Page 33 of Letters to Lily

Brad: Hypocrite.

I laughed and put my phone up in my pocket. “No double date then, just the two of us tonight. I still need to know where you want me to take you though,” I called out to Jenn.

Chapter 15

Sept. 10

My brain was officially fried. “I swear to God, I thought I saw him again today in that same silver Jeep I’ve been seeing since summer. I thought about going to find Jason and ask him, but who knows if I’d even get a straight answer from the asshole.”

“Didn’t you say that younger waitress is the one you keep seeing getting out of the Jeep at the diner?”

“Yeah, she is.”

“Have you thought to ask her about who he is?”

“I did, today when I realized Jason would just be a douche. That’s why I feel like a crazy person right now. The waitress – Jenn – told me it was her boyfriend, and he just moved here this summer in order to start school at the university this fall.”

“Well, there you have it. It can’t be him. If it were, she would have said he just moved back, or whatever.”

“I know. Still, it’s a kick in the pants every time I freaking see a silver Jeep now.” We both laughed. “Seriously, I’m going completely nuts, because he never even owned a Jeep before. He used to drive that beat up old Civic.

“Great, I’m going to have to get my cop friend, Jeremy, to put out an all-points bulletin on all silver Jeeps in our hood so we can verify the drivers. That should give you some peace of mind, right?”

“Fine. Make fun of the crazy pregnant lady. I see how it is.” I stuck my tongue out at her and she laughed.

“Come on Chica, let’s go shopping. We’ve put it off long enough, and that baby isn’t getting any smaller in there.” Kristen patted my ever-growing belly with affection.

“I can’t believe I’m in my third trimester now. I suppose it is time to get everything set up just in case anything happens and she comes early.”

“Yay,” Kristin literally jumped up and down. “I’m calling your mom and we’re picking her up on the way to the baby store.” Then she turned back to me quickly, leaned down, and started talking to the baby. “Just so we’re clear, you will be staying in that belly until you’re done doing all the growing you can do in there, little miss.”

“You’re ridiculous.” I laughed at her. “Let me go get changed and we can head out.”

“Wait, why are you changing? That outfit is adorable.” Kristin’s grin grew bigger. “Also, I’m really glad you’re back to looking like a girl, and decided to stop hiding your baby bump under all those bulky clothes. You were starting to look like a frumpy bag lady. People were talking more about the horrid fashion choices you were making than they are about that,” she said as she pointed a finger to circle around my belly.

“I’m sweaty. I get so damn hot it’s ridiculous. I’ll just be a minute, but seriously, I can’t deal with being in public and having boob sweat stains.” I pointed to the moisture currently bleeding through my maternity top.

When I came back out, I was sporting a gray ankle length dress that was made of a super thin t-shirt material. It was highly breathable without being opaque, which made it perfect for a day of shopping with my mom and best friend. I also tossed my hair up into a high ponytail in order to get my long bangs, which I’d been growing out for months now, out of my face. Then I put on some mascara and lip-gloss before heading back out into the living room.

“Who the hell are you, and what have you done with my friend, the bag lady?” Kristin asked as I popped back out into the living room.

“Very funny. I don’t know, honestly. I just haven’t felt like myself in so long. When I woke up this morning, I just felt good for the first time in a long time, and I wanted to embrace it.”

Kristin’s grin grew wider on her face. “Well, shopping should definitely help keep you in a good mood. You’ll get all those lovely sale endorphins pumping. Come on, let’s go spoil the princess before she even gets here.”

A few moments later, we were off to go pick up my mom and do some shopping for my daughter, who would be making her entrance into the world in just 13 more weeks.

“So, you now have a crib, pack-n-play, car seat, a changing table, and a bunch of cute little outfits. What else are you going to need?” Kristin was asking me.

“Bottles, um,” I paused to think for a moment.

“Wait! I thought you were thinking about breast feeding?”

“Honestly, I’ve been torn about it since I’ll be going to classes and work too which will mean pumping and probably supplementing my milk with formula anyway,” I shrugged. “Don’t you need bottles either way?”

Kristin shrugged her shoulders too. “I don’t know. I’ve never had a baby before.” Then she turned to look down the aisle where my mom was still engrossed in something. “Hey mom? Do you still need bottles if you plan to breastfeed?” Her voice carried, and I swear I heard snickering on another aisle.

“Really, Kristin?”

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