“What’s an ectopic pregnancy?” I asked, glancing between the two of them.

“It’s when a baby starts growing in a fallopian tube,” Sarai replied.

“And that’s bad, right?”

“Yes,” the doctor said. “Ectopic pregnancies aren’t viable. They can be very dangerous if they progress too far. There’s a danger of the fallopian tube rupturing and causing internal bleeding.”

“Rupturing?” I asked, feeling the blood drain from my face.

“Alex,” Sarai said, tugging on my hand. “You heard him say everything is fine.”

“It could’ve—” I shook my head a little and looked back at the doctor. “That would’ve been really bad, right?”

“But it wasn’t,” the doctor said calmly. He clapped me on the shoulder as he moved toward the door. When he got there, her stopped and turned to face us. “Everything looks good. Once you’ve had some fluids, you can head home.”

“Thank you,” Sarai said.

I couldn’t say anything. My tongue felt as if it were glued to the top of my mouth as I stared at Sarai’s hand in mine. She could’ve been really hurt. The difference between what would have been not viable and our currently growing baby was what—only a few inches? And what had he meant by “rupturing”? Like, exploding? Sarai’s fallopian tube could have exploded? I wasn’t a doctor, but that sounded really bad.

“Alex,” Sarai said, trying to meet my eyes. “Everything is fine.”

“But it almost wasn’t,” I blurted. “You could have exploded.”

“What?” she asked in confusion.

“Your fallopian tube could have exploded,” I said dumbly, staring at her in horror. “Why weren’t we more careful?”

“How could we have been more careful?” she asked, cocking her head to the side.

“I could’ve worn a condom,” I said in frustration, running my hand over my face. My hand was shaking. “Jesus, I should’ve—”

“Alex,” she said softly, pulling me toward her. “Come here.” She pulled me down until our cheeks were pressed together, her lips brushing my ear. “It’s okay,” she said gently. “Everything is fine.”

Jesus, she’d been right to be afraid. What if something went wrong? What if something bad happened?

I closed my eyes and pressed my forehead against hers, turning so that I could kiss her.

“This wasn’t a bad idea,” I murmured. “I promise. I know that shit is moving faster than you wanted, but we’re not a bad idea. I love you so much.”

Sarai sucked in a sharp breath. “I didn’t mean it,” she said, her voice wobbling as her hands came up to cradle my face. “I’m so sorry.”

“You’re the best decision I ever made,” I rasped. “I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you.”

“I love you,” she whispered, pressing her lips to mine. “Everything’s going to be fine.”

*  *  *