“Really? I know ifIwere the one putting all the effort in, I’d be making sure I, at least, got to choose the name.” Her friend sips from her teacup as I notice Annabella get up and move towards Jack. She’s got that slimy smile on her face that makes me want to smack her in the face as she drops her napkin right at his feet, and when he immediately picks it up for her,she locks him into a conversation, throwing her head back and continuously touching his arm.
No, I don’t just want to smack her. I want to murder her.
“Are you okay?” Olivia excuses herself from the conversation she’s having and comes to stand beside me.
“I’m great.” I look up at her and try not to seem ungrateful. Her and Bea have clearly put a lot of effort into this party. The living room is decorated beautifully; they’ve thought of everything, and more.
“This stage is without doubt the worst. I’ve told Alex we’re waiting at least two years before we have another.”
“You're going to have more?” Olivia and Alex’s hands already seem like they're full.
“Alex wants a whole bunch of kids,” she tells me with a huge grin on her face.
“And don’t you get a say in the matter?”
“Of course, as hard as this part is, I actually enjoy being pregnant. There's something so special about feeling them move around inside you… Not to mention the fact that Alex obsesses over me.” She lowers her voice to a whisper. “We have the best sex when I’m pregnant.”
I can’t argue with her; I’ve never had orgasms like the ones I’ve gotten since I’ve been pregnant.
“How many weeks are you now?” she asks.
“Thirty-five, and six days,” I answer, wondering if I’m going to miss all those kicks he gives me when he’s out and I’m far away in another country.
“Only four weeks left? You're on the home stretch.” She smiles. “You know where I am if you need me.”
“I really appreciate that.” I smile, already feeling a lot less agitated than I was before she came over. Then, when I look over and see Jack still speaking to Annabella, I instantly get mad again
“Feeling better?” Jack asks when I come down from the shower, feeling much better in his jogging bottoms and hoodie. He only ever wears stuff like this when he’s working out, but I’m not complaining, they're fit for purpose.
“I’d have felt much better if you hadn’t spent the entire afternoon talking to Annabella." I try holding my tongue, but I can’t help it.
“I wasn’t talking to her all afternoon, it was ten minutes…if that.” He’s got that stupid-assed look of satisfaction on his face, making me wish I had better self-control.
“Put your feet up.” He taps his lap, and because my feet are killing from the heels I wore earlier, I oblige.
“You need to stop wearing heels,” he tells me, kneading his knuckles into the sole of my foot and making me instantly relax.
“Stop making me go to stupid parties, then,” I fire back, refusing to be distracted from the fact I’m mad at him, just by a foot rub.
“You really are crabby tonight.” He laughs.
“I’m not crabby, Jack. I’m pregnant. Very,verypregnant, and I don’t appreciate it when I look up and see my husband flirting with some girl who clearly has a thing for him. You are MINE!” I blurt out, instantly regretting how insecure and pathetic I sound.
“Hey, I was kidding. I’m aware of how pregnant you are, and you’re doing an amazing job. I wasn’t flirting with Annabella; she was just telling me about her father’s new business venture. If I’d known it was upsetting you, I would have walked away.”
“Well, from now on, if she’s in the room, assume that I’m upset.” I attempt to cross my arms, but my stomach’s too much in the way. “You must be loving this.” I shake my head.
“I actually hate it.” That look of satisfaction turns to a frown, “The idea that you would even think I’d want her when I have you, hurts.Youbeing upset hurts.”
“But youdon’thave me, do you? In four weeks’ time, all this will be over, and we’ll be moving on with our lives.” I hate that the idea makes me angry.
“Gracie, are you having second thoughts?” He sits up and leans in closer. “Because if you are, we can change the plan. We can?—”
“I’m not having second thoughts,” I interrupt, cursing my damn mouth for running away with itself. “I’m just hormonal.” I close my eyes and regain my composure.
“You slapped me when I called you that last week,” he reminds me, and when I laugh, and my belly starts to jiggle, he smiles and rests his hand on top of it.
“If you have any doubt in your mind, Gracie, you need to tell me.” He turns serious on me again, and I almost yield; blurt out that I’m falling more in love with him every day, but I have to hold my own. I have to survive this.
