“Are we dating? No. It was a one-time thing.”
Aidan chuckles. “Oh, man. Good luck, my friend, and congratulations on the baby.”
My head flies up, nearly colliding with Dallas’s, and I’m struggling to keep my breath.
“Twins?” I yell. “Did you …” My gaze flicks to Dallas, who looks in as much shock as I am. “Did he … did he say twins?”
“Sure did,” Aidan answers with a wide grin. “My first prenatal patient, and we’re having twins. Yes!”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, Doctor, but you’re new at this, right? Are you sure you know how to read these correctly? They’re probably more ancient than what you worked with in med school.”
Aidan is still smiling, not offended. “I read these things for years when I shadowed my father. I clearly see two fetuses.” He puts his finger on the screen. “Here’s baby one.” Then, he moves it over. “And baby number two.”
Holy shit. Holy shit.
Dallas is sitting up straight, mouth open, and staring at the screen like he has to memorize it for a test tomorrow.
I can’t think straight. I was scared shitless when I thought I was having one baby. Now, I’m having two?
Double the responsibility. Double the diaper-changing. Double the expenses. Double the help I’m going to need from Dallas. Double the time we’ll be spending together.
“Let’s get lunch.”
I stop in my tracks and coldly gape at him. From now on, I’ll be placing all of this pregnancy blame on him because it’s too much for me to carry two babies in my body along with the responsibility of our choice on my shoulders.
He knocked me up. I’m the one who has to push the babies out, so he can deal with the blame for the pain and fear I’m experiencing. It only makes sense.
“Lunch?” I repeat. “Don’t you mean, let’s find a safe, pregnancy-approved Xanax? Or let’s go to yoga? Or find a stress-management class? Did you hear what Aidan said? I have two babies inside me.”
We found out we’re having twins, and he wants to get fucking lunch? Surely, I can’t be the only one in shock.
Lucky for me, Fiona was on break and unable to witness the panic in me when we left the exam room.
He stares at me with unease. “I heard him loud and clear. Two babies make feeding you even more important.”
“Are you not fucking terrified?” I shout.
We’re on the sidewalk outside the doctor’s office, which isn’t too far from the town square where most of the people hang out and gossip. There’s a chance someone might hear us, but I don’t care right now.
He takes a deep breath. “Nervous? Yes. But it’s nothing I can’t handle.” He takes the step separating us and runs his hands over my arms. “You can do this. We can do this. You’re going to be a great mother. When the babies come, your instincts will kick in, and you’ll have it figured out. Hell, I’ve seen you do shit for Stella that’s more demanding than children. So, yes, I’m nervous and surprised as fuck, but I’m relieved, knowing our twins will have a kick-ass mother. I trust you. I have faith in you. It won’t be easy, but we’ll make it work.”
I scrunch up my face when he snorts. “What’s so funny?”
“I bet you’re glad you didn’t hide this from me now. Admit it. You’re going to need my help.”
“You’re changing all the diapers, by the way. That’s your daddy duty.”
“Whatever you need, I’ll be here.” He rubs his hands together. “Now, how ’bout that lunch?”
“Lunch together? Like, in a public place?”
He chuckles. “Yes, together. There’s a diner down the street that serves the best sandwiches and pies you’ve ever had.”
I fake a yawn. “Thanks for the invite, but I’m pretty exhausted.”
I used to feel comfortable with spending hours with Dallas. We traveled together for weeks straight at times and ate meals together, and it never felt weird. So, why does it seem like such a big deal now? We slept with each other, for God’s sake.
“Come on.” He places his hands together. “Please.”
“Fine, but a quick meal, and that’s it.” It’s hard to turn down this man.
He grins in victory. We pass small shops and bakeries before stopping in front of Shirley’s Diner. Large windows line the front, and I see the prying eyes before we even step foot inside. My anxiety triples when I follow him to a booth at the front of the diner sitting along the window.
“You okay?” he asks when we sit down.
I lean in and lower my voice. “They’re staring at me like I’m from a different planet.”
“They’re just curious.” He rests his hands on the table. “Say the word, and I’ll get up from this table and tell them to stop.”
“You’d do that?” I grab his arm when he starts to get up and let my fingers linger around his muscle before slowly peeling them away. “No!” I spread my napkin across my lap in an attempt to calm my nerves. “Forget I said anything.”
An older, dark-skinned waitress comes to our table. “Dallas, it’s nice to see you. I was afraid you’d been cheating on me with a new diner.”
Dallas chuckles. “You know I’d never betray you, Shirley. I’ve just been busy.”
She waves off his response with a grin. “You know I’m only giving you a hard time.” Her lips form a sincere smile when she glimpses at me. “And I see why you’ve been busy. What can I get for you, sweetie? Iced tea? Lemonade?”
“Lemonade.” I hold the menu up and set it back down. “And whatever today’s special is.”
“I’ll have the same,” Dallas tells her.
Shirley grabs our menus. “Coming right up.”
“She’s nice,” I comment when she scurries over to the booth across from ours.
“Blue Beech is filled with nice people,” he replies.
“I’m assuming you meant to say nosy people.” How bad will it get when news about my inhabited uterus gets around?
“Yes, they’re nosy, but they’ll lend you a helping hand without asking for anything in return, feed you, take care of your pets when you’re out of town, and always make sure you’re doing okay when something tragic happens. They’re only staring because they want to get to know you.”
“Or because they’re not used to seeing you with someone who’s not Lucy.”
A hint of a frown hits his lips, and his shoulders stiffen. “You could say that. I’ve been the town’s brooding bachelor for a minute now, who’s never been seen with another woman.”
“They see you as a traitor. You’re finally seen with a woman, and she’s an outsider.” I stop when I catch my words, my brain scattering to backtrack them. “Not that we’re, uh … more than friends. Just friends sharing a meal.”
“They’re well aware we’re more than friends sharing a meal.” He relaxes in his seat. “They’re really going to find out when you start to show and wear clothes that don’t swallow you up.”