Page 21 of Waiting for Her

“Is everything okay?” I ask, not really knowing why she would need to go to the doctor this late in her pregnancy.

“Everything’s fine, I promise. My blood pressure was a bit high last time so they just want to make sure everything is okay. At this stage of pregnancy, you see the doctor more anyway, they just want to make sure the baby is okay.”

The words high blood pressure stick in my mind and I wonder how serious that is.

“Can I come?” I ask before thinking better of it, the shock mirrored on my girl’s face. I don’t want to overstep here, and going to this appointment could be crossing a line.

“You want to come?” Her surprise is palpable and I wonder for the millionth time why I haven’t gone to find Brendan and fucked him up for putting this doubt in her eyes. “Why?”

“I want to see the baby.” I know she’s been shy about letting anyone see the baby. She’s only shown ultrasound pictures to Drew, and I’ve respected that, until now. “I also want to be there for you if something goes wrong.”

That familiar fear settles in my stomach every time I think about something happening to her, and I need to go just to appease my own demons. Silent tears appear in her eyes and for a split second, I wonder if I went too far.

“Sometimes I think you’re too good to be true.”

I smile, leaning close and placing a light kiss on the tip of her nose. She has no idea how wrapped around her finger I am.

Addison

I hate crying. I hate the fact that Max is doing something good, something out of the goodness of his heart, and here I am bawling my eyes out because I haven’t known this type of love in my entire life. Yes, I know Drew will do just about anything for me, would do anything to help me if I asked, but what Max is doing right now, what he’s telling me with his actions and his words is over and above anything I have ever felt, and it’s fucking overwhelming.

“Baby, please, don’t cry,” he begs, kissing away my tears as he lifts me off my chair and sets me on his lap.

“I’m too heavy,” I whisper, scrambling off but his arms lock around me and I’m trapped against him.

“You are not heavy, and you will sit here and listen to me, okay?”

I nod as I wipe the stray tears from my cheeks.

“I want you to know how serious I am about this, about us,” he starts, his hand coming up and cupping the side of my face.

“I love you. I have loved you since I was sixteen and that is never going to change. The baby or the fact that this relationship is starting just as you’re bringing new life into the world doesn’t faze me. I want this.”

“Max.” My breath leaves me and he graces me with that sly smile, knowing exactly what those words mean to me. “It really doesn’t bother you?”

“Not in the slightest. Baby, you have been my endgame for years and I want it all. I want to be your rock when things get hard. I want to be the father to this little bean growing inside of you, and most of all I want us to be a family.”

My eyes flick away from his, trying to absorb those words and what they mean, not only to me but to Max as well. For some reason, I can’t fathom the fact that we went from just being friends to whatever this is in such a short time and it’s messing with my brain.

“Addison, all of this is new to both of us, and I’m not asking you to figure everything out right now, but I just wanted you to know where we’re headed, or where I want us to be in the future, okay?”

I nod, because what else am I supposed to say?

“So, can I come to this appointment with you?”

And just like that, he held another piece of my heart in the palm of his hand.

* * *

“Addison? Are you ready?” the ultrasound tech asks as she peeks her head into the waiting room, gesturing for me to follow.

I peer behind me, watching as Max takes my hand and we both walk back toward the sterile white room.

“You know the drill. I’ll be back in a few minutes to start, okay?”

I nod, closing the door and changing into the paper gown that was left on the table.

“You’ve done this alone every time?” Max asks, his eyes taking in the room around him, the diagrams, posters, and information pamphlets surrounding us.

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