“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 & light and 1% chaos & sass’. I burst out laughing at the thoughtful gift, then my eye catches on something else at the bottom of the bag. I reach in and pull out two T-shirts. One is baby-sized, which says ‘My Mummy is a SWEET POTATO’, and the other T-shirt, which is my size, says ‘I Yam!’.
I look up to see my girls both standing there, tears in their eyes and smiling from ear to ear.
“Please, you two, do not start crying, or I will never stop.” But it doesn’t work because as I finish what I’m saying, my voice cracks and the dam breaks.
“Ugh, fuck sake, Cole. He needs to get his shit together and tell you he loves you already!” Hayleigh swipes at her eyes. One thing I’ve noticed about Hayleigh is that she hates appearing weak in any form.
“Give him time, we all know he loves her.” Emmy rolls her eyes at her and smiles at me.
I give them both a sad smile. “I’m not sure you guys…”
“What do you mean?” Emmy’s concerned face has me starting to cry again, and they both hurry over to sit on either side of me.
I take a deep breath. “We almost kissed…” They both gasp out loud, so I hurry on. “There was a moment, but it didn’t happen, and since then he’s been so thoughtful and amazing. We havetea together most nights. We’ve almost finishedThe Vampire Diariesbut…he’s spent the past two Sundays and Mondays away, like he doesn’t come here at all…and it just feels like…like, he’s pulling away from me…” With that, I dissolve into another round of tears, and my friends hold me silently till they subside.
“I know I’ve said this before, but give him time, Lacey.” It sounds like Emmy wants to say more, but Hayleigh beats her to it.
“Come on, no more mushy shit. You need to get yourself ready because we’re taking you out to lunch!”
**********
Hayleigh messed up the timing of our reservation, so we have an hour to kill and decide to do some retail therapy. Plus, I need some new bras because, hello, my boobs have gotten so big that I’m sure I have gone up a cup size!
Hayleigh pulls a sleek corset and suspender set from the hanger and holds it against her very slim frame. I watch in envy, knowing there is no way I could pull that off with my bump now. As if by psychic, mystical magic, one of the shop assistants appears at my side.
“You know we have a maternity range here, don’t you?”
I chuckle nervously. “Oh, it’s okay, I don’t have anyone to share it with anyway.” I brace myself for the look of judgment; 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.
