Chapter 11
Lacey
Have you ever heard the expression, ‘Does my bum look big in this?’ Well, that’s what I am going to ask from now on, but instead of 'bum,' it will be 'bump.
' I stand in front of the mirror and give it a side-eye. My jeans no longer fasten all the way, so today I opted for a pair of loose-fitting white linen pants and a lavender vest. It’s simple, but the fabric hugs my growing bump.
I put my hand above and below it to make the bump more pronounced and feel a rush of love swell up inside me, because inside this little bump is my beautiful Peanut.
My phone pings for the tenth time this morning, and for the tenth time, I ignore it.
Two weeks have passed since I got a text from Ted wanting to meet, for the baby’s sake.
For the baby’s sake, yeah, right. Since then, he hasn’t let up, and I’ve had several messages a day. God knows how he got my number.
The phone pings with a message again, and I look up and blow out a breath before snatching it up.
Cole
Saw you were low on your prenatal vitamins, so I’ve got them and a few other bits for you. I’ve given them to Nate to pass on
A smile touches my lips. Cole has always been thoughtful, the best friend a girl could have, but lately, it feels like something is brewing between us. I’m still unsure if this is one-sided or not, and until I’m certain, I won't risk losing our friendship.
A knock at the door startles me, so I make my way over and open it, but I am not prepared for what awaits me on the other side.
I double over laughing as I see Hayleigh holding a balloon that appears to be a sweet potato, on which is written ‘You’re Po-totally awesome’.
In her other hand, she has a gift bag. Emmy is holding a bunch of sunflowers and a shopping bag.
“Can we please come in? Although we know this is a sweet potato, it actually looks like a giant turd!” Hayleigh scrunches up her nose, which makes me laugh harder. I open the door wider for them to walk through.
Emmy heads over to the kitchen and puts the bag down. “Lacey, where do you keep your vase?”
“Bottom cupboard.” I watch as Hayleigh puts the gift bag down on my coffee table. “Is that for me?”
“Yes, and you can tell Cole that I will not be carrying any more turd-like looking objects!”
I snigger at the look on her face before something occurs to me. “Hang on, Cole told me he passed the things to Nate. Why do you have them?”
“Uhhh…well, actually…the thing is…”
“Hayleigh, stop yapping and give Lacey her gift!” Emmy shouts from the kitchen.
A look of relief crosses Hayleigh’s face, and I decide not to push my friend into telling me something she isn’t ready for. Instead, I nod to the bag. “Gimme then.”
She passes it over to me. The gift bag itself is white, adorned with daisies, and inside sits white tissue paper.
I open it up further to see a small burlap sack with the words 'Positive Potato’ on the front.
Inside it sits a small, crocheted sweet potato with a smiling face.
In the little guy's hands is a sign that says ‘Sweetie Potato 99% sweetness instead, she surprises me.
“Fuck the men. Who says you need to have it only to show it off to them? You want to feel sexy? Then do it for yourself. Plus, you’re gorgeous!” She grabs hold of my hand and tugs me towards the maternity section.
She takes a good look at me, to the point where I might squirm under her gaze.
Just before it gets weird, she starts grabbing at things off the rails, then walks off towards the changing room.
When I don’t move, she turns back to face me.
“Come on, doll, hurry up!” So I do the only sane thing and follow after her.
She nods towards one of the changing rooms. “Get in there and take off your top and bra. We’re supposed to charge for this service, but I’ll do it for free.
” I splutter and my cheeks blaze. When she catches the look on my face, she doubles up laughing.
“Oh my god! I…am…so…sorry!” She struggles to talk while laughing, “I meant that I will measure you for free!”
When she says that and the penny drops, I can’t help but join in with her and laugh almost to the point I think I might pee. She helps me take my measurements, and sure enough, I’m now a whole two cup sizes bigger than I was before.
“I’ll leave these here for you to try on. Give me a shout if you need a hand.” She rolls her eyes. “In a non-sexual way, of course! You’re gorgeous, but I don’t swing that way.”
“Thank you…for your help.” I give her a small smile, then she turns on her heel and leaves.
I trail my fingers over the different fabrics that are hung out before me, and each one feels soft and luxurious.
Before I can second-guess myself, I take the red laced teddy gown and put both my arms through, then tie the ribbon between my breasts.
It cinches them together, creating a fantastic cleavage, if I do say so myself.
I don’t put on the underwear; instead, I leave my white lace thongs on. The teddy falls around my body, and the soft fabric clings to my skin. It feels incredible, and for the first time in a long time, I feel sexy, and I love the woman looking back at me in the mirror.
My bump looks amazing beneath the fabric, and I want to remember how I look now. Taking out my phone, I snap a couple of pictures of myself and send them to the group chat I have with Hayleigh and Emmy. I hear a whoop outside the changing room, and I swear I hear Hayleigh tell me to ‘get it, girl.’
My phone buzzes and I swipe at the screen, not realising that this was a video call… From Cole! Panic sets in, and I try my best to move the phone closer to my face.
“Oh…hey Cole!” Nonchalant Lacey, just act nonchalant!
“Uhh…fuck me…” Cole stutters, and he swipes a hand down his face. It’s in this moment that I realise my camera isn’t on my face at all. Oh no, it isn’t. The camera is facing forward…to the mirror…that is showing my entire body, great boobs and all, to Cole.
“Oh shit!” I quickly press 'end call' and throw my phone away, as if it had burned my hand.
“Hey, Lacey, are you done yet?” Hayleigh shouts through the door.
“Almost!” My voice squeaks out, and Hayleigh must think something’s wrong because before I know it, she’s barrelling through the door.
“Holy fucking sex bomb, Lacey!” She stands there staring at me, and Emmy’s eyes go wide as she mouths ‘wow’.
I usher them inside. “Girls, I have seriously fucked up!” I don’t give them a chance to jump in as I say, “I was taking a picture of myself, then my phone started buzzing and so I swiped at the screen…only it wasn’t a buzz, it was a video call…
from Cole!” They’re both bouncing on their feet and clapping like demented seals, so I carry on, “That isn’t the worst part!
The camera wasn’t facing my face but facing the mirror. And. He. Saw. Everything!”
I stand there waiting, and finally it’s Emmy who speaks first. “Well, thank goodness for that! You might get some now!”
Then the pair of traitorous little witches cackle their heads off.
**********
When they have finished laughing their backsides off and we’ve rung up each of our purchases, we see that enough time has passed for us to head to our reservation.
Emmy has the joy of driving us around, and so we bundle into her car.
My phone starts to ring, and when I look, I see it is Cole.
I click him off, not wanting to answer the phone just yet, but I also don’t want to ignore him, so I fire off a quick message to him.
Me
I am so sorry about before! It wasn’t intentional. Until I get over the embarrassment of showing you my boobs, I won’t be talking to you!
Me
But you’re still my best friend! Sorry!
I turn my phone off so there can’t be any more temptation, and before I know it, Emmy is pulling into the car park of the restaurant.
We get out and walk over, and that’s when I hear someone calling my name.
I look around to find none other than Ted jogging over to us, waving and smiling like he didn’t just act like a giant arsehole a few weeks back.
I’m just about to tell him to sod off when Hayleigh and Emmy both step in front of me.
“What do you want, fuck nuts?”
He rears back at the venom dripping from Hayleigh’s words.
Ted completely ignores her and instead looks to me. “Lacey, I just want a few minutes of your time. Can you give me that, even if I don’t deserve it?” He practically pleads with me.
I don’t have the energy to argue, so I put a hand on Emmy’s and Hayleigh’s shoulders. “Go on in, I’ll only be a few minutes.” Emmy nods, but Hayleigh looks like she’s about three seconds out from going Def Con Five.
Emmy tugs her arm and directs her words at Ted.
“We aren’t leaving her out here with you; we will be standing in the doorway.
You have five minutes with her.” I’ve never heard Emmy’s voice so icy before; it makes me smile.
Hayleigh claps her teeth together, pretending to bite, and Ted scrunches his face in disgust.
Once they’re out of earshot, he turns to me.
“Okay, well, I wanted a few more minutes to do this, but beggars can’t be choosers…
” His joke falls flat as I stay silent, so he clears his throat.
“I just wanted to tell you how sorry I was for not believing you. I don’t have any good people in my life, and I lashed out immediately.
I want to try and make a go of it and be in the baby’s life. ”
I listen to the words coming out of his mouth, and I know I should feel joy at them; this is what I want. Isn’t it?
Instead, I find myself saying, “You accused me of lying and sleeping around. You pushed us away.”
He has the decency to look ashamed. “I know, and I do regret that. Listen, don’t decide now, but at least let’s go out for something to eat, where we can talk more. Would that be okay?” He looks at me so earnestly that I find myself nodding along.
He leans in and kisses my cheek before saying goodbye and jogging off in the direction he came from.
I turn to find my friends staring at me, but I can’t find the words to explain what just happened there. It turns out I don’t have to because they both have enough words for me.
“I don’t trust him; he’s up to something.” Hayleigh stares after him and shakes her head.
Emmy looks at me and rubs my arm. “You have to be careful with him, Lace. I’m getting bad vibes.”
I don’t know what it is, but it isn’t joy or happiness that I feel.
It’s dread.