Page 78 of Stepping Into Tomorrow

“Yeah.”

“I hope it’s a girl and you turn as soft as Roman.”

“Fuck you.” Roman smacked Ricky’s shoulder. “You’re just jealous.”

“Jesus, you two are so abusive.” Ricky shook his head.

“But it would be cool to see him with a daughter,” Roman agreed.

“I just hope the kid is healthy and safe, strong like their mama,” Nash confessed, looking down at his boots.

His brothers remained silent. Nash glanced at the two idiots wearing identical smiles.

“What?”

“Bro, you’re so gone, and you don’t even know it,” Ricky teased.

“Whatever.” He turned around and headed towards his house. He needed a shower before they left for the appointment. He gave a weighted exhale, his muscles taut with tension and nerves. His brothers were right; he did care about Bella. And he was scared shitless about what that meant.

* * *

An hour later, he paced the pitiful length of the ultrasound room, eyes glued to the screen on the machine. The same tech they’d had the first time moved the wand over Bella’s stomach, taking measurements and recording data.

“Okay, now, did you want to find out the sex?” Karlie asked.

“Yes,” Bella answered.

Nash stepped beside her, taking the seat in the uncomfortable plastic chair. “Does the baby look okay? Healthy? No problems or concerns?”

Karlie gave him a sympathetic smile. “Yes. Everything looks great. Of course I’ll have Doctor Wright look over the scans and you’ll talk with him after.” She focused back on the screen. “Now, let’s see if the baby will cooperate with us. The baby’s a little feisty today. I’m sure you feel that, Mom.”

“Yes. It likes to jump on my bladder.” Bella smiled.

Nash stared at Bella as she watched the monitor. A stray lock of hair fell against her cheek. Nash reached out to tuck it behind her ear. Bella turned to him, her eyes searching his for an answer he couldn’t give. His heart drummed. His skin tingled, every hair standing on end. Adrenaline flooded his veins. This was it. A moment that would change his life forever. Beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.

Bella reached out, clasping his hand in hers and giving it a squeeze. Her comfort only made his chest cinch tighter. It was getting harder to breathe. The room shrunk with each second of anticipation that ticked by.

“Looks like you have yourselves a . . .”

One heartbeat.

Two.

Let me be strong enough for them.

“Girl. Congratulations,” Karlie said.

Nash stared at the screen, blinking in disbelief. A girl? He had a daughter? Panic warred with the rush of affection that threatened to drown him.

“I’ll just get these readings to Doctor Wright and call you into his office when he’s ready. Here’s some pictures.” Karlie handed Bella the photos and left the room.

Bella snapped a picture of the ultrasound photo with her phone.

His brows drew together in question.

She smiled. “Sending it to my friend Tessa. She thought I was having another boy.”

He nodded, and she tapped a message into her phone before tucking it back in her pocket.

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