LANA MASON
The last time I was in Montauk, Harry and I weren't in the best place. We were talking more than we had in the weeks prior, but we weren't a couple and I still wasn't sure if we ever would be again. I remember almost sexting him that first night the girls and I were at Maya's house, and I remember falling asleep talking to him on the phone, but I'd say things were different now as I watch him bounce Jane in the water with him. I can't hear what they're saying, but I can hear them laughing and that's good enough for me.
When he told me he wanted us to take a weekend vacation together as a family, I laughed because I thought he meant he wanted to do that in theory and I couldn't agree more. I didn't take him seriously until he asked me why I was laughing, though I was still shocked when he clarified that he meant it. I'm pretty sure I cried tears of joy right after.
"You two need to come and eat your sandwiches!" I called out to them. "They're going to get soggy and gross!"
Harry kisses Jane's cheek before sending her forward to let the waves carry her the short distance to the shore. Allison put her in swim lessons back in June and it seems as though she learned very quickly, but she's still wearing floaties. She doesn't like them and swears she can swim without them, but I refused that request quickly. Still, I remove them as she stands in front of me, plopping down on her towel in her pink bikini to eat her turkey and cheese sandwich.
"Are you having fun?"
"Mhm!" She smiles as she chews, and I make a double-take as I see Harry walking out of the water in his black swim shorts, ruffling his wet hair to rid the excess water on his way to us. He looks like every hot guy from every slow-motion scene in every beach movie ever made, and the only thing keeping me from commenting is his daughter sitting right beside me.
"Here you go," I raise his sandwich to him.
"Thank you," he dries his hands on his towel before taking hold of the sourdough. "Are you learning a lot?"
"Tons," I glance down at my What to Expect When You're Expecting book. "I'm currently on the 'Nine months of eating well' section."
He laughs as I make a show of popping a grape in my mouth, sitting down on his towel across from me. "That's good. You look good."
I smile down at my potbelly. For some strange reason, I almost like the way I look in a bikini more while pregnant than not. I miss the subtle outline of my abs and I did feel attractive when I had that going for me, but there's something about my bump in a bikini that I love. I guess it's because I'm proud to show it off, that's all.
"I feel good," I trade my bowl of cotton candy grapes for my deli sandwich full of a few meats and cheeses. "But, oh my God, I had the best idea and now I'm craving it so much."
"What's that?"
"Okay, just hear me out," I smile because I know how this is going to sound out loud. "Pickle and peanut butter ice cream, or a milkshake. Either one."
He makes a face, expectedly so. "I love you, baby, but that's disgusting."
"No! It would be so yummy!" I laugh at his wrinkled nose and grimace.
"What do you think, Jane?" He turns to her. "Do you think pickles and ice cream go together or is Lana crazy?"
With her mouth full, she says, "Lana is crazy!"
"Hey!" I point at her, watching her lose it in a fit of giggles. She always does that when I pretend to be mad at her and I'd like to think that's because she knows the thought of me actually being mad at her is ridiculous.
