend. Before the bell rang, I kissed Shae on the cheek and hustled to my first-period classroom.
I gave her and Lydia space at lunch, not seeking them out, and having to eat next to Coach Johnson and his disgusting tuna salad. I knew having female friendships was important to Shae, and as much as I wanted to smother her with attention and not let her out of my sight, I ultimately wanted to do what was best for Shae, and she needed her time with Lydia. Plus Lydia kind of scared me.
Weight lifting went slower than molasses in an ice freeze. When the kids finally filed out for practice, I ran around the room, cleaning up and hustling Shae to my truck in record time. Our assistant coaches would be handling our respective practices and Tatum had offered to drive Kinsley home after practice. If getting to this doctor appointment wasn’t so important, I would have turned him down flat. Kinsley, of course, was thrilled.
“Are you nervous?” I asked Shae, turning left when she pointed.
“No. I really like my doctor.” She pointed right. “Are you?”
“Yes! I’ve never been to one of these.” My hands were sweaty on the steering wheel. I could feel the elevation of my heartbeat.
“Seriously? Never one appointment for Kinsley?”
I shook my head. “Nope. Cassie and I weren’t together and she didn’t invite me. And I wasn’t exactly super attentive.” I feel that familiar weight of guilt. “I should have been more involved.”
Shae was quiet for a few moments. “Well, thanks for being involved now.”
I snuck a look at her face. “You’re not mad?”
She looked over at me, expression unreadable. “Nope.”
I narrowed my eyes and tried to pay attention to the road. “I don’t know what to do when you’re not mad at me. It’s unfamiliar territory.”
“Shut up!” She backhanded my bicep, and just like that, we were back on track.
The waiting room had several other pregnant women and two other dads. It didn’t take long for Shae to be called back. They got her on a scale, during which she told me to walk away. I didn’t understand what the issue was, but I wasn’t about to piss her off before we’d gotten to see the baby, so I walked around the corner and chatted with some nurses. When she was escorted into a room, I broke free and followed her inside. She had to change into one of those hospital gowns, which I helped her with. The paper on the table crinkled as she hopped up and got situated.
“Oh my God, I’m freaking out,” I whispered in a hiss when the nurse walked out and left us alone in the room.
Shae lay back on the exam table and laughed. “At least this time I don’t have to put my feet in stirrups, have cold metal inserted up my hooha, and my cervix scraped.”
I winced, then winced again, picturing what she described. “Jesus. I’m so glad I’m a man.”
She was laughing again when the doctor walked into the room. A male doctor. What the fuck?
