Chapter 1

We"ve been sitting in the doctor"s office for the last ten minutes, waiting to be called. I am twenty-six weeks along and finally ready to find out if we are having a boy or a girl.

In the early stages of my pregnancy, Donnie and I decided to keep the gender of our baby a mystery and let it be a surprise. However, my curiosity got the best of me when I visited a baby store and saw all the adorable baby clothes, and I couldn"t wait any longer.

"Don"t be so nervous," Donnie says with a chuckle, trying to ease my nerves. Before I can respond with a smart-ass remark, there is a light knock at the door. The doctor enters the room with a warm smile. Her white coat sways with each step. "Hi, Sadie. My name is Dr. Kate Raver. Are you finally ready to find out the sex of the baby?" she asks in a soothing voice, her eyes sparkling with excitement as if she"s the one who"s pregnant.

"Yes, we are," I say, returning her smile. Donnie gently squeezes my hand, silently reminding me that he"s right beside me. The doctor readies the ultrasound machine, moving it closer to me. With practiced ease, the doctor lifts my shirt, exposing my belly. Donnie"s hand tightens around mine as the doctor applies a cold, slimy gel to my stomach. Then the doctor places the wand on my skin and starts to move it around. I hold my breath, intently watching the monitor as the doctor searches for a glimpse of our baby. I can feel Donovan's racing pulse pounding through his wrist.

The room is quiet except for the soft hum of the machine. Suddenly, the doctor breaks the silence. "Well, it looks like you two are going to be parents of little boys." Her words are accompanied by a wide, infectious grin that spreads across her face.

Our eyes widen in surprise, and Donnie"s face lights up with pure happiness. However, his smile is short-lived.

"Wait. What do you mean, boys?" Donnie asks in a bewildered tone as if he is reading my mind.

"Yes, boys. You"re having twins. See?" She points to the screen and shows us two distinct heads. "That"s baby A, and that is baby B."

Silence envelops the room as we process the news. The realization that we're having twins hits me like a ton of bricks. Tears well up in my eyes as I look at Donnie, whose face is a picture of utter shock.

"Twin boys?" I utter, my voice trembling with fear.

Two babies.

Sophia is going to have not one brother but two.

Two.

How the hell am I supposed to care for two boys and Sophia? That"s three babies while we're going to college. The mere thought causes my heart to race and pound against my chest. I withdrew my hand from Donnie"s grasp. Feeling a cold sweat break out on my palms, I rub them repeatedly against my thighs. Our apartment is already cramped with three girls and a single bathroom. Now we need to make room for two babyboys.

I can already hear Tia in my head: "You should"ve never opened your legs to begin with."

Yeah, well, no shit.

"Yes, you heard correctly," she confirms, her voice gentle yet joyful. "Do twins run in the family?" Donnie and I exchange glances. I assume his mind is racing with thoughts and questions like mine, but neither of us dares to speak. After what seems like an eternity, Donnie breaks the silence with a nervous laugh. "Yes," he mutters, his voice barely above a whisper. "Wow. Two boys."

The doctor nods sympathetically, appearing to understand the magnitude of what she has just disclosed to two teenagers.

Teenagers.

"It will certainly be a challenge," she acknowledges. "But with each challenge comes great joy." I know her words are meant to comfort us, but they only remind us of how blessed and fucked we are.

I look at Donnie and notice his eyes shimmering with tears of happiness. "We can do this, Shorty," he says, his voice unwavering. "We"ll survive this just like everything else." Donnie helps me sit up and places a kiss on my forehead, offering me a tender smile.

The doctor smiles reassuringly at us. "I"m confident you two will make wonderful parents," she says while printing off several images of our twin boys and handing them to us.

I feel a weight lift off my shoulders as I gaze at the sonogram pictures of the two little lives growing inside me. However, when the doctor speaks up again, I can"t help but feel a twinge of anxiety. "Sadie, I"d like to see you sooner than normal," the doctor says. Donnie"s body stiffens, and my heart races as I wonder what could be wrong.

"Is everything okay?" I ask with trepidation.

The doctor nods and smiles, but I know there is more to the story than what she"s saying.

Dr. Raver sits on a stool with wheels and gracefully folds one leg over the other.

"You are at a higher risk of complications like premature birth, preeclampsia, and fetal growth restriction."

Donnie wraps his arm around my shoulder, pulling me close as I ask in confusion, "Wh-what?"

"I don"t want to cause panic," she quickly says.

Too late.

"But it is common to experience complications in pregnancies with multiples," she adds while looking through my medical file. "I don"t see a history of serious health conditions in your family so I wouldn"t be overly concerned. However, as a precautionary measure, I want you to come in sooner for regular check-ups given your age and since the stress of going to college while being pregnant can take a toll on your body."

She turns to grab a brochure. She hands it to Donnie and me and continues. "Make sure you get enough protein, drink plenty of fluids, and get enough rest. Remember, you"re carrying two babies, so double your calorie intake and eat nutritious foods to support their growth." Her tone is firm but soothing. I still can't help but feel a twinge of worry. After all, this is my second pregnancy, and I know that no two pregnancies are similar. I lean forward and ask Dr. Raver, "What about my symptoms? Are they going to get worse?"

When I was pregnant with Sophia, I didn"t experience morning sickness for long and could still eat my normal diet without nausea.

The doctor looks at me and says, "You might experience more intense symptoms. Sadie, you don't have—" But before she can finish, Donnie cuts her off. He has a look of fear, as if he's afraid of what the doctor is about to say.

"Like what? Anything serious?" he asks anxiously.

The doctor shakes her head and says, "No, nothing serious. Severe nausea, vomiting, and rapid weight gain are the most common symptoms." She reiterates that these symptoms are not unusual in second pregnancies and are usually manageable with proper sleep and diet.

She stands up and taps my knee. "Everything is going to be fine. You"re a healthy young woman." She smiles and puts the stool back in place. "Don"t forget to make an appointment sooner than normal." She gives me a pointed look.

"I will," I promise.

The doctor nods with a smile and walks out the door, closing it behind her.

We"re having twins— two beautiful baby boys. But the excitement is quickly replaced by annoyance as I turn to Donnie and glare. "You just had to have magic sperm, didn"t you?"

He looks down at me with a cheeky grin and says, "That"s right, baby."

I playfully smack his rock-hard abs from his casual, nonchalant comment, but the reality starts to sink in, and I start to freak the fuck out.

I feel panic rising within me. My mind is spinning with the lists of things to buy, the preparations to be made, and the thought of caring for two newborns at the same time. The walls in the room are inching closer and closer, suffocating me. The air around me feels heavy, as if my throat is constricting, and I am desperate for relief. I have a strong urge to scratch my skin, trying to escape this stifling room. Dread settles in as I frantically run through all the essentials we will need. Two cribs, a stroller to fit the boys, double the diapers, not to mention the endless supply of baby clothes and formula.

Donnie stands before me and gently takes my hands in his. He lifts them to his lips and plants a soft kiss on them. Looking into my eyes, he says, "Baby, don"t stress out. Didn"t you hear what the doctor said? It"s not good for you or the boys."

Images of sleepless nights and endless feeding sessions while going to school, work, and taking care of my daughter, Sophia, fill my mind. Oh, my God. I feel like I am drowning in a sea of apprehension.

"Donnie," I whisper, "how will we do this? How will we manage everything? What if we can"t handle it?" The questions spill from my lips in a torrent of anxiety, and I search for solace in his ocean-blue eyes, desperately hoping for some shred of reassurance.

"Don"t worry, Shorty," Donnie replies, his voice a steady anchor amidst my tumultuous thoughts. "We"ll take it one step at a time."

He turns his hat backward and leans closer. His warm breath tickles my skin, and his strong hands cup my face. My heart races as his fingers glide down the back of my neck, sending shivers down my spine. And then, with a gentle pull, he draws me in for a kiss that leaves me breathless. The sensation of his soft lips against mine is electrifying, and for a moment, I forget about everything else. When he pulls away, he says against my lips, "Don"t get me wrong. I"m sure we"re going to fuck something up along the way." He chuckles, softly stroking my cheeks with his calloused thumb. "We"re going to strike out because we"re not perfect, and there will be times when we hit a home run. We"re a team, Shorty. We got this."

His loving smile and cute dimples melt my heart, and I can"t help but smile, too. I reach out to caress his face and tenderly wipe away the black smudge under his eyes.

"Boys. We"re having boys, Shorty," he says with a grin.

His words give me hope, and I feel a flicker of courage ignite. I take a deep breath and brace myself for the whirlwind of our twin boys" arrival, knowing we will face whatever comes our way as a team.

Donovan

Twins.

We're having twin boys.

The thought of taking care of two babies, college, practice, and the expenses involved in raising them seems impossible. I worry about how we will find the time and energy to provide for them and give them the best possible care. The list of tasks ahead of us seems endless—I need to research what baby gear to buy, set up a new apartment and a nursery, and read parenting books. I don"t know if we need to go to a parenting class. Should I also be adding that to the list?

It feels like Shorty and I are going through the same anxiety, but my worries are amplified by a hundred. I will do everything I can to keep my feelings to myself, as I don"t want to trigger any more panic in her. Causing additional stress may result in harm to both her and our babies.

Don"t get me wrong, I"m fucking excited that my girl is carrying my babies, but I wish it had happened later in life when I was better equipped to provide for my family. I want to be able to give them everything they need and deserve.

But when I look at Shorty, and my boys in the sonogram, I am determined to be the best father to my boys and the best man for my girl.