“Really?” Piper asked and Erik could see that made her nervous.
“Yeah, he feels big but then again you are really small. We have to take it week by week, okay? Let’s check you out; scoot to the edge.”
Erik wanted to yell, Hell no! But instead he watched as some other guy put his hand up in Piper. Rage filled him and reason wasn’t showing its face. All he saw was red, but when he glanced down at Piper, he saw that she wasn’t enjoying it and that sort of made the whole experience tolerable.
After his examination the doctor said, “Looks good. You are maybe a fingertip dilated, if that. He’s dropped a lot, though, and like I said, I don’t think you’ll make it full-term.”
“But will he be okay?” Piper asked.
Erik was so busy hating the doctor that he hadn’t been listening. Was there something wrong?
“Yeah, he should be fine. There is always risk, Piper, but you are having him in the best hospital in Tennessee with a great doctor and my dad will be a phone call away; everything should be fine.”
Piper nodded, but he could tell she was still worried. “Okay.”
“All right,” he said, tapping her knee. “See you in two weeks, okay? Don’t worry, everything will be okay.”
Piper gave him a small smile and nodded as he left the room with another wave. He could tell she was upset and he didn’t understand why, so he asked, “What’s wrong? Can the baby not come early?”
“He can, but it makes me nervous.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want to talk about that right now. I want to know, what the hell was your problem with Dr. Richards?”
Erik glared. “You mean the Abercrombie and Fitch model?”
“Oh, come on!”
“You need another doctor, like a female one.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t like the idea of that guy’s hands up inside you,” he snapped back.
“Oh my God, Erik! Not only have I known him for years and he is a good friend, but he is also gay.”
Erik paused.
He knew that guy was checking him out! Biting his lip to keep from laughing, he looked over at the stages of pregnancy poster that was hanging on the wall. “So where are you on here?”
“Oh no you don’t! You don’t get to change the subject! Why does it matter, Erik, if he has his long, gorgeous hands up inside me?”
Erik whipped his head back to her and glared. “That’s not funny.”
“What? I’m just asking.”
When he didn’t say anything, she giggled as she leaned into him, giving him a wide smile. “Are you jealous?”
“Hell no. I have nothing to be jealous of.”
“Oh, is that right?”
Erik nodded before giving her a heated glance.
“Yup, because you’re coming home with me, and when I’m between your legs, giving you the most unbelievable pleasure you have ever experienced, the last thing on your mind will be Dr. Richards and his long hands. So, no, I am not jealous.”
Piper bit into her lip and with a breezy smile said, “I like this look on you; it’s sort of hot and makes me forget about everything I’m worried about.”
Erik shook his head.
“I’m not jealous.”
He would never admit that he was jealous, but he was. Erik had never been jealous a day in his life, and that made him realize he felt more for her than he thought. He had wanted to keep his feelings in check but apparently they had a mind of their own and he was falling for her fast and hard.
* * *
Sitting on the couch, Piper let out a long breath as she held her stomach. She was so nervous now, knowing that the baby could come early. Because if he did, Erik would leave and she wasn’t ready for that. Glancing up from her Kindle, she watched as Erik played his war games, shooting and stabbing people in the head. She wanted him to turn to her and tell her he was staying for the long haul, but she was starting to lose hope.
She thought by now there would have been some kind of declaration, some kind of reassurance, but there hadn’t been. Her stomach turned at the thought of him leaving. How was she supposed to readjust her life if he left? He was a part of her life now. Her heart was completely invested, she loved him, and she was starting to feel like a fool. Looking over at him, she let out a long breath as she shook her head.
She was an idiot.
“You ready to tell me what has been bothering you?”
Her eyes widened as he turned in his seat to look at her. When she didn’t answer, he stood up to come sit beside her. Taking her legs in his hands, he drew them over his legs and looked over at her expectantly.
“I know something is wrong.”
She shook her head; she didn’t know how to tell him that she was scared he was leaving her. Would he confirm her suspicions, or would he deny them? So much was scaring her, and she felt like she was drowning in it all.