Page 35 of Play the Game
He gives me a knowing look. “I really don’t think you do.”
I don’t have time to answer him because, at that moment, there’s a quick knock on the door before it opens and my long-time OBGYN, Dr. McCallister, appears in the doorway with a smile. “Evan, it’s great to see you.”
“Is it though?” I mutter as she closes the door.
She laughs, glancing at Cooper. “And you are?”
“Cooper Wyles,” he says, standing and holding out his hand.
“He’s the dad,” I say. “Of the baby. This baby,” I say gesturing at my stomach, my voice just a little too high. I blow out a breath, trying to calm the fuck down. “I’m pregnant.”
Cooper reaches out and takes my hand in his, and my heartrate slows down immediately. Jesus, this man should be studied. He’s like magic or something.
Dr. McCallister looks at me with understanding eyes. “I take it this was a surprise?”
I huff out a laugh as Cooper chuckles. “I’ll say.”
She nods. “Okay, we’re going to figure out all the things.” She glances at Cooper. “I assume since he’s here, it’s okay to talk freely in front of him?”
I sigh. “I mean, it’s his kid, too, and he’s seen me throw up in, like, three different trash cans on three separate occasions. I think we’re past secrets.”
Cooper smiles and squeezes my hand. “Rhodes, I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
Dr. McCallister laughs and glances at my chart. “Okay, I see you don’t know the date of your last period, is that right?”
I shake my head. “I’m sorry,” I say, feeling the need to apologize for this for some reason. “I usually skip the placebo pills, so I rarely get one, but I had a bunch of all-nighters in a row back in August, and I’m almost positive I messed up my pills. So, here we are.”
She nods. “That’s totally fine. We’ll do an ultrasound to figure out how far along you are, but I wanted to talk about your blood pressure.”
I tense immediately, my hand clamping down on Cooper’s. “I know it was high.”
She nods. “It was. Very high. I’ve known you long enough to know it’s most likely a false reading since blood pressure cuffs make you nervous, but making sure your blood pressure is within normal levels and knowing when it’s high is a really important part of pregnancy. We’ll keep an eye on it, but I’m also going to suggest that you buy a blood pressure cuff and start taking it at home a couple times a day. It might be less scary to take it where you’re comfortable, and you’ll be able to track it yourself.”
I make a face. “That sounds terrible.”
“We’ll do it,” Cooper says.
I turn and raise an eyebrow at him. “We?”
He nods. “We.”
When I look back at Dr. McCallister, she’s looking between me and Cooper, and I’m not at all sure I like the knowing smile on her face, so I change the subject. “Is it normal to feel like I’m going to throw up all day long, actually throw up at least twice a day, and have a diet that consists exclusively of sesame bagels with cream cheese, cherry Jolly Ranchers, and cherry seltzer?”
She nods. “It sure is. Don’t worry too much about nutrition—just eat what you can when you can, and try not to let your stomach get too empty. If the nausea is really bad, I can prescribe something for you. So, should we see how far along you are?”
She moves over to the ultrasound machine and picks up the transvaginal wand, rolling a condom-type thing over it. Cooper lets out an audible swallow and I turn to him, watching him watch the doctor.
“So that goes…” He trails off, his eyes glued to the wand.
“Inside me,” I say with a smirk, the way he pales just slightly a fun distraction from my anxiety.
“So I should…” He trails off again.
“Stay right here if you want to see your baby.” Dr. McCallister’s tone is cheery, but her words have my stomach dropping out of my ass and my stomach twisting.
“Don’t you fucking dare leave me alone in this room,” I hiss at Cooper. “I don’t want this baby any more than you do. If I have to see it, so do you.”
Cooper snaps out of his pseudo-dildo induced trance and puts a hand on my cheek turning me to face him. “I would never. Together, okay?”
