Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 162003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 810(@200wpm)___ 648(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 810(@200wpm)___ 648(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
I didn’t know why I was pushing this. I was making myself crazy, but I wanted to hear his response. To see if the final nail had already been wedged into our coffin. If we were really over.
Ryland didn’t answer, and that was answer enough.
“What do you want from me?” he asked. “I’m trying to do the right thing here.”
“I don’t want anything,” I said weakly. “I just want to go home. I’m tired.”
It was a lie, but I knew Ryland wouldn’t argue with me on this point. Unfair? Yes. But I needed to get out of this apartment and everything it represented.
“Okay,” he agreed. “I’ll keep looking. Ted will take you home.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Brighton
Ryland and I sat in uncomfortable silence in the doctor’s waiting room. The place looked expensive, and I had no doubt he’d probably paid a fortune for me to come here. The other mothers-to-be were dressed in designer clothes and heels and were no doubt highly prominent figures of society.
On the drive over, Ryland informed me that Dr. Maria was the best of the best. Reportedly, an OB/GYN to the stars- and now, little old me too.
He’d really been going out of his way to help me in whatever way he could, and I did appreciate that, regardless of how strained things were between us. He’d been reading a lot, and over the last week, he’d started to send me text messages of little things that surprised him or freaked him out. Like facts he’d picked up in the books on food cravings. It was kind of adorable that he was so interested, and it was a bittersweet feeling for me. He was going to make a great father.
“Brighton Valentine?” the nurse popped her head through the door.
“That’s me.” I stood up, and Ryland followed me down the hall.
She paused to weigh me, and my face flamed in embarrassment as Ryland stood there expectantly.
“Turn around,” I ordered.
“Why?” he frowned. “I need to know these things.”
“No, you don’t,” I snapped. “This isn’t your concern.”
“I want to make sure you’re eating enough, Brighton.”
The nurse gave us an amused grin as she pushed the scales back and forth. “I’ll write it down and let you two decide while you wait.”
She ushered us into an empty room and asked the usual questions. When I told her I was still having occasional bouts of morning sickness, Ryland looked worried. I could already see him making a mental note to google it later, and I hoped the nurse would put him at ease.
“While that isn’t great news, that does sometimes happen,” she assured me. “But let us know if it gets any worse, or to the point that it feels unbearable. Have you been under a lot of stress lately?”
I shifted in my chair, and I could practically feel the tension rolling off of Ryland. “Not really,” I lied.
“That can sometimes cause it too,” she said. “You may be a little more sensitive when pregnant, so stress can induce it.”
“Okay.” I nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Alright, Brighton.” She smiled as she stood. “I’m going to have you hop up on the table and lift your shirt up.”
I climbed up on the table, feeling Ryland’s eyes on me as I tugged my shirt up just beneath my breasts. This was the first time he’d seen me like this, and I was a little nervous. I glanced over to find him staring at my belly, and I wanted so badly to know what he was thinking.
“I’m just going to get the technician,” the nurse said. “She’ll be right in.”
“Thank you.”
She left, and Ryland and I looked at each other. He gave me a smile that I was sure he meant to be reassuring, but I could tell he was nervous too.
“We might find out the sex today,” I volunteered.
This earned me a real smile from him. “I’m looking forward to it.”
The door opened, and the technician stepped inside. “Hello, Brighton. How are we doing today?”
“Good,” I answered.
She sat down on her chair and started messing with the equipment while Ryland watched eagerly. I wanted to ask him if he had a preference between a boy or girl, but that seemed silly. I’d be happy with either.
“This is going to be a little cold.” She squeezed the gel onto my tummy and started to move the wand.
The room was quiet for a few moments while she checked some things on the screen, clicking away while she worked. I wasn’t scared, but I could tell Ryland was getting anxious by the way he leaned forward. He was waiting to hear the heartbeat, and it took a while to get to that part from what I understood.
Before I could stop myself, I reached for his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. His eyes found mine, and he seemed to relax a little as he threaded his fingers through mine. It was such a small, simple gesture, but it meant the world to me.