Page 10 of A Trident Christmas Baby

She shuffled carefully across the patio, her belly leading the way. “Hey, buddy,” she cooed as she reached out to pet him. Her touch startled him, and Zuma jolted upright, barking once before realizing it was her.

His tail wagged furiously as he leaped off the chair, his excitement sending him barreling into her legs. “Whoa, whoa—Zuma!” Alex cried out, trying to steady herself, but it was no use. Between the dog and her off-center balance, she tipped backward.

In the blink of an eye, the world tilted, and the next thing she knew, she was flat on her back in the bushes that lined the patio.

For a moment, panic bubbled up as she wrapped her arms protectively around her belly. She waited for a moment, afraid to move. But then she felt it, a swift, reassuring kick. “Well, at least someone’s having fun,” she mumbled, smiling despite lying in a bush.

As she glanced around, she couldn’t help but laugh.Of all the places to land, it had to be in the fake bushes she’d insistedon putting in last summer. Ace hated them, calling them “plastic excuses for plants,” but she’d stood her ground. Now, she had to admit they’d come in handy as they cushioned her fall, and she wasn’t all scratched up like she would’ve been had they been real bushes.

“The only problem is, how in the hell do I get up?” she muttered to herself as she tried to roll to the side and get to her knees. But between the tight space and her enormous belly, it made it a bit of a challenge.

Suddenly, Zuma hovered over her, tail wagging like this was the best game ever. He leaned down and started licking her face enthusiastically.

“Zuma, stop!” she laughed, squirming.

The dog, of course, did no such thing. His slobbery tongue made contact with every inch of her face.

Shivering as the cold seeped through her pajamas, Alex remembered her phone tucked in her pocket. With some effort, she pulled it out and dialed the one person she knew would answer.

Tenley picked up on the second ring, her voice groggy but teasing. “If this isn’t life or death, I’m sending you a bill for waking me up.”

Alex couldn’t help but giggle. “How about life or bushes?”

There was a pause. “What?”

“I fell into the bushes, Ten. I need you to come rescue me.”

Tenley’s laugh burst through the line. “Nice one. Seriously, what’s up?”

“I’m not kidding. I’m out back laying in the bushes lining the patio, and I can’t get up.”

Tenley was quiet for a moment before she answered. “Are you being serious right now?”

Alex rolled her eyes. “Yes! If you don’t believe me, look out your laundry room window that faces our patio, and you shouldsee Zuma standing by the bushes. You won’t see me because I’m literally in the bushes.”

Alex could hear Tenley shuffling around and knew she was going to check. Alex couldn’t fault her, though, because they were known to play pranks on each other.

“Holy shit!” Tenley’s voice shouted, and Alex pulled the phone away from her ear. “What? How? Shit, are you okay?” Tenley fired off questions.

Alex couldn’t help but laugh. “I think I’m okay. I’ll explain when you get here.”

“I’m on my way. Don’t go anywhere.”

Alex snorted. “Well, if I could move, I wouldn’t have called you,” Alex teased and heard Tenley laughing before disconnecting the call.

A few minutes later, Tenley appeared, flashlight in hand, as she walked through the gate that connected their backyards. She stopped in her tracks when she spotted Alex sprawled in the bushes, with Zuma happily licking her face. She covered her to try and hide her laughter, but she was doing a horrible job because the whole neighborhood could hear her.

Once she calmed down, she stood up straight, wiping her eyes. “Do you miss those secret government missions so much you had to start rolling around in the bushes for old times’ sake?” Tenley teased, her hands resting on her hips. “

Alex laughed, swatting at Zuma. “Ha, ha. Very funny. Are you going to help me, or just stand there making jokes?”

Tenley grinned, setting the flashlight down and pulling out her phone. “A little bit of both, obviously.”

Alex looked at her friend. “Why are you getting your phone out?” she asked.

Tenley laughed. “What? Did you think I wasn’t going to get a picture of this?”

“You wouldn’t dare,” Alex growled, giving her bestie a playful glare.

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