Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82279 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82279 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Just as I'm getting ready to take my break, I get another text.
Payton: Do you have time to join me for lunch? I warmed up leftovers from last night.
As we do every Wednesday, Payton made us dinner, and we watched our shows together. He made a delicious tomato basil penne pasta dish that was to die for.
Kaitlyn: Hell yeah! On my way.
I don't waste any time and drive there as fast as I can.
As soon as I walk through the door, I smell the food, and my stomach growls. I set my bag down and find Payton in the kitchen.
"Hey there."
"Hey, just in time. Food's ready."
"Perfect. I'm starvin'."
He hands me my plate, and we sit next to each other at the table.
"What's in there?" he asks, pointing at my mini backpack.
"Oh, I brought my ovulation kit and TTC journal. Wanted to do a test on my break and see if a second line appears." I dig it out and show him.
He arches a brow and continues chewing as he looks through my stuff. "What's TTC?"
"It stands for trying to conceive. I've been reading forums like crazy, and most recommended tracking your ovulation with these strips. I was gonna wait until I started my period to track, but I figured I'd waited long enough. I ordered the kit a few days ago so I can start testing my urine three times a day."
His eyes widen as he stares down at it. "Three times?"
"Yep, because hCG levels, which is basically a pregnancy hormone the body naturally produces, will rise the closer I am to ovulation. So I gotta check as frequently as possible so we don’t miss the window. It’s crucial. As soon as the test line is as dark or darker than the control line, I’ll have one to three days until ovulation. Hopefully, we won't have to do this for very long," I state with an encouraging smile.
"Imagine if we had to do this for the mares three times a day and track their cycles." He looks at me with amazement.
"Considering y'all have a one-hundred-percent success rate, you wouldn't need to, but if you did, you should make Knox do it," I say, and we laugh.
"He'd be the one to fuck it up, and our customers would be pissed."
I flip through a few of the pages of my journal and show him how I plan to track my days and times. Though I think I'm past this month's ovulation window, it doesn't hurt to check, especially since I'm not on any birth control and my cycles can be sporadic.
"Isn't this the journal Kane made you?" he asks, inspecting the leather cover.
I snicker. "Yep, finally putting it to good use."
"I gotta admit, tracking all that sounds intimidating."
“It’s not too bad. I’m actually having fun learning about it,” I admit because I love researching the process.
While we finish our lunch, I share more information I found on the TTC forums. Some couples have been trying for years, and my heart breaks for them when it doesn’t work out. I hope that's not the case with me, but I'm not naïve enough to think I'm the exception. Most of the women in my family haven't had issues, but my aunt Courtney and uncle Drew did years ago. It's why they did IVF and ended up with triplets. I can only imagine how ecstatic they were, but I'd be content with just one.
"I think this was even better than the first time," I say as I swallow my last forkful of basil pasta.
"It really was. Had more time to marinate," he confirms.
He takes my plate, and I follow him to the sink. "I'm gonna tell my parents tonight."
"Finally, Kate." He chuckles while loading the dishwasher.
"I know, I've just been nervous, but I shouldn't be. I've lived at home long enough." I breathe out. "As much as I'll miss them, I'm excited to be your roommate!"
"Me too. Besides the baby-making times, not much will change, considering how often you're here anyway."
"Yes, but now I'll have my own room. I’ve been thinking more about all the redecorating I’m gonna do."
"Just remember, no dorm room-inspired vibes."
My head falls back as I laugh. “Don’t worry, I’m way past that phase. But maybe some nicer blinds, a few framed photos, and a couple of fluffy rugs. You also need a handmade quilt hangin’ off the back of your couch. Why hasn’t that happened yet?”
He shrugs. “Because you haven’t moved in yet. Guess you’re right, though. It’s finally time to gussy up the man cave.”
My heart hammers in my chest at how sweet and warm he always is to me, but especially now.
We chat for a few more minutes before we have to go back to work.
"Text or call me later after you chat with your folks, okay?"
"I will," I say over my shoulder when I reach my truck. "If you don't hear from me, they've murdered me."