Page 124 of Falling in Love with Two

26 weeks pregnant.

I stare out the window as the world zooms by. Maybe zoom isn’t the right word. We’re in a small town where you rarely ever get above twenty miles an hour.

“Are you okay?” Dylan asks.

“I’m good,” I reply. “Just tired.”

“Sorry we have to go to this thing with my family. Ronnie just got some kind of promotion, and my mom loves to celebrate everything.”

I reach over to set my hand on top of his. “I’m not upset. I like your family, and I think it’s sweet that your mom wants to celebrate everything.”

“You just seem a little out of it.”

I look over at him. “You want the truth?”

“Of course.”

“I’m getting to the point where things are starting to hurt pretty regularly. My back aches all the time. I get these weird stretching pains right at the bottom of my belly. My boobs have tripled in size—which was great at first. But now, they’re literally always in the way. How do people with huge boobs live like this?” I let out a loud sigh. “I’m moving into the stage where I’m very uncomfortable all the time.”

“I’m sorry, gorgeous. Why didn’t you say something?”

I shrug my shoulders. “I didn’t want to seem like a whiner.”

“You’re not a whiner. Just pregnant. That’s not easy. How about we get through this, and we can relax on the couch tonight? I’ll try to make you feel better.”

“Can I do it naked? My clothes feel like a prison.”

He looks at me and smiles. “If I ever say no to that question, I want you to take me out back and shoot me.”

We pull into the parking lot of Andre’s Tavern. It’s the bar and grill that Dylan’s parents own. This is my first time here, but Dyl has told me a million stories about this place.

He parks the truck and quickly jumps out to come over and open my door for me. He has to be fast, or I will get out on my own. I’m not used to the whole chivalry thing quite yet.

We walk toward the front door where there’s a big sign that says they’re closed for a private event.

Dylan holds the door open for me, and I walk inside. The lights are out, causing me to wonder what the hell is going on.

Before I can turn to ask Dylan, though, the lights flip on and I hear a loud, “Surprise!”

I gasp as I look around and see Dylan’s family all smiling and staring at us. Trying to take it all in, I see a large banner above the bar that reads:

HAPPY DIRTY THIRTY, LEAH!

Dylan leans over and kisses my cheek. “Happy Birthday, gorgeous.”

Still looking around, I say, “So, this was never a party for Ronnie?”

“Nope.”

“You did all this?” I ask while looking at him.

“I figured it was about time that you had a proper birthday party.”

He leads me over to the bar where everyone stands, ready to give me a hug and tell me happy birthday. I can’t believe they all came.

Even Jo made an appearance. When Dylan introduces us, she says, “Sorry it’s taken so long. Sometimes, when a guy asks you to jump on the back of his bike, you just have to go for it.”

I laugh. “No worries. I get it. Been there myself a few times.”

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