I thought about Jerry, about sheep, about the “love you” game-theory guy, in an attempt to keep away the worst thought haunting me: Maybe I’m going to lose everything anyway.

Chloe CHAPTER 45 DR. LIN

December 26

“Thank you for doing this,” I said to Drew, who was sitting across from me, atop the examination table.

We were visiting my community’s choice primary-care doctor on the pretense of Drew needing his eye checked. Upon arrival at the office, we had filled out a medical-history form—were Drew’s answers accurate?—before being ushered to a room by the receptionist, who I of course knew from church.

I glanced at Drew’s legs tapping against the side of the table. “I know this is a little demeaning. Okay, a lot demeaning.”

It couldn’t be fun for him to be playing up the altercation, but wasn’t it also good to get his eye checked out? It would certainly bring me a little peace of mind.

“Happy to do it for you,” he told me, though his refusal to meet my gaze indicated that he was indeed a little humiliated, which made his gesture even more amazing. Except, in a way, you’re paying him to do it, a nagging voice said in my head.

Dr. Lin walked in with a dramatic flourish. “Ah, Jing-Jing, nǐ hǎo,” he said, grabbing my hand.

“Shǔshú hǎo,” I answered, dipping my head slightly. Force of habit. “This is my boyfriend, Andrew. Thanks for seeing us.”

Dr. Lin shook Drew’s hand. “Andrew, nice to finally meet you. Well, officially. I saw you at the party but didn’t have a chance to introduce myself before everything.”

We all forced tight smiles. Except Dr. Lin’s wasn’t all that tight. Or forced. Maybe it was even a little hungry?

“And please, no need to thank me. I’m here for you. Both of you,” he said, pulling his squat, round doctor’s stool over and taking a seat. “Would you like me to check the baby?” He gestured to my belly.

And this was exactly why Drew needed to be the patient today, not me. Even if my appointment had been for something not baby-related, Dr. Lin would’ve given me an ultrasound, and that was just too messy. Not a good path to our goal of learning about my father’s health.

“How long has it been?” Dr. Lin continued. “Prenatal vitamins on the regimen, Jing-Jing? Do you have a birth plan?”

Even though a normal doctor would have asked these questions—or at least, I presumed they would have—I knew from the underlying glint in his eyes that he was digging for gossip and just wanted to know the whole story.

“Just Andrew’s eye for today, please,” I said, calmly but boldly, trying to take charge.

He cleared his throat. “You know that kissing doesn’t lead to pregnancy, right, Jing-Jing?”