Conception (The Wellingtons #4) - Tessa Teevan Page 0,141

Branson continues. “She really does have all the control.”

Cohen’s eyes are still hooked on his wife, who’s currently laughing at something Charlie’s telling her. “Oh, yeah. And I don’t mind one freaking bit.”

“You doin’ okay?” Branson asks, his voice lowered. “Both of you, I mean.”

I glance between the two of them. Cohen runs a hand through his unruly blond hair. Now that Branson mentions it, Cohen’s exhausted. Ever since he started medical school, that’s par for the course. This, however, is something different. There’s defeat on his face, which is unnerving, as his usual, perpetual expression is goofy and happy.

“Am I missing something?” I ask.

Without a word, Cohen moves to a corner of the backyard. Branson and I follow. He glances around then leans in towards us, his voice lowered.

“I didn’t really want to get into it here, but since Bran brought it up…”

“Sorry, bro, but I’m worried about you.”

“Can one of you tell me what the hell is going on?” I insist.

“So you know how Andi and I’ve always said we don’t want kids? We’re happy being aunt and uncle to yours?”

I nod, glancing back at Andi then to my brother. “Wait, is Andi—”

He cuts me off with a shake of his head. “Not exactly. I mean, no, not at all. Long story short, because one, I don’t want to dwell on this tonight, and two, because I don’t think I’ve really had the time to let it all sink in: We had a scare. For about a week, Andi thought she was pregnant. Turns out she wasn’t. When she went to her doctor for a checkup, her blood work came back wonky, for lack of a better term. We’ve been referred to a reproductive endocrinologist. Even if we don’t want kids, her doctor recommends we make an appointment to determine the cause of her abnormal blood results. The thing is…”

“The scare’s making you question your previous mandate of no kids,” I guess.

He snaps his fingers. “Precisely. I’ve always been blasé about it. Never really thought of it either way. Since Andi didn’t want them, I was cool with it. The way you two keep cranking them out’s gonna keep me busy enough.”

I elbow Branson. “You guys better hurry up with number four.”

He groans. “We just got Andrew out of diapers, man. Don’t put that bad ju-ju on me.”

Cohen chimes back in. “I don’t know if that’s going to be good enough for Andi. I find her gaze lingering on babies at the grocery store. The other day, she picked up an outfit and asked me if I thought it was cute. Sure, a panda eating bamboo on a onesie is adorable.” He rolls his eyes. “I won’t be upset if Andi changes her minds about kids. I’m perfectly happy with it. Hell, I think I’d make a great dad. What worries me is going to a doctor and finding out that we have problems and we won’t be able to. What if it’s a case of wanting what you can never have? What if it’s not and she can’t ever have the one thing she never knew she wanted?”

“You’re getting way too ahead of yourself, Coh,” I tell him. “You can’t dwell on any of that when you haven’t even made a doctor’s appointment. My advice? Do it. Not just to know about the possibility of a future pregnancy, but to also make sure Andi’s all good. And let’s say there is a problem but Andi still wants kids. There are plenty of other options out there. Just…don’t think about that yet. Take it one day at a time. You worry too much and you’ll start to go gray like Branson.”

“Just as I’m about to compliment you, you turn asshole mode back on,” Branson quips.

I crack my knuckles. “Bran, I can only dole out so much touchy-feely stuff in one evening. You’re just unfortunately in my line of fire.”

Cohen completely ignores our banter. “You’re right, Knox. I can’t dwell. Hell, I’m a doctor. I know more than anyone that abnormal blood tests aren’t the end of the road. It could be something as simple as her not getting enough iron.” His chest heaves as he sighs. “Except an OB/GYN would’ve been able to correct that. You know what? I’m getting a copy of her chart. Check out the results myself.”

“No.” It’s more forceful than I intended. “You’re a surgeon, Cohen, not a baby or hormone doctor. You may be more keen on the medical mumbo jumbo than the