Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
I picked up my bag from the chair next to mine and walked to the front desk. While waiting in line, someone tapped me on the shoulder. My heart raced hopefully.
“Hey,” Beau said, smiling when I turned around. “I didn’t know you were coming.” His grin turned into a smirk. “Or maybe we both are?”
He had the jokes. Returning his smile, I met his gaze, my whole body relaxing with relief to see him here. “I figured I’d just be here for moral support. Didn’t want to miss it.”
He furrowed his brow, looking concerned, and lowered his voice. “Am I going to have to do this in front of a doctor? I’m not sure I’ll be able to, you know…”
Oh, he’d be ejaculating today. I didn’t care what I had to do to make it happen. It was happening. I’d put up a privacy curtain or download porn onto my phone for him if needed.
I cleared my throat. “We’ll make sure…conditions are favorable.”
He nodded, looking relieved.
“Hey,” I said softly. “Have you abstained for at least forty-eight hours?”
He looked over each of his shoulders to make sure no one was within earshot. “Yep. I did everything they told me to do when I made the appointment. Hope they have an extra-large cup for my load.”
I’d wondered if a playboy like him would mind not coming for forty-eight to seventy-two hours before donation day. He was given a lot of medical testing by the Coyotes’ team doctor, and the records he’d provided had helped clear some of the preliminary testing required by my doctor’s office. Beau had passed all the required health screenings, and I was beyond eager to get things moving. It already felt like I’d been waiting forever.
We reached the front of the line and Beau greeted the receptionist before I had a chance to.
“Good morning, Dani,” he said, apparently reading her nametag. “Beau Fox. I have an appointment at 1:15.”
Ugh. What a time to be flirting. But I had a feeling flirting was like breathing for him—he did it without even thinking about it.
Dani looked back and forth between us, probably trying to figure out who I was to him. She was young and attractive. Beau could picture her while he jerked his gherkin if he wanted to; I didn’t care. Hell, he could take her out tonight for all I cared—as long as he made his donation.
“Do you want your partner in the room with you?” Dani asked Beau.
“No,” I answered for him. “I’ll wait out here.”
“Okay, you can have a seat, then,” she said.
Reluctantly, I walked away from the window, found a chair, and sat down. I didn’t want to sit right next to anyone, and I had to go all the way to the other side of the waiting room where I couldn’t hear a single thing that was happening at the window. I didn’t like it. I wanted to be as involved as I could in the process, though I drew the line at watching Beau masturbate.
To calm my racing pulse, I looked at photos of designer nurseries. Marlowe was going to help me thrift and shop for everything I’d need for a nursery once I got past my first trimester.
My doctor had prepared me for reality—I might not get pregnant on the first try. Or the second. This could be a long road of Beau jerking off into cups and me praying the procedure worked. And once I did get pregnant, there was always a possibility of miscarriage.
Having my hopes crushed would be hard, but I was prepared. I knew what disappointment felt like; I’d experienced a lot of it. I’d cry as many tears as it took to end up with a baby in my arms one day.
“Shelby.”
I looked up from the photos of a Harry Potter-themed nursery to see Beau standing in front of me, his expression what I expected it to be after finally getting to relieve his pent-up frustration.
“Can you…?” He nodded in the direction of the hallway that led to the bathrooms.
“Yeah, of course.”
I put my phone in my bag and followed him, the nervous churning back in my stomach. For the hundredth time, I worried he’d changed his mind. Would today be another disappointment to add to my list?
Once we were alone in the hallway, he crossed his arms and looked away, his brow furrowed.
“I can’t do it,” he said, his tone so low I could barely make out his words.
I closed my eyes. This was what absolute disappointment felt like. I’d thought we were past the point of decision making.
“You changed your mind,” I said, sighing.
“No, it’s not that. It’s that I can’t,” he hissed out, trying to whisper. “They put me in this little room with all these magazines, but I’m not putting my hands on a magazine that countless other guys have jerked off to. It’s just…sterile and even though it’s soundproof, I feel like people are watching me and listening.”