taken up residence on my sofa. He hasn’t hinted at wanting to hook up again, and for that I’m grateful. He still has breakfast ready in the mornings, and I don’t know how he manages on so little sleep. The man spends most nights keeping an eye on me on the other side of the bar while I’m working. He’s still awake when I crash in my room, yet, he’s up every morning before I roll my sleepy ass out of the bed. If I take a good long look, I’d say he’s an excellent roommate.
“Simone Murphy?” a nurse calls after opening a door to our left. We all three stand, gaining the attention of every other waiting person in the room.
God, I wish doctors gave you numbers to be called instead of using our names. I ignore all the stares and the teen in the corner working hard on a dance I’ve seen several times on Tik Tok. Seeing how young she is makes me want to delete the damn app, but I’d be a fool to do that. I spend way too much time watching people act like idiots for content, that I wouldn’t have anything to do without it.
“Good afternoon,” the nurse says as she steps to the side to allow my entourage enough space to walk into the back area. “Just hop up on the scale.”
I set my purse on the table to the side and climb on.
“Down four pounds,” the nurse says, but it isn’t met with the same enthusiasm as I imagine it would be if I weren’t pregnant.
I ignore both of the guys’ heated stares, knowing I won’t be able to avoid the conversation I imagine is coming later. Hopefully, they’ll leave it until we’re alone.
“Just this way.”
The appointment is enveloped with tension, beginning with the doctor unable to find the heartbeat with the doppler device. The guys seem anxious even when he explains that it’s still early in the pregnancy and sometimes hard to hear without an internal sonogram. I keep my eyes down while both guys get swabbed, ignoring the way the nurse’s eyes rake over both guys without a hint of subtlety. If I had to guess, I bet she’s judging me for my predicament while simultaneously wishing she were sitting in my spot. I guess that’s one of the few contradictions of being stuck between two gorgeous men.
I roll my eyes when I watch her slip Jinx a piece of paper. She grins brightly when he tucks it into the front pocket of his jeans. Rocker seems insulted, but he doesn’t say a word to his friend. If anything, the man looks like he has swallowed a handful of nails.
After my blood is drawn and the super helpful nurse tells me that it’ll be a week before the test results are in, we leave.
“How about lunch,” Jinx suggests.
Rocker immediately agrees, and I keep my mouth closed before I confess that my stomach is tied in so many knots that I’m not hungry.
They must be able to read my mind because they stop on the sidewalk, both of them facing me.
“Don’t argue, Simone. You’ve lost four pounds.”
Jinx nods his agreement with his friend
“Lack of weight gain in the first trimester isn’t unusual. Most doctors would even consider it healthy,” I argue.
“Weight loss isn’t healthy, either. Have you been getting sick?” Rocker looks concerned as he asks, but instead of stepping closer to me like I hope he will, he keeps his distance.
“She doesn’t get morning sickness. Sometimes at the bar she has to step away, especially if someone orders a Bloody Mary, but she doesn’t puke,” Jinx answers for me.
I glare at him.
“She doesn’t eat much,” Jinx adds before crossing his arms over his chest.
“I’m—”
“Simone,” Rocker warns. “We’re going to lunch.”
With a steady hand, he presses it to my back and ushers me to the SUV.
“Fuck,” Jinx mutters when his phone rings. “You guys go ahead.”
Without another word, he walks off.
“I need it done faster than that,” I hear Jinx say before I turn my eyes back to the other man hell-bent on making my life a mess.
Rocker takes it in stride, helping me into the front seat before walking around. The air inside is stifling in the heat, especially since every damn vehicle of theirs I’ve been in are matte black, but he turns the air on, rolling down the windows as soon as he climbs inside.
“Any preferences?” he asks as he turns all the vents in my direction.