Best Laid Plans

Heartbeat

Perrie

"I have things to do today," I remind Jade as we walk into the hospital the next morning. I don't really. My conference doesn't start until tomorrow, I'm just a little anxious about being in a hospital with Jade. I'm not even sure why I feel this way, maybe because I simply hadn't envisioned any scenario where we would be doing anything baby-related together.

"Tyler said this won't take long," she assures me. "Then I'll drop you back at my place." Her place, because I've checked out of the Marriott and into Hotel Thirlwall. Jade wasn't letting me out of her sight until we'd resolved a few things. Like agreeing to marry her.

We stop for Jade to look at a hospital directory and I'm slightly relieved that she doesn't seem to know the route to her cousin's office. It gives me reassurance that she's not found herself in this position before, with a random girl she's knocked up.

We walk in silence, not touching, much in the way you'd imagine two people who don't know each other all that well might walk beside one another. Jade's dressed for work in a perfectly tailored suit and high heels. I'm dressed for a day of blogging in a pair of leggings and a T-shirt that says 'W.T.F – Where's The Food.' Honestly, mood. Especially now that I'm pregnant.

I take a subtle glance at Jade and let my eyes roam over her body.

I like her outfit.

I like her.

Dammit.

This is all so confusing. My life has been turned upside down since the moment I met her, and I don't know up from down anymore. Also, I'm moody as fuck, which isn't helping anything.

We find the office Jade's looking for in what appears to be a medical office wing of the hospital. I'm not paying all that much attention because I figure this is more her thing than mine. Once inside Jade steps up to the receptionist while I take a seat. It's just past nine in the morning and there are already two other women in the waiting room. One is visibly pregnant and alone, sneaking quick glances at Jade as she sits beside me, and I imagine what she's thinking. That I'm lucky. Lucky that my wife/girlfriend/partner cares enough to accompany me to my appointment.

If she only knew.

Don't be jealous of me, I want to tell her. I'm here with my one-night-stand who knocked me up and wants to put a ring on it like it's 1965.

Nothing to be envious of here. Move along.

The door beside the receptionist opens and a tall guy in a white lab coat is calling out to Jade with a huge grin. Oh, fuck my life, that's Jade's cousin? When she said her cousin was a gynecologist, I was picturing an old pudgy dude in his fifties or sixties. Jade's doctor cousin is hot. Seriously, those genes, damn.

I trail behind Jade, the door to reception closing behind us as Jade and Tyler hug before they simultaneously turn to me.

"Doctor Miller, but you can call me Tyler," her cousin tells me, extending a hand with another big smile for me. He doesn't seem put out by this little impromptu visit in the least, which puts me at ease. It only occurred to me as we walked in that I might be viewed as the slutty enemy here.

"Perrie," I tell him, relieved at his ease of manner.

Then we're in an exam room and Tyler is prepping me for a blood draw. I guess he's doing it himself as opposed to handing us off to an underling. Family perks, I suppose. He's quick and has an excellent bedside manner about him. Jade is chatting away with him about his wife and kids and it sounds like they're close, which surprises me, but I'm not sure why. I've already pieced together how close Jade is with her sister, but I guess I can't shake wanting to write her off as some kind of an arrogant player.