Falling into Place - Forbidden Heart Series

21| It's a Trap

"Just admit it already. I'm a fucking whale."

"No, you're not."

"Yes, I am."

Lanie sighed at me from the fridge. "You're beautiful, Danielle. Stopping letting those hormones control you."

I threw my head back and laughed. "You're one to talk! Do you remember the time when someone was pregnant and accused me of calling them fat? Hmm. . ." I tapped my chin. "Who was that? Oh right, it was you!"

Lanie rolled her eyes, shut the fridge, and brought over some Key Lime Pie. "Fine. I may have let my hormones get the best of me when I was pregnant. But I meant what I said, D. You are gorgeous. And you have that whole pregnant glow thing going on."

I didn't know about any glow, but I definitely didn't feel beautiful. Lately it's been the opposite. Mainly it was the damn stretch marks. I had double the amount I saw a few weeks ago. I knew it was all a part of the pregnancy thing, but it was starting to remind me of how I felt that night I almost threw away all my clothes.

"Come on, Lanie," I whined. "Look at my feet! I'm wearing a damn slippers because they're so swollen. Slippers! And don't even get me start on the back pain. Or the leg pain."

Without a word, Lanie got up from the table and disappeared in the direction of the living room. I wanted to follow after her to continue my ranting, but that would mean I had to get up. I really don't want to get up.

At 24 weeks pregnant, I was definitely feeling, pregnant. The only thing I was looking forward to today -- besides eating this whole Key Lime Pie by myself -- was waiting for Ryan to pick me up. We have check-up appointment scheduled for today and we were going to find out the sex of the baby.

That's what I was really looking forward to. I wanted to know if the baby growing in my belly was a boy or a girl. I wanted to know if I was going to see pink or blue at the baby shower. Even though we played around with names already, this would help narrow down the choices.

Lanie came back into the kitchen carrying a pillow.

"What are you--"

She pulled out the chair next to me and set the pillow on it. Then she reached down and grabbed my feet.

"Lanie! What the hell--"

"Elevate your feet, D. It'll help." She positioned them comfortably before she mumbled, "Jeez, they are swollen."

"I heard that!"

Lanie snickered as she returned to her seat. We heard the front door open and Karma joined us in the kitchen a few seconds later.

"Hey guys!" She turned her head and smiled at me. "Danielle, you look so--"

"I wouldn't finish that sentence." Lanie warned.

Karma looked confused. "I was going to say 'beautiful', but I guess that's off limits?"

I shrugged and ate another fork-full of pie.

Lanie cleared her throat to get Karma's attention. I watched her try to hide her mouth behind her hand as she whispered loudly, "she thinks she's a whale."

"I heart that again, Lanie!"

"You were meant to!" She shot back. "Even Karma said you look beautiful, D. You need to believe it, too."

I huffed before I ate another piece of pie. A big piece. "Whatever." I grumbled.

Karma shared a look with Lanie before she sat next to her. "So. . . how is everyone?"