Blaire seemed to not think it was a big deal she was about to have to get naked. The nurse looked back at me. “Is this one okay to be back here?”

This one? What the hell did that mean?

Blaire grinned and looked back at me. “Yes, this one is the father.

The nurse straightened up and gave me a big relieved smile. “That’s wonderful. I hated the idea of someone as young as you doing this all alone.”

Blair blushed and went into a small room with a curtain in front of it. Once the nurse left I went over and stepped into what looked like a small dressing room.

“What did she mean by ‘this one’?” I asked.

Blaire bit her bottom lip and closed her eyes tightly. “Do I have to answer this?”

“Uh, yeah. Especially after that comment.” I was preparing myself not to like the answer.

“Woods drove me to my last appointment. They told him he could come back and I told them no he couldn’t, he was just a friend.”

I’d almost forgotten about that. I understood why she had gotten a ride from him. I hadn’t been here. But knowing some other man was here with her when she needed me was hard to swallow. I realized her face had gone pale and I bent down and kissed her lips. “It’s okay. I should’ve been here. I wasn’t.”

She nodded. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’m the one who’s sorry.”

The door to the exam room opened back up and I stuck my head out of the dressing room.

The nurse was grinning at me and pulling in a machine with a little screen on it. “Is she about ready?” The amused smirk on the nurse’s face was funny.

“Just about,” I told her then looked back at Blaire who was bright red. I couldn’t help but laugh. “Get changed, sexy. I’ll go back out there.”

Blaire nodded and I stepped out from behind the curtain.

I walked over to the table and looked at the machine. “So this is how we see the baby?” I asked wondering how they did this exactly.

“Yep. Because Blaire’s on Medicaid we have to use this one. This is all Medicaid will cover. We have a newer 3D one that most mommas use and I wish Medicaid would cover it because you can see the baby so clearly. But it doesn’t.”

I paused and looked from the machine to the nurse. Blaire was on Medicaid? What the hell? I hadn’t even thought about the fact she needed insurance. I’d always had the best money could buy; it wasn’t something I thought about.

“I want the 3D machine. I’ll pay whatever it costs right now but I want the very best this office can supply.”

The nurse glanced from my earrings to t‑shirt that had seen its better days. It was one my dad had given me after one of his tours about five years ago. I liked it because it fit tight and Blaire seemed to like tight shirts on me. “I… uh… I don’t think you understand exactly how much an ultrasound like that costs. While it is very sweet that you want to give that experience to Blaire it is very–”

“I can afford any procedure available. I told you I’d pay for it now. I want the best ultrasound for Blaire and my baby.”

The nurse started to open her mouth when Blaire walked out of the room wearing a thin cotton robe. “Please don’t argue with him. He’ll cause you problems if you do. Just get me the 3D ultrasound.”

The nurse shrugged, “Okay, if you’re sure, but he’ll need to prepay.”

I opened my wallet and handed her my American Express black card. Her eyes shot up and she nodded then hurried from the room.

“I should tell you now that I was perfectly okay with a regular ultrasound but that would be a lie. I’ve seen pictures of 3D ultrasounds in those parenting magazines and I really want one.”

Blaire was grinning like a kidwho was about to go to Disney World for the first time. Hell, to get her to smile like that I’d go buy the fucking 3D machine.

“My girl and my kid get the best. Always.”

The door opened back up and the nurse walked in staring at me now like she was trying to figure something out. She handed me my card. I took it and slipped it back in my wallet.

“Are you Dean Finlay’s son?” the woman finally asked.

“Yeah. Now let’s go see my baby,” I replied.

The woman nodded eagerly and turned to look at Blaire. “The 3D machine is in a special room. Are you comfortable walking through the hall in that?”

“Will someone see her?” I asked stepping in front of her because I sure as hell wasn’t comfortable with it.

The nurse opened a cabinet and pulled out a blanket. “Here wrap this around her.”

I wrapped her up in it until she was completely covered. Blaire was pressing her lips together trying not to laugh. I winked at her and pressed a kiss to her nose.

We walked down a long hallway where we passed two nurses another couple and Blaire’s doctor who asked why we were moving. The nurse quickly told him that I’d just paid for the 3D and the doctor look very pleased as he followed us into the room.

Blaire lay down on a table and they began prepping her as I sat patiently waiting. Once they had her stomach bare the nurse put some clear gel on her stomach then looked back at me. “Are you two wanting to know the sex of the baby?”

“Ask the momma,” I replied, annoyed that she’d asked me instead of Blaire.

“I’d like to know,” Blaire said, glancing back at me for reassurance.

“Me too,” I agreed.

Then the doctor began moving something over Blaire’s stomach and a small beating noise filled the air. It was faster than normal. “Is that my baby’s heartbeat?” I asked standing up because sitting was no longer possible. My heart was beating as fast as the one I heard on the screen.

“Yes it is,” the doctor replied. “And there… and there he is,” he said.

I stared at the screen as a small little life began to take shape.

“He?” Blaire asked.

“Yes, it’s most definitely a boy,” the doctor replied.

I reached out and grabbed Blaire’s hand, unable to take my eyes off the screen. That was our baby. I was gonna have a son. Fuck… I was also gonna cry.

The End

About the Author

Abbi Glines was born in Birmingham, Alabama. She grew up in the small town of Sumiton, Alabama where she left the summer she turned eighteen. She didn’t get far… she chased her high school sweetheart down to the coast and she’s been there ever since.

Abbi now lives in the quaint southern town of Fairhope, Alabama with her three children and husband Keith (the high school sweetheart she chased after). Her life is never dull and Keith always makes sure there is another “experience” for them to explore.

Books published by Abbi include The Vincent Boys and the USA TODAY bestseller The Vincent Brothers, Breathe, Because of Low, the USA TODAY bestsellers While It Lasts and Just For Now, The Existence Trilogy that includes the USA Today Bestseller Ceaseless, andThe New York Times bestseller and Wall Street Journal bestseller Fallen Too Far.

When Abbi isn’t locked up in her office typing away she is hauling her kids to and from their many social activities. You could say her second job is the Glines Kids personal chauffeur. It’s a rather illustrious job.

www.abbiglines.com

Representation: All questions regarding subsidiary rights for any of my books, inquiries regarding foreign translation and film rights should be directed to Jane Dystel of Dystel & Goderich.

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Start of book

About the author, Abbi Glines