Chapter 13

Felicity

I check the clock and realize it's almost two-thirty already. All day I've tried to keep my focus on work and not the fact that Shepherd will be going to my doctor appointment with me.

Yesterday was unexpected, much like everything between us. He says he's all in, but Karl said that too and I was left waiting at the altar in a wedding dress. It's just hard to believe that grumpy Shepherd is going to stick around. He couldn't bother to stay in touch the last few months after our night together, so my hopes of him sticking around after this doctor visit are low.

I'd never deny him being a part of the baby's life, I just don't believe he'll even make it to the end of the pregnancy. Sure, right now he's all in or so he says, but that night we spent together made me believe he was different and he proved me wrong.

"Why are you leaving early?" Emmie asks, leaning her hip against my desk.

"Gyno appointment," I say, making a face.

She laughs and stands straight. "The worst. All right, give me a call later. Let's make plans for the weekend. I'm feeling the need to get drunk."

I smile as I turn off my computer. "Yeah, I'll give you a call."

Now that Shepherd knows, it's probably time I tell my best friend. There's only so many times I can blow off going out before she starts really questioning me. After my appointment, I'm planning on asking Shepherd if we can go get something to eat and discuss everything. I'm hoping that out in public he'll be a bit more reasonable because yesterday when he started demanding things I wanted to punch him in the throat. In the same breath, his bossiness was sexy as hell and had me turned on all night.

I sigh as I walk outside. These hormones are the worst.

I look around and don't see Shepherd's truck. As I go to grab my phone I realize I don't even have his number.

"Great, Felicity, you don't even have your baby's father's number," I whisper, shaking my head.

Not only do I not have his number, but I don't know anything about him. Well, I know he works at his family's brewery, but that's all I know. I don't know what he does there. I have no idea if he's dating someone or what his likes and dislikes are. I don't know anything and that's something that needs to change.

If he sticks around.

Just as I'm about to give up on him and drive myself, I see his truck pull into the parking lot. My stomach erupts with butterflies and I'm not sure if it's because I'm excited or nervous. Maybe both.

He pulls up to the front of the building as I walk toward his truck. He jumps out and rushes over to open the door for me. I didn't peg him to be a gentleman.

"Thank you," I say, reaching up to pull myself into the seat. In the next second, I scream as he lifts me and helps me into the truck. "Umm thanks, but I'm capable of getting into a vehicle."

He sighs and runs his hand through his hair. "It's a high step," he mumbles, closing my door.

As I put my seatbelt on, he climbs into the driver's seat and glances over at me. "Are you comfortable?"

"I'm fine," I say.

I give him the address to the doctor and he puts it in his GPS before pulling away.

"How are you feeling?" he asks, keeping his eyes on the road.

"Tired, but good."

"Are you eating healthy? Are you drinking enough water? Are you taking prenatal vitamins?"

My eyes widen as I stare at him. I know he's asking because he's concerned for the health of his child, but for some unexplainable reason, it pisses me off.

"Seriously? You think I don't know how to take care of myself?"

He shakes his head, gripping the steering wheel tighter. "I found out yesterday that you're carrying my baby. I think I at least deserve to know that you're taking care of yourself."

I close my eyes as I let his words sink in. When I first found out, after the near panic attack, I started reading and googling everything. Maybe that's what he did too. He does deserve to know.

"I'm sorry. Yes, I'm eating healthy and drinking plenty of water. I am also very good with taking my prenatal vitamins. Although they make me feel sick so I take them right before bed."

His head snaps to me quickly before he focuses back on the road. "Why do they make you sick? Is that bad? Is it hurting the baby?"

I suddenly feel a ping in my chest from his reaction. He's worried about me and the baby. It's as shocking as him opening my car door. I reach over and rest my hand on his arm. He looks down at it a little too long before realizing he needs to look at the road in front of him.

"It's normal for them to make you feel sick. I checked with the doctor. She said most women take them before bed so they don't get that sick feeling. Since I've been doing that I've been good. The baby is not bothered by me feeling sick, that's my body, not his or hers." I remove my hand and fold my hands together on my lap.

"So you don't know if it's a boy or girl yet?" he asks.

"No, you can't tell until five months or so."

He glances at me and I swear I see a softness in his eyes. "How far along are you?"

"Not so good with math, huh?" I say, laughing at my own joke. He doesn't appear to find it as funny, so I clear my throat to get my laughter under control. "I'm four months."

He doesn't say anything, just nods as he pulls into the parking lot of the doctor's office. He parks the truck, turning off the engine. Before I can open my door, he reaches over and rests his hand on my thigh. It brings me back to that night and I remember vividly what his strong hands felt like when they touched me.

"We need to sit and talk about everything," he says.

I nod, finding it difficult to find my voice. His damn touch is turning me on and I can't have that right now. I can't have that ever.

I open my door. "Yeah we do. How about we go get something to eat after this?"

He agrees and I climb out of the truck before he can lift me out.

Once I'm signed in at the doctor, I sit down next to Shepherd. He's thumbing through a magazine and when he gets to an article about breastfeeding, he quickly closes it and tosses it on the table in front of us.

"So, what happens when we go back there?"

I shrug, crossing my legs. "This is only my second time here, so I have no idea. I'm hoping to hear the heartbeat again though."

He searches my eyes and I hate how I get sucked into his dark stare.

"You heard the heartbeat?" he whispers.

I'm not sure if what I see is hurt or hope in his eyes. Either way, it makes my heart squeeze. "I did. It was strong and healthy."

"Felicity," the nurse calls out.

I stand up, feeling like our moment was rudely interrupted. Shepherd follows right behind me, keeping his hands in his pockets as we step into the room.

"How's everything? Are you feeling okay?" the nurse asks.

I sit on the table as Shepherd stands in the far corner. "Everything is good."

"Great."

She takes my blood pressure and asks a few questions before telling us the doctor will be in shortly. As the door closes when she leaves, Shepherd keeps his eyes focused on the floor.

"You can sit in the chair, ya know."

"No, I'd rather stand."

I nod, unsure what to say. It's strange having him here. Hopefully, I'm not getting an internal exam, or something. That would be awkward.

There's a knock on the door and the doctor walks in. "Hi, Felicity. How are you?"

"I'm good, Dr. Kass. How are you?"

"Spent my morning delivering babies, so I can't complain," she says, laughing. "So, let's just go over a few things. I see the prenatal vitamins were making you sick. How has it been since taking them before bed?"

"Yes, I've been fine since."

"Great. Eating and drinking fine?" She taps away at the computer in front of her.

"Yes."

I glance at Shepherd and grin because it's just what he asked me. He doesn't return it though, he's laser focused on the doctor.

"Do you have any questions or concerns before I check you out?"

"No, I don't think so," I reply.

"Are we going to hear the heartbeat?" Shepherd asks.

Dr. Kass turns her head and smiles at him. "Yes. Are you the father?"

"Yes, sorry. Dr. Kass, this is Shepherd," I rush out, embarrassed I didn't introduce him right away.

"It's great to meet you, Shepherd. I'll get the exam over with quickly and if you'd like you can record the heartbeat on your phone."

He grabs his phone out of his pocket and a small grin plays on his lips. "Thanks."

Dr. Kass measures my stomach and feels around, telling me everything seems to be right on track. She explains that next month we'll do our first ultrasound and once I'm six months I'll be coming every two weeks. It's a lot to take in and I can't imagine being here that often, but one thing at a time.

That's what I've been telling myself since I peed on the stick—one thing at a time.

"Well, everything is great. How about we listen to this little one's heartbeat?" She grins at me and turns her head toward Shepherd. "You can come closer so you can get a good recording."

He moves toward my head and I turn to look up at him. His dark eyes are staring at my exposed stomach and damn if it doesn't cause those butterflies to return.

Dr. Kass squirts the gel on my belly and I suck in a breath.

"Are you okay?" Shepherd asks, worry clear in his voice.

I glance back up at him and smile. "Yes, it's just cold."

"Okay, get that phone ready, Dad."

Hearing Dr. Kass call him Dad has tears swimming in my eyes. I knew he was the father, but hearing someone call him dad feels different.

Once she puts the doppler on my stomach she only searches for a moment before the heartbeat is loudly beating around us. As we listen, Shepherd reaches down and grabs my hand, linking our fingers together. I close my eyes to keep the tears from spilling because it may seem like nothing, but it means so much to me in this moment.

"Should it be that fast?" Shepherd asks.

The doctor nods. "Absolutely. It's a strong fetal heart rate at 155." She pulls the doppler off, but looks at Shepherd. "Did you get that, or should we do it again?"

He squeezes my hand and says, "I got it, but I wouldn't mind hearing it again." As we listen again, he kisses the top of my head. "That's our baby."

A tear slips out this time as my emotions take over. "Yeah, it is," I whisper around the lump in my throat.

Dr. Kass smiles as she pulls the doppler off and wipes my stomach clean. "You can feel the love between you two. It's so clear to see how emotional this is for you both. If either of you have any questions or concerns at any time, please don't hesitate to call. In the meantime, continue doing what you're doing and I'll see you again next month."

I hate to move, but I need to pull my shirt back down and it causes Shepherd to take a step back. "Thanks, Doctor. It was great meeting you," he says, sticking his hand out.

She shakes it and grins. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Shepherd. Take good care of your girl." With that she leaves and I suddenly feel overwhelmed.

The doctor who is going to deliver my baby thinks Shepherd and I are in love. I hope she's better at delivering babies then she is at reading relationships.

Feeling awkward after everything she said, I stand up and force a smile. "So, how about that food?"

Wow, did I just really say that?