Page 19 of Sin Wagon
“Yeah, it’s just fucking hot. Like, whoever decided to get pregnant in the desert is insane. I’m dying. Literally,” I tell him, fanning myself with one hand.
He chuckles and shakes his head. Luckily, it’s air-conditioned in here and it’s only a couple minutes’ ride to the airport. The train comes to a screeching stop and I stand, waddling my little ass behind Derek as he leads the way to the baggage counter, so we can ditch the trolley and just wait in the terminal for departure. Oh, and he’s gonna have to get me snacks once we’re through security. I want a big bag of chips and Skittles.
The baggage counter isn’t busy, thank the lord, so we quickly drop our bags off, pay the extra fee for them being over the limit, and head off to security. Luck is on our side again because they’re not doing pat downs and only so many people have to go through the metal detector. The rest of us just get sniffed as we wait in line by a guard’s dog as they check our IDs to make sure we are who we say we are. Then we’re home free and I already have to pee.
I hurry to find a bathroom while Derek hits the convenience store to get my overpriced snacks. He’s leaning against the wall outside the ladies’ room when I exit, a bag dangling from his fingertips. “God, I fucking love you,” I squeal, causing a chuckle to leave his lips.
“You better. I just paid airport prices for these,” he teases, handing over the goodies. As I munch on my chips, we find a place to sit near our gate. Derek is constantly checking his phone, and I can’t help but notice the subtle tension in his posture.
“Everything okay?” I ask, nudging him with my elbow.
“Yeah, just making sure everything’s in order for our trip. You know me, always the planner,” he says, flashing a reassuring smile. But there’s something in his eyes that makes me wonder if there’s more on his mind.
The flight is uneventful, thankfully. Derek holds my hand as we take off, sensing my nervousness. His touch is comforting, and I find myself leaning into him more than I probably should, given our platonic relationship. But there’s a safety in Derek that I can’t deny, a feeling that everything will be okay as long as he’s by my side.
When we finally land and make our way to the resort, I’m exhausted. The place is as luxurious as promised, with sprawling views of the ocean and lush gardens. Derek checks us in while I take a seat in the lobby, trying to soothe the persistent ache in my lower back.
“Ready to see our room?” he asks, returning with the room keys and a mischievous glint in his eye. I nod, too tired to respond verbally. He helps me up, and we make our way to the elevator.
“This is it, babe. A long weekend of relaxation and then we go home and prepare to start our life with Little Boba.”
“Yeah,” I whisper, leaning into him. “Thank you for being here with me, Derek. I don’t know what I’d do without you.
He turns me around to face him, his eyes searching mine. “You’ll never have to find out.”
The room isnice as hell, which I expected because it’s Claudia, but somehow I’m still impressed. We have a two-bedroom suite with a shared bathroom, but that’s not an issue. I’m not a primper; Derek is, so I’ll get in and out fast and he can ogle himself in the mirror while I sit on the couch watching trashy TV. The living room is massive, with hardwood flooring throughout and a huge black leather sectional sitting in the center, so you can look out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the ocean or watch the seventy-inch TV they have on the wall. The suite also has a kitchen, but minus sitting at the counter to eat, there will be no cooking happening.
I plan to order in whenever I can and rack up quite the room service bill for Claudia’s ass to cover. A knock on our door pulls me from finishing checking out this place. Speak of the devil and she shall appear. On the other side of the door stands the bane of my existence; Claudia.
“Are you going to just stand there, or can I come in?” she quips. I step to the side to allow her entry into our suite.
“What can I do for you, Claudia? How did you know we were here?”
“We? Did you finally find that good for nothing man who got you pregnant?” she asks as her eyes rake over my body.
“Nope. I brought Derek as I told you I would. He’s in his room unpacking.”
“Not a good look for you. But what’s done is done. Now, I had the front desk call our room when you checked in. I wanted to see your dress on in person and remind you that today is a free day for you, but tomorrow we have the rehearsal dinner.” She moves to the couch and sits down. I sigh at the fact that she’s obviously not going to leave until she sees me in the damn dress.
“Fine, but after the dress, I want to have an actual free day and that includes no mothers.” I walk to my room and grab the garment bag my dress hangs in. Sliding my leggings and tank topoff, I step into the dress and look in the mirror on the back of the door before heading out to the living room.
The dress is actually super sexy and flattering for being a maternity dress. It came from a store called Sexy Mommies. Floor length and all black, just as Claudia requested. However, I already can tell by the way she’s eyeing me that she’s not a fan of the top. It’s all lace and a halter top with thick straps, but under the lace is only a bandeau bra-like top. The back is two criss-cross straps that show off my skin almost to my lower back. My bump is prominent and so is the skin between the bandeau and the skirt.
“I thought we agreed over the phone that you were going to see if the seamstress could add fabric, so there isn’t a cutout that shows off your belly?”
“You wanted that. I think I look sexy and it’s flattering. The seamstress and stylist agreed, so we outvoted you.” I smile.
“This is my day, Delilah. You already are putting a dent in my reputation by being pregnant and single. Now, you come wearing this hussy of a dress? What is the matter with you?” She holds a hand to her forehead like she’s feeling faint and I roll my eyes. Cue the dramatics.
“Mother, you’re fifty and finally getting married. Plus, your fiancé knows you have a daughter and soon-to-be grandchild, so what’s the big deal? Who are we trying to impress?”
She pulls her hand away from her head slowly and stares at me, lips pursed and eyes looking to the far left. She’s hiding something and whatever it is, I’m not going to like it, I can already tell.
“He doesn’t know about me, does he?” I spit at her. The writing is on the wall for this one. She’s going to introduce me, her grown-ass child, to her fiancé and his family for the first time tomorrow.
“I plan to tell him tomorrow when he can’t leave me because his stepdaughter is a trollop. I mean seriously, Delilah, how could someone marry me knowing that I have a daughter who has no respect for herself?”
“I fucking knew you would pull some shit like this. I should just go back to Vegas, but I’m rather looking forward to enjoying my vacation on your dime. Plus, seeing this shit blow up tomorrow when he and his family find out you’ve been lying to them is going to be amazing. Now, get out!” I point my finger at the door and she stands slowly. “Oh, and Claudia?” She turns halfway to the door and looks at me. “Don’t think I’m getting ready with you on Friday. Send me my own team to get ready here or I’ll show up in sweatpants and a t-shirt to the ceremony.”
