Page 69 of Sebastian

She completely dismisses my request. I decide to take a softer approach, my tone gentler.

“Veronica, there are other doctors you can go to. I know it’s personal, but I’ll be with you the entire time. I need to know that this is for real.”

Another long silence.

“I’ll buy you whatever you want. Unlimited use of my credit card,” I offer in desperation.

Then it hits me. Gio’s papa is a lady doctor. I put her on speaker phone and text him to call me ASAP. I haven’t seen or worked out with him since the weekend because I was too busy with Chloe and the party. Now I need his ass and fast.

“Fine, but I want an early push present. And it must be someone nice and classy.”

I don’t even know what a push present is, but I’ll buy her whatever the hell she wants.

“Whatever you want. And the doctor is my neighbor, lives in River Oaks with me.” Gio’s calls cut in, and I don’t want to miss it. “Let me call his office right now and call you back.”

She starts to say something, but I switch calls, my heart beating rapidly, hoping to get a conclusive answer today. I’m holding onto the fleeting chance that this might not be true.

“Sup, Seb.” Gio’s calm voice rolls through the receiver. “I haven’t seen you at the gym.”

“I can’t get into it right now, but can your papa see me today?”

I rush out the words, my knee bobbing as Veronica’s call appears on the screen. I ignore it while waiting for Gio to answer, which is taking too fucking long.

“Uh, my dad doesn’t see guys. You got an STD or something?” he says, completely confused. “I mean, this one time he treated a fraternity brother of mine, but that’s because he fucked a girl in a bar bathroom, and his junk was infected?—”

“No dumbass, not for me. It’s for Veronica, but don’t say anything to anyone.”

“Veronica?”

His slow line of questioning is killing me. I don’t have the time for it. Veronica is steadily blowing up my phone, sending profanity-laden texts too, but I got to get this going first.

“Can your papa see her today or not?”

“I don’t know. Call the office and ask for his nurse, Agatha. She’ll let you know.”

My knee stops bouncing. I adjust my seat, ready to drive to the office and throw myself on Agatha’s mercy. Maybe bringbagels and coffee if that would help. Chloe seemed to like the surprise before I shocked the hell out of her.

“Thanks, man. I will.”

“But hey, if you’re taking Veronica, then you need to?—”

Time is paramount, and I can’t afford to play twenty questions with Gio, so I end the call. I let another one of Veronica’s calls go to voicemail and quickly look up Gio’s papa’s office number online. It rings twice before the receptionist picks up, and I urgently request to speak with Agatha, telling them it’s an emergency.

Relief washes over me when she picks up, and I quickly explain the situation. She hesitates for a moment, and I hold my breath. My heart pounds in my chest until she confirms an open slot in the late afternoon. She gives me instructions on what to bring and what to expect during the appointment. I jot down the details in my notes app and hang up the phone, feeling relieved and anxious.

Gio texts me to call him back, but I have to call Veronica and get this going with her. I’ll pick her up now and take her wherever she wants before the appointment. It’s the least I can do for bailing on her last night. I call her back and sit through another rant.

Once I advise her of the appointment time, I ask if I can pick her up now to take her shopping. Her tone completely changes, coming through sickly sweet when I agree to take her to the jewelry store first.

Diamond stud earrings, as her early push present, lead to lunch at The Capital Grille, a clothing shopping spree in Rice Village, followed by the furniture maker she told me about. I keep my trap shut the entire time, only speaking when spoken to, and she doesn’t even notice. My only escape is a Long Island iced tea at lunch. She cuts me off at one, preaching she’s notgoing to die because I was driving drunk.Fair, but I need a good buzz to put up with her ass.

When we finally arrive at our appointment time toward their closing hours, my Porsche is filled to the ceiling with stuff for her, and my credit card is twenty thousand dollars higher. A nursery is designed and paid for her place, and the nursery for my place is on hold until I send the design company the room’s dimensions.

After paying for the doctor’s visit, I collapse in the lobby room chair and wait while they call her back. Two pregnant ladies are sitting in the waiting room with me, their spouses doting on them as they whisper back and forth. Parenting magazines are scattered everywhere, and a small play area for children sits in a corner—all reminders of what’s in store for me.

I sit, stand, and pace the luxurious room. After twenty minutes, I grab a bottled water, eat two of their complimentary snacks, and walk some more. One of the new mammas smiles at me, commenting about new dads always being nervous. I graciously smile at her while dying inside until, finally, I’m called back to join her. We had agreed in the car that she should go in alone. Privacy and a new doctor were her reasons. Freaking out, having another panic attack, and running out of the room were mine.

When she finally appears in the doorway looking overjoyed, I know my fate is sealed. She’s clutching a folder and staring at a fuzzy picture. My pulse races, my head throbs, and it sounds like water is in my ears when she animatedly talks to me.

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