Roman-2(Lane Brothers, Book 5)(60)

Stupid cravings! I’m big as a freaking house, and he wants me to fit into this shit? As if I don’t feel gross enough as it is.

“I have to get Mad from school and take her to her dance classes. I don’t have time for this shi—stuff today. Anyway, we were just at the doctor’s a few weeks ago,” I mutter, slapping his hands away when he goes for the belt again. “It’s not gonna fit, asshole, so stop trying already!”

He mutters something obscene, a rarity, since he’s pedantic about not cursing in front of me unless he’s inside me and out of control, and settles for taking me onto his lap.

“Harry, call Mavis and have her get Maddy from school and to her classes, and get Philip to swing by Benjamin’s school once he’s done with football. Stop squirming, love, it’s not doing any good,” he groans, trying to pull his crotch away from my twitching butt.

Well, hello there!

“Okay,” I sigh, relaxing all my weight onto his thighs.

If he never wants to walk again that’s his business, not mine. My fat ass can’t help it if he insists on this macho crap.

“What’s gotten into you?”

“Love, haven’t you been wondering why you’ve…expanded so rapidly?” he asks haltingly, cringing when my eyes go molten and I glare down at him with a curled lip.

“If this is your way of telling me I’m fat, you’d better let me off your lap before I do something you’ll never recover from, buddy!” I hiss.

That makes him laugh. Yeah, like I really need to be amusing right now, and I find myself trapped between his hands as he kisses the hell outta me.

“Love, I am in no way calling you fat. Trust me on this.”

“No?”

Okay, so I’m really deflating fast, but who can blame me? After I’d tried and failed to button up the newest pair of maternity pants this morning, and had to resort to wearing what looks like Mama June Shannon’s camping tent, I’d gone into something of a funk and almost cried myself sick.

“Um, I was in you before you even woke up this morning, love. Does that tell you nothing?”

Weeeell…

“Then what’s with the expansion talk, wise guy?” I ask, going hazy-eyed when we stop at a light beside a bakery truck that smells like my next wet dream.

“Fine, you don’t think I’m gross. Why exactly are we going to the doctor again?”

It’s really hard to concentrate and give a shit about what he’s saying when my vision and every other sense is focused on the drool-worthy donut emblazoned on the side of that van.

Lately just the sight of certain foods sends me into what Cammy and the others call ‘the food mood’. I eat all the time, as if my body just can’t get enough, as if it’s desperate for whatever it can get.

Sure, I know that Junior is way too big—I should know, I’ve been wetting myself at least once a day thanks to him playing football with my bladder—but no matter how much I tell myself that I should be eating healthier and much less than I have been, my body just won’t get with the program.

Add to that the fact that he also seems to be pushing on my stomach, causing me to puke a lot of the time, and I’m pretty darn sure I should really stop eating so much.

“Love, have you been listening?”

Uh, that would be a big fat no.

The light changes, and my eyes almost tear when the van turns the corner. Goodbye, donuts.

“I need a donut, Lucian. Like right now.”

“No. We’re going to the doctor, and then I’m taking you home. Harry, what’s taking so bloody long?”

I can’t understand his urgency, and feel myself tense a little despite his hand rubbing lazy circles over my back.

***

“What! Oh my God, are you fu—freaking serious?”

Let’s backtrack here for a second… Please backtrack, so that I can go back to the minute before they told me something I really didn’t want to know.

I’m a strong woman, have been since my mom took her last breath and my douche of a dad left me with a kid and no money, barely scraping by on a good week.

I’m strong. I have two kids, both of whom aren’t even mine, and I manage my home and husband like a well-oiled machine. I’m definitely strong…I think, but as that doctor continues to pass the wand over my belly, digging it in every now and then, and points out everything the other doctor hadn’t seen, I feel my strength vanish beneath a tidal wave of fear.

“Three! Are you kidding? Where the heck would they even fit in there!” I yell, slapping at the doctor’s hand and sending a glare of outrage Lucian’s way. “You couldn’t just be like everyone else and give me one!”