“Hhmm, you just earned yourself a delicate treat,” Ben play-growled and disappeared beneath the sheets.
“Be careful,” I gasped.
“Trust me. I’m a doctor.”
29
PEYTON
“Iknow that nibble,” Ben said one morning while I was staring at my body in the full-length mirror in the bedroom. “What’s bothering you, babe?”
“It’s been eight months, Ben. Eight months!”
There was no feeling more demoralizing to a woman than buying a pregnancy test each and every month, holding your breath during the allotted three minutes, and finding a negative result time and time again. I was utterly fed up.
“My love,” Ben said and came over to put his arms around me. “Eight months isn’t long, considering…”
“Considering I’m a hot mess,” I ended his sentence.
“No, you’re not,” he said and gently rubbed his hand over my tummy. “You’re beautiful…a little impatient…but beautiful. Besides, I must tell you. I’mreallyenjoying the practice,” he purred and nuzzled my neck.
“I’m sorry, babe. I know I’m acting like a lunatic.”
Ben turned me around so I could face him.
“Peyton, I’ll have you any way I can. I love you.”
I giggled and kissed him.
“I love you too, Ben.”
“Now, get your cute ass into those scrubs, and let’s go to work.”
“Yes, Sensei Forbes.”
I called Alyssa on my way to the hospital.
“Nyepp…What’s up, Doc?” she answered.
“Funny. I’m down, I need a quick pep talk.”
“Okay, let’s see. You have a stunning ass, you’re very smart…uhm…you live with the most perfect man to ever draw breath…”
“And still I can’t fall pregnant,” I interrupted.
“Ahhh, babe. Stop that. You’re just hormonal. You’ll get there. You have to be patient.”
“I love you so much, Lyssa, but if you say that to me one more time, I’m going to have to end you.”
“Yikes! Those fertility meds are making you seriously cranky. I hope you haven’t done anything awful to Ben yet.”
“No. How can I? He’s perfect. I’m the broken one.”
“Stop it, Pey. You’re not broken. Just a little slow off the mark.”
“Thanks, babe. Sorry for being a bummer.”
“Okay, go prescribe some drugs. Always makes me feel better.”