hell I expected you to come in here and say this. Shock the hell out of me, why don’t you?”
“You?” I sputtered.
He purses his lips. “Not that I want to be having this conversation with you, but you two are old enough to have had the safe-sex talk.”
I groan and cover my ears. “Anyway.”
Jack eyes my belly. “I thought you were gaining some weight. I was about to tell you to start with some more cardio.”
I growl at him and aim for his head with my paperclip-sword, though it sails past him when he ducks. “Asshole.”
“Is there anything you need? Do you want me to be there when you tell Dad?”
I shuffle out of my lightweight jacket, suddenly feeling hot and cold with dread. Again. “I’ve actually already told him. I was more worried about you, to tell you the truth.”
“There’s nothing to worry about, baby sister. I’m just glad it’s you and not me.” He studies my face again. “Are you sure? Could the doctors have fucked up?”
It’s at that moment when I promptly motion him with my finger to hold on a moment, while I proceed to throw up in his trash can.
THE DRIVE TO the doctor’s office took a small eternity, even though it’s usually possible to get anywhere in Nassau within ten minutes. Both Jack and Dad had offered to come with me. Even Sofie wanted to take off work and drive down. I told them all the same thing I’d repeated since I told them I was pregnant: I could do it myself. None of them believed me. Dad even threatened to show up anyway. “Tough shit,” he told me. I managed to convince him not to follow through, as long as I called him right afterwards with the news about the gender.
I smooth the skirt of my maternity dress with clammy fingers. My knees tremble as I open the door to the cool interior. The person behind me pushes it open more fully and I turn to thank them, until I see Jack’s familiar face.
My jaw drops. “What are you doing here?”
I throw my hands around his neck and he responds in my ear, “You should know better by now than to think I would let you do this alone.”
Tears threaten, but I urge them away with a few deep breaths. “Thanks, Jack.”
“Anytime,” comes the rumble from his chest. He sets me back with his hands on my arms and nods. “Let’s do this.”
I check-in with the nurse at the front desk and head over to the waiting area where Jack sits in a too-small chair with a pinched look on his face. His obvious discomfort makes me smile and I forget the anxiety that had begun to build on the drive over.
“What exactly are we doing today? There isn’t—” he clears his throat. “You aren’t going to be getting naked or anything, are you?”
I laugh. “They’re just going to do an ultrasound, make sure the baby is still developing as he or she should.”
“He,” Jack says. “It’s definitely a he. There’s no way Ben’s sperm made a girl. That boy is jacked on testosterone. You should come see him next time he’s at the gym. He’s a fucking powerhouse.”
I elbow him in the ribs when a mother shoots him a stern look. “Watch your mouth,” I whisper-scold , “The last thing I need is for the kid to come out cussing like you guys.”
Jack just grins and I know that’s exactly what is probably going to happen.
The tech calls us back and either my nerves or the baby make my stomach flutter. I’m going to ignore the nerves and focus on the baby. Either way, I can’t wait to find out what I’m—what we’re—having.
The exam room is separated into two different areas with a green paper curtain dividing them. The tech indicates the farthest table and I hop up, my clammy hands resting on my lap in front of my little stomach.
“Why don’t you lay back?” the tech suggests with a small smile. “Then we’ll take a looksee.”
Jack takes the chair by the table and places my hand in his.
I pull up my top and settle back. The tech squirts the gel on my stomach and I flinch a little at the cold.
“Sorry about that,” she says.
A blurry image appears on the screen and I squint to discern some type of body shape, but I don’t recognize anything at all.
“What the hell is that?” Jack says, leaning over me for a better view