Page 62 of Love Bitters

Rushing through the last little bit, I can only hope it doesn't look like a first grader with crayon due to the way my nerves have my hands shaking. When I make it to Evan and Ollie's room and find the dress, as stupid as it sounds, I seriously want to press it close and rub my face all over it. The light pink material is baby soft and splattered with little flowers. It slips on smoothly, clinging to my belly in a way that makes it stand out even more, and if I didn't know any better, I'd say I was being primed to meet parents or something. My heart jumps into my throat for a second making me want to ask if that's what we're doing. However, I don't. Ruining their surprise, if that's what it is, would be terribly mean of me, so I slip on my flats and let them usher us out of the house into Murph's truck. Wes and Thatch ride with us while Evan and Ollie follow behind in their car. The former pair argue that we need to invest in a bigger vehicle soon, but I keep my lips sealed shut. Not only from guilt for making this a necessity, but also nerves about today’s mystery plans.

Wes spends the little over an hour ride practically in my lap, talking to the baby and trying to get her to move. She hasn't been very active so far. At the last doctor appointment, he said it was perfectly normal, that her movement may pick up over the next several weeks, but that hasn’t stopped all of them from doing the same thing Wes is at the moment. Typically, this concludes with my heart melting in my chest like it is now, the sweet talker and I ending up in bed together, which obviously isn't an option right now. Instead, I cover his hand resting on my belly with one of my own and stare out my window.

We leave the city, driving up to one of the more rural locations around us. The little town we pull into isn't all that small with its movie theater and shopping centers, but it's not the city for sure.

Murph's GPS has us pulling into what looks like one of those private practice parking lots, and we're the only other cars in the lot besides an SUV and a Jeep. Hopping out first, Thatch opens my door and helps me down from the truck.

"Do you realize how sketchy this looks?" I whisper to him, making him laugh. "I'm serious. There aren't even any signs on the windows or anything. What is this place?"

"Trust us, remember?" he answers easily.

I do. Wholeheartedly. Even as Ollie starts rolling a suitcase over to where we stand. Together, we make our way inside as Murph holds the door for all of us.

Whatever I had been expecting inside flies right out of my head at the sight of a petite blonde woman sitting behind a desk. A sign behind her reads, "Kendall's Photography."

"Hey there," she says, standing. "You must be Imogene and company, correct? I'm Ryleigh. Kendall will be out in just a second if you guys want to look around."

The woman is cute in the way Lizbeth always was. That sweet, innocent face is a dead giveaway. Her blonde hair, even put into a bun with chopsticks, is still pretty. It comes as no surprise to see a ring on her finger. I'm sure she had no problem at all landing boyfriends then a husband.

I'm not jealous even if I had always been with girls like her before. How could I possibly be now? I may not be as skinny or pretty as her, but my guys definitely don't seem to mind. Which definitely reminds me that these new people might not understand our relationship. Forget my nerves at being photographed when I'm not the biggest fan of my body. What kind of questions will they ask about us?

Finding my way over to where Ollie is admiring a canvas of a couple in a hay field, I sidle up next to him with a whispered, "Are you sure this is a good idea, Olls?"

Solidifying my belief that this entire venture was his idea, he replies, "Stop worrying so much, babycakes. This photographer came highly recommended by your friend Abilene, so if you don't have that much faith in me, at least have a little in her."

He presses a kiss against my temple just as I open my mouth to argue.

A new voice cuts us off. "Hey, guys. I'm Kendall."

We turn to find a pretty brunette walking over to us. She's taller than the girl behind the desk, but still just as gorgeous. Thankfully, she makes a beeline straight for me, instead of the guys, and offers her hand as she speaks. "Sorry I made you wait. My camera was giving me a bit of grief and I wanted to have it ready before we got everyone back there. So, we're doing a maternity shoot today, yes?"

At my nod, she smiles wide. "Congratulations, firstly. Do you guys want to go ahead and come back to get ready?"

She's made it somewhat of a point not to directly speak to the guys, so as we follow her back, I make sure to introduce each one of them to her. As she directs both me and Ollie to the changing room with the suitcase, I can't help noticing the ring on her finger too. Another wave of relief floods me. These emotions make me feel so stupid and insecure and I truly hope it's just the hormones.

Ollie offers to stay and help me get dressed, but Kendall shoos him out. Popping open the suitcase, she hangs three different outfits up on hooks on the wall. Though, calling the third an outfit may be a little bit of an overstatement since it's mainly just see-through lace.

"We really don't have to do that one," I tell her quickly, feeling my face turn a little pink.

She smiles softly. "It was my idea, actually. A lot of the mothers I've worked for liked having something similar in their photobooks. We can do it just you and I and send the guys out if it makes you more comfortable that way."

I immediately shake my head. I'm not ashamed to wear it in front of them. Just while they might be comparing the two of us in the same room. But this is Ollie's gift, and I don't want to ruin it. "It's fine. I just thought they'd snuck that one in there."

This draws a full laugh out of her. "Sounds like something mine would do."

"So, he's a troublemaker too?" I ask, making conversation.

Her gaze turns to me, and I'm pierced by a deep question in her green eyes. "One of them is, for sure. Sometimes he manages to get one or two of the others on board with him."

Finally, it hits me. No wonder Abilene suggested her. "You're friends with Abilene?" I question, not wanting to voice the real one.

"We met a while back and chat often," she says. "Having more than one partner isn’t as uncommon as we think these days."

Sharing a smile, I take her direction as she tells me which to dress in first. Knowing she lives our lifestyle is amazing. I've still been on the fence about it being perverse, something no one else would ever understand. Especially since Abilene had, before the guys came back, voiced many times that it can't last.

The knowledge Kendall shared with me in that private moment makes all the difference. As she poses us in different places around the room, some with me alone then some with the guys, it's nothing to give her a real smile. For a little over two hours, we do as she says until she takes the last round of shots and lets us know that she's going to upload them so we can take a look before we leave.

I put the pink dress on and pack the suitcase back up before rolling it out to Ollie. He presses a soft kiss against my lips, and I hug him tighter. "Thank you, Red."

---