You sit in the passenger seat with your arms crossed tightly, lips pursed, practically radiating resistance as the hospital creeps closer through the windshield. Your stomach twists the same way it used to before finals or dentist appointments—or maybe worse. Every mile feels like a countdown to your doom.

“Zayyyne,” you whine, dragging out his name like maybe if it’s long enough, he’ll turn the car around. “Do I have to do this today? Like, can’t we just reschedule? Just once?”

He doesn’t even flinch. One hand on the wheel, eyes focused like the responsible adult he always is, and the other hand slides casually over to your thigh. Warm, gentle. Calming—but not relenting.

“You said that last time,” he says, calmly. “And the time before that. You’re way passed this, babe. You were supposed to do this at twenty-one.”

You scoff, pressing your cheek to the window. “Yeah, well, I was scared then. And I’m still scared. That stupid metal duck-lips thing? And those paper napkin gowns? Literally no female wants to do this.”

He glances over at you when the light turns red. His eyes are soft, but there’s that doctor-seriousness in them. “I know. But this is important. I just want to make sure you’re okay. No cervical cancer. No scary surprises. Just you, healthy and safe.”

You groan. Loudly. “You sound so medical. Can’t you just say ‘okay, babe, let’s go home and forget this forever’?”

He smirks. “Nope. You’re stuck with a doctor who loves you and refuses to let you ignore your uterus.”

You gasp. “Zayne!”

He laughs, pulling into the hospital lot. “You being cute won’t get you out of this.”

You shoot him a glare, half playful, half desperate. “I will jump out of this car.”

“We’re going 15 miles an hour in a school zone.”

“I will roll. Out of this car.”

He parks with a patient sigh, then leans over and kisses your temple like you haven’t just threatened to escape via tuck-and-roll. “Come on. In and out. I’ll get you ice cream after.”

You eye him suspiciously. “Like the good kind? soft serve?”

“Yes. With toppings. Waffle cone. Whatever you want.”