Page 49 of Honest Boys Don’t Play

“Happy to hear it.” She looks at the papers again. “Well, good news. You passed with flying colors. The nurse mentioned you said you might be interested in knowing the baby’s sex, I’m happy to share it with you if you want to know.”

Luke shoots me a surprised look. I didn’t tell him I was mentioning it when I checked in.

I hold his gaze and nod. “Yeah, I do. I think knowing will be nice.”

“Are you sure?” Luke asks. “I don’t want you to do this for me.”

“I’m not.” Luke hasn’t brought up finding out the gender at all since I first admitted I wanted to wait. “This is my decision.”

My doctor gives me a kind smile. “I’m happy to tell you both that you’re having a baby boy.”

A boy.

I thought I didn’t want a boy, so I wait for the disappointment to set in, but it doesn’t and that sends relief flooding through my system.

A baby boy.

I feel happy.

Elated, even.

I put my hand over my stomach and sniffle. “A baby boy?”

“Yes.” She gives a soft laugh. “You’re having a son.”

Luke gently grips the back of my neck and pulls me in to place a kiss on the side of my forehead.

I turn to smile at Luke. “I can’t wait to meet him.”

“Me too, B. Me too.”

CHAPTER 17

LUKE

After confessing to Bertie about my obsessive thoughts of her going into labor and being the one to have to deliver the baby, I thought I might feel better. Instead, those thoughts sunk even deeper into my brain and wouldn’t let go.

It’s how I find myself now leaving a fire station a few towns over. After calling numerous places and explaining my predicament, down to even confiding about my OCD, this was the only one that would let me attend a class the firemen were having for training.

Bradley, one of the firemen, claps his hand down on my shoulder as he walks me out. He has gray hair and the fluffiest mustache I’ve ever seen. He took me under his wing when I came in.

“It’s okay to be a nervous, first-time dad. We’ve got you, kid,” he had said, putting me instantly at ease.

Now, he says to me, “You’re going to be a great dad, kid. Feel free to swing by the station once you get a car seat and we’ll get it installed for you.”

Great, I hadn’t even thought about that yet. It’s terrifying to think I might install something so crucial wrong. “I’ll probably have moved by then,” I admit.

Bradley shrugs. “Stop by any station near you then. We’re always happy to help.”

I take a deep breath. “Thanks. I appreciate all this.”

He waves a dismissive hand. “No worries. I just hope you feel better.”

I do, actually. I successfully delivered the dummy baby three times. My mind feels calmer knowing that if something happened where we couldn’t get to the hospital, I would know what to do.

“I do, believe me.”

Bradley gives a deep chuckle. “I’m glad we could help. You stay safe now.”