19. Juniper

NINETEEN

"Lawson, I'm pretty sure you're going to have to let my stomach go at some point." We've settled into our life together pretty easily these past few months. Don't get me wrong, Lawson still thinks I work too much and should be sitting down with my feet propped up ninety percent of the time, but at least he's choosing to keep his mouth shut. His facial expression says it all, the clenching of his jaw combined with the way he takes his hat off, running his fingers through his hair but gripping the ends in aggravation. I don't help matters either. Instead, I like to push it a step further, usually by pulling out a step stool to reach something on a higher shelf. He'd mutter that I was trying to give him more gray hair all while pulling the small ladder out of my hand and getting me what I need. We usually end up having a hot and heavy make-out session, or on the rare occasions Lawson will remember to flip the lock, we"ll get even hotter and heavier. My first trimester may have given me a run for my money in the nausea department, but it did not impede my sex drive. In fact, it hasn't let off yet. For the most part, it's me initiating sex, especially in the morning now that I'm over the morning sickness hurdle. Lawson doesn't seem to mind one bit, and when his electric-blue eyes lift, I'm met with a searing desire, and he's either pulling me away from his cock that my mouth is around or lifting me up to sit on it, taking me soft and slow while watching as my body moves on top of him.

"Not happening, Juni." He's refusing to sit down next to me. Lawson is standing like a sentry with one hand on my abdomen. The other has my fingers laced with his. This has not changed over the course of my pregnancy, and I don't see it changing anytime soon.

"Suit yourself." The paper crinkles beneath me as I try to settle in as much as I can. I almost went with a sundress today, and I'm glad I didn't. As it is now, my floral skirt is below my stomach, and my shirt is tucked underneath my bra. The look is laughable, kind of like my monthly visits to the obstetrician, except my feet are in stirrups and I'm naked from the waist down. Though, Lawson complains about the scenario more than I do, and believe me, he's at every appointment, every scan, and he's very thorough in questioning Doctor Rosales. I've tried to simmer him down. I even talked to his mom, who assured me Russell was the same way and by the time the second one comes around, he"d calmed down. She imagines Lawson will, too, you know, considering they're two peas of a pod.

"I think we should wait," I blurt out.

"Wait on what, getting married or moving in with each other?" Yeah, all this time later, and we still go back and forth between places. I'm not ready to make any big changes, worried about rocking the boat and that Lawson could one day get tired of my neurotic tendencies to hyper fixate on keeping a clean house.

"No, I'm standing firm on the no wedding until our child is born. I want the day to be magical and our child to be a part of it." I also don't want to be pregnant while saying our vows. I'd like to celebrate with a couple of glasses of champagne, and to really have time to plan it with Catherine.

"Good, you're moving in today, then?"

"Also no. I think we should wait on finding out the sex of our baby. Wouldn't it be fun to be surprised?" We're here today for the full anatomy scan, which entails measurements of our baby's organs and body parts to make sure they're growing appropriately. And we can also learn the sex of our child. I'm kind of leaning in that direction of not wanting to find out. Lawson's facial expression is telling me all I need to know.

"Juniper, babe. You're a planner. You have dinner planned a week in advance, you order supplies well in advance, you like order, and I'm not faulting you for being you. Think of it this way, how are you going to have everything you want or need? Not knowing will create a fire in you, trying to prepare everything." He isn't trying to talk me out of it. He's trying to make me see reason.

"Fine, you're right." I cross my arms over my chest. These newly acquired boobs are doing nothing to help my breathing with how I'm sitting, and while Lawson is infatuated with them, they tend to get in my way.

"Let me write this down. Not sure I'll ever hear those words coming out of your mouth again." He shoots me a wink and says, "Plus, I've gotta prepare the uncles. We have a girl as gorgeous as you, I'm going to need all the help I can get to keep them away."

"A girl? What about a boy? Do you see yourself every morning? I've heard the stories from your mom. There was a time or ten she had to take the phone off the hook because the hussies would call non-stop. Hussies was her word, not mine, by the way." He goes to reply, but a knock interrupts our conversation.

"Hi, I'm Gianna. How are you today?" The ultrasound technician comes in full of energy.

"Hello, I'm good. Kind of cold, to be honest." I let out a nervous laugh.

"You need a blanket?" Lawson asks, ignoring the technician. Alpha mode activated.

"I'm good, honey. Promise." I squeeze his hand, settling him down.

"Are you sure?" Gianna asks.

"I'm positive." She nods, then heads toward the sink to wash her hands.

"So, are we finding out the sex of your baby today?" Gianna is turned in such a way that she can see and hear my response.

"Yes, please." I look from her to Lawson. He tips his head down, mouthing the words we got this, babe, love you.

"Alright, first, we'll see if you're having a boy or a girl. Then we'll do the measuring stuff." Gianna walks toward me. The machine is set up on the opposite side of where Lawson is standing. As soon as she's within reaching distance, she grabs a medical drape sheet, tucks it into my bottoms, and then grabs a pair of gloves. It's always hard to be the patient instead of the nurse. I wanted to get everything prepped, but it would have ticked me off if someone did it in my clinic, so I refrained. Barely.

"This is going to be cold, sorry." Her hands are gloved up, and a loud squirt comes from the tube of ultrasound gel.

"It's worth it." I shrug, ready to hear our baby's heartbeat.

"Here we go." She runs the ultrasound probe along my stomach. She's careful in pressing down, and for that I'm thankful. My bladder is slowly kicking my ass. Plus, I always walk around with water in this massive jug Lawson picked up. The doctor mentioned once in passing to stay hydrated. The next day, he had this bright pink metal cup with a handle and straw delivered to the ranch. Overkill? Yes. Does he fill it up every morning and refill it during the day? Also, yes.

A loud whooshing circulates through the room, and my eyes instantly start to water. Lawson being Lawson recognizes it immediately. His head lowers to my ear. "Never gets old, Juniper. Love doing life with you, baby."

"Congrats, mom and dad, you're having a baby girl!" Gianna announces excitedly. The waterworks continue as Lawson kisses my temple, and it's not until after we're in the truck heading back to the ranch that Mister Macho Man lets on he's excited about our baby girl.