Page 47 of Follow Your Bliss

I took his hand and let him help me up. “I guess you have a point. But you don’t have to buy me anything.”

“No,” he insisted, his hand gently rubbing his mountainous, lickable stomach. I snapped my guilty gaze from his belly up to his eyes.

A soft smile lit his face as if he’d caught me. “I grabbed the wrong bag. This is on me.”

We gorged ourselves at the Donut Hole on pancakes and bacon, then went shopping for clothes. Going shopping with a food baby in my belly wasn’t the best plan, but I was able to find most of what I needed at an outlet mall in Destin—a pack of panties, a couple of shirts, and a comfier pair of shorts. Jason also talked me into a sundress and a pair of sandals for the beach, and then he pulled me into a swimsuit store full of tiny scraps of fabric posing as swimsuits.

I flipped through a rack of one-pieces, studying their construction. I’d always wanted to sew myself a swimsuit, something cute and retro, but with more coverage and support than these. No cups? No way. My boobs were way too big for that bullshit. I selected a few decent ones and a cover-up to try on.

Jason grabbed a pink, rose-patterned bikini off the rack and held it up to me. “What about this one?”

I took it from him and hung it right back up. “I don’t wear bikinis.”

“Why not? It would look great on you.”

The woman looking at suits on the other side of the fixture smiled and our eyes met briefly. I’m sure Jason and I looked like a couple with him carrying my bags, and we maybe even sounded like one with his encouragement.

“You’re very sweet,” I said quietly, “but I’m not comfortable with my weight. I’d rather be in a one-piece.”

He frowned, leaning an arm on the rack. “Well look, if you want, I’ll help you get beach-ready.”

“Mmm-hmm.” If he started mansplaining how to get in shape, I swear to God. Even the raised eyebrows on the woman across from me warned,you’re on thin ice, bucko.

I went to the next fixture over, but Jason followed me. “You know how to get a beach body, right? First, you have a body, and then—this part is critical—you go to the beach.”

My eyes met the woman’s, and we both smiled and shook our heads. Mollified, for now.

“I’m still not getting a bikini, funny man.”

“I’m serious, Rose. You’re so beautiful just the way you are.”

My cheeks heated, and I couldn’t meet his eyes. He was so free with compliments. He was probably that way with everyone. But it sent a thrill to my core every time he complimented me.

“By all means wear what makes you comfortable. Just don’t hide your light under a bushel or whatever.”

“Jason,” I said sotto voce, “my stomach sticks out too much for a bikini.”

His brown eyes studied me. “Why do you care what other people think?”

He was right, but I cared whathethought.

“Besides,” he said. “You have a uterus. That’s what they’re supposed to do.”

Now it was my turn to raise my eyebrows. “Now you know things about women’s anatomy?”

“Baby.” The woman across the rack leaned closer to me. “Try on that pink two-piece. Hot boy’s right.”

Jason’s answering smile was all charm and smugness. “Thank you!” He checked the tag of one of my selections then handed me the pink bikini again, this time in the right size. “Humor me?”

I rolled my eyes and took it all into the fitting room. But I wasnottrying on the bikini. It was nice of him to encourage me, but no way would I wear one at the beach for real.

Of the one-pieces I brought in, only one wasn’t a crime. It was on sale, too. I guess I’d let him get me that one.

I eyed the bikini. Maybe I’d try it on just so I could honestly say I’d done it, so he’d leave me alone about it. I slipped the bottoms over my undies, hefted and adjusted the girls into the bra cups. Okay this pattern was super cute. The dark pink matched one of the roses on my tattoo almost perfectly. The bottom was generously cut, more like a boy short than a bikini bottom.

Once it was on, I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw in the mirror. But I was still reluctant to actually purchase it and wear it on the beach.

“Sure, I’ll go get you another size,” the salesgirl said to the woman in the stall beside me, and then her footsteps went toward the entrance.

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