The Ex-Husband of Alice Langley

36

PARIS SWIFT-KELCE
I'm essentially eyeing my lunch box on my desk as I stand in Lauren and my lab. The two of us are taking notes, but all I can think about is eating. My stomach growls, and I can feel the rumble echo through my body, reminding me that I really should've eaten a bigger breakfast. I've also given up and am wearing literal Crocs at work, which I can only describe as a desperate cry for comfort.

"Ughhhhh." I groan loudly, trying to adjust my posture. The sides of my bump are aching, and the baby is kicking like it's trying to break free. "Can you please just stop?!" I plead, yelling at my bump as if it could hear me and somehow respond.

Lauren looks up from her notes, a smirk dancing on her lips. "Are you seriously talking to your stomach right now?"

"Absolutely," I say, rolling my eyes. "This little one is out of control today. It feels like there's a party happening in there, and I'm not invited!" I place a hand on my belly, gently rubbing it in an attempt to soothe the commotion.

"You should probably take a break and eat something," Lauren suggests, her tone both playful and concerned. "You know the baby can sense when you're hungry."

"I know! I know! She's always insanely active like this when I'm starving," I reply, a bit more sharply than intended. The pressure of my bump shifts again, and I wince. "But I've got a ton of data to go through first. Just a few more minutes!"

"Okay, but if you end up passing out, I'm blaming you," Lauren laughs, flipping through her notes.

I chuckle, but my mind is already drifting back to my lunch box. I can almost taste the avocado toast and fresh fruit inside. My stomach gives another growl, and I can't help but glance longingly at the mini fridge. "God, now I have to pee again," I shrug.

"Seriously? Again?" Lauren raises an eyebrow, amusement dancing in her eyes. "I swear, it feels like you just went."

"I did! But this baby is demanding all my organs shift around. It's like a game of musical chairs in here," I groan, cradling my belly as I feel another swift kick.

"Musical chairs? More like a wrestling match," Lauren jokes, but her concern flickers across her face.

I let out a dramatic sigh. "One minute I'm starving, the next I'm running to the bathroom like I've just chugged a gallon of water."

"Hey, your body is doing amazing things right now," she says, a genuine smile brightening her face. "You're growing a human! That's impressive!"

"Yeah, but it's also a bit much sometimes. I just want to sit down and enjoy my lunch without feeling like a pinball," I admit.

"You're almost done with it," she assures me. "Now go take care of business."

"Fine," I shuffle toward the door, trying to ignore the discomfort radiating from my bump. "But if I come back and you've taken all the good snacks, I swear..."

"Don't worry, your precious avocado toast is safe with me!" she calls after me, and I can't help but laugh.

When I get back from the restroom, I plop down at my desk, feeling the ache in my lower back as I settle into the chair. I grab my lunch box from the mini fridge, the cool plastic sweating in my hand, and set it down in front of me. My stomach growls again, louder this time, and I waste no time tearing into the lid.

The scent of avocado and whole-grain bread hits my nose, and even though the toast looks a little sad and squished, I don't care. I pick it up and take a huge bite, barely chewing before swallowing. The texture is soft and, yeah, maybe a little soggy, but it's still good. I don't stop until the whole piece is gone, my fingers covered in green smears of avocado.