Frank and Lucille are together on high-top stools, talking and laughing and Frank’s expression says it all.
Man down.
Another one bites the dust under the charms of a captivating Merlini woman. I can totally relate.
I feel your pain, dude. I feel your pain.
17
Walker
The weather is growing warmer now and the sun shines brilliantly, high up in the sky. I roll up to Penny’s crumbling curb in my truck. Today’s the big day and here I am, picking her up so we can drive over to the clinic and get this over with. As I watch her bouncing up to the passenger side, I wish I could drum up that much excitement over today’s events.
She climbs into my truck, handing me a travel mug.
"Seatbelt," I grumble.
As usual, she makes sure to roll her eyes a full 360 degrees before she snaps her seatbelt.
I smirk, taking the mug from her. “Coffee?”
She wrinkles her nose. “Actually, no. It’s Horny Goat Sacred Stork Peppermint Fertility Tea. It’s full of horny goat weed, ginko leaf, and licorice. All natural ingredients that will do wonders for your sperm count.”
My gut churns riotously. I gag a little. Horny what?! “What in the actual fuck, Penn? I’m not drinking that.”
She laughs. “Just kidding. It’s coffee. Sorry, I’m just trying to keep the mood light. But seriously. That tea is totally a thing, and I almost bought some online for you, to get your swimmers in tiptop shape.”
I shoot a glare in her direction as we head off toward the clinic. "My swimmers are world-class, thank you very much."
She ignores my stink eye, and I hear a heavy sigh come from her. “I have to admit—I’m a little nervous about today.”
Her confession surprises me. She’s been nothing but excited since she accepted my help. Now that the day is finally here, I expected her to be over the moon.
“Come on, woman. You have nothing to be nervous about, because you’ve got me." She glances over to meet my gaze. "Badass cowboy and your best friend.” I lift my right arm, flexing my bicep. “I’ve got your back.”
“Thanks,” she says with a large grin, melting back into her seat. Her gaze drops to my arm. She bites her lip. “I wonder if the baby will grow up to be strong like you…”
I puff up with pride at her comment. She continues to ramble, trying to make guesses on what her child will look like. What traits will it pick up from each of us? Who’s personality will the baby inherit? She goes on and on, excitedly, and I can see how much she desperately wants this.
She’s going to be a great mother.
But I still can’t get over this vision of getting Penny pregnant in the traditional way. And yes, I'll admit that half of that is just me being a horny pervert. But the other half...I can’t imagine she’s spent the past thirty years dreaming of getting turkey basted while spread-eagle on a table in a cold, sterile medical facility while a bunch of voyeuristic medical students look on.
No. I can’t imagine many women plan on going this route.
It’s their fallback when plans go awry.
Maybe I'm totally out of line but I don’t want that for Penny.
I drink my coffee quietly as we draw closer to the clinic. I’m half-listening to her ramble. I must have missed a cue to speak up though, because she lays her hand on my arm right as I pull my truck into the parking lot. “Are you getting cold feet, Walker?”
'Cold feet' is a fucking understatement. More like frostbite covering every inch of my body. But I will not let this woman down. This is her choice. Her body, her decision. I can’t let my uncertainties get in the way of her dreams.
I meet her bright green gaze with a smile. “My feet are nice and toasty,” I lie.
Penny’s feminine laughter fills the vehicle. "You really are the best friend a girl could ever hope for." She leans in and puckers her soft lips against my cheek. My whole body tingles. “All right. Let’s do this, Big Man.”
With heavy feet, I get out of the truck and follow her inside the clinic. As hard as I try to stifle down my reservations, I take every step with dread.
18
Penny
I get checked in for our appointment and find a seat next to Walker in the waiting room. His knee is bouncing violently next to me, but I try to ignore it. He’s nervous. I can totally relate. I mean, I’m nervous, too. But that’s mostly about being probed and (hopefully) impregnated within the hour.
We sit quietly together until a nurse comes out, followed by a flock of fresh-faced, eager-looking professionals in crisp white coats. The medical students.
The nurse calls my name. Walker stands alongside me, but when I move forward he doesn’t. His feet are firmly rooted to the flowered carpet. I glance back at him, then to the nurse.
“Well, aren't you a tall drink of something sexy?!” The woman eyes him up and down. I feel myself getting a tad territorial. He's with me, lady. Go find your own sperm donor.
The students are huddled together, whispering. One of them glances at Walker and blushes before mouthing to her friend, “He's so hot."
Oh, god—I hope my grumpy farmer didn't catch that. He wouldn't be comfortable with being under the microscope here.
I touch Walker's arm. "You ready?"
He seems to snap out of a trance. "Yes. Of course."
I follow the nurse and her eager ducklings down a brightly-lit hall, and I can hear Walker trailing behind.
We’re left alone in the exam room, and the thickness in the air intensifies. I'm sitting on the examination table while he's hunched forward in one of the plastic chairs along the wall.
I need to stop picturing what he’s going to be doing momentarily. But it’s hard not to think about it. I'm wondering what he'll look like. What expressions he'll make. Will he stroke himself fast or slow? Will he be using magazines? Does
