Page 67 of Second Chance Ex
It's been an overwhelming whirlwind to say the least, I’m not going to lie. But over the last couple of weeks, we’ve definitely come to terms with the fact that we’re going to be parents. I know Prue is stressing about finishing her prac work, and graduating before the baby comes, but I’m fucking stoked and cannot wait to be a dad.
I had a shitty life growing up, and it sucked, but it’s also given me the determination to make sure my kid knows that they’re loved more than anything. My kid and his or her brothers and sisters who come after, are going to have the best life with parents who love them and each other; that’s something I’m going to make sure of.
I flick on my blinker and turn into the open gates of the house numbered 8815; the one with the big old SOLD sign out the front of it.
“Joey—” Prue gasps. “What… is going on?”
I say nothing, just continue grinning like a cocky asshole, following the neatly paved driveway lined with trees, rolling to a stop out the front of the sprawling modern contemporary home with views of Folsom Lake and the Sacramento skyline.
Glancing at Prue, I quickly unfasten my seatbelt and jump out of my truck, racing around the front to open her door for her. And with that same questioning, almost nervous smile, she takes myproffered hand, allowing me to help her down, and follows me silently as I lead her up the steps to the huge front door, my hand trembling as I pull out the key and unlock it.
“Joey!” Prue hisses, stopping me before I can step over the threshold. “What are you doing?”
She doesn’t have time to object when I swoop down and literally sweep her right off her feet, carrying her inside our new home. I know this is something grooms usually do with their brides on their wedding night; but me and Prue have always done things a little differently.
“Joey!” Prue squeals, lightly slapping my shoulder.
I carefully place her back onto her feet and steady her, my hands remaining on her waist. And, there in the sprawling, sun-drenched foyer of our new home, I kiss her on her adorably gaping mouth.
“You bought a house?” she murmurs against my lips.
I nod. “Webought a house.”
Prue pulls away, still smiling, tugging on my hand as she wanders around looking at everything. It’s all so clean and fresh and crisp, but also warm and inviting. I can really see us starting our family here.
“This is a great neighborhood. It’s safe, and quiet. And we’re only like forty-five minutes from Rosewood. And you know Mikey, our tight end?” She nods, glancing at me. “He and his fiancé live four houses down on the other side of the street.”
Prue smiles.
“And there’s so many great schools around for our baby to go to one day, and for you to teach at when you’re ready… or not… it’s completely up to you. I’ll support you with whatever you want to do, you know that.”
“I know.” Prue stops, turning to me and looking up into my eyes. “You don’t have to sell it to me, J. This is perfect. I can’t believe this…thisis going to be our house.”
“Ourhome,” I correct, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her flush against me. “I can’t wait to live the rest of our lives together, baby.”
“I could cry.” Prue laughs, her eyes glossing over as she looks up at the high ceilings. “This is perfect, Joey. Everything is just perfect.”
I lean down and press a kiss to the very tip of her nose, lingering a little longer than necessary because she’s right, this is perfect. Our perfect, happy ever after.
I smirk,watching as the sonographer squirts jelly onto Prue’s stomach.
Prue’s always been a little curvy—sexy as hell, that’s for damn sure—so her belly still looks relatively normal, maybe a tiny bit bloated if anything; you wouldn’t look at her and immediately come to the conclusion that she’s pregnant.
“Oh, that’s cold!” Prue gasps at the feel of the probe pressing onto her skin, glancing at me with a little giggle.
I squeeze her hand, winking at her.
The sonographer, Michelle, smiles as she studies the screen. “Sorry, I usually try to warm it up, but we’ve just been so busy today!So many babies.”
We focus our sights on the big screen on the wall in front of us and, frankly, I have absolutely no idea what I’m supposed to be looking at. It’s all just a mess of black and gray, blurred lines and shadows. But the longer I watch on without seeing our baby, or at least hearing the little heartbeat, the more anxious I’m getting. I’m no doctor, but surely we should be seeing something by now. I try to play it cool, but the abyss of nothingness on the screen causes worry to settle like lead in my chest. I glance sideways to find Prue’s eyes looking from the screen in front of us, to Michelle, to Michelle’s smaller screen and back again, her bottom lip pinched between her teeth.
Michelle starts pressing some keys on the keyboard in front of her, the sound nearly deafening in the otherwise silent space.Clack-clack. Clack-clack.She moves the probe over Prue’s belly, up and down, to the side, pressing a little deeper as she goes, all the while remaining silent. And we’re met with nothing but that same mess of pixelated black and gray on the screen in front of us before it shuts off entirely.
“Is everything okay?” Prue asks.
Michelle hums a non-committing sound, but I don’t miss the way her eyebrows bunch together as she studies her screen.
Prue looks at me and I see a fear in her eyes that I’ve never seen before, and my stomach knots painfully in my gut. I try for a reassuring smile, squeeze her hand, but my girl knows me better than anyone and right now she can see straight through me. Neither of us are idiots, and it doesn’t take a genius to realize something is seriously wrong.
