Page 94 of Every Now and Then
“We’ll take an order of every appetizer you have, please,” Bailey says to the server as she snaps her menu shut.
“What?” I laugh. “Bailey, we can’t eat all that!”
“Speak for yourself. I’m starving.” Laura chirps, grabbing a slice of bread from the basket in the center of the table. One-handed, she slathers it with butter before taking a big bite.
“And I’m pregnant and indecisive,” Bailey says with a shrug. “Last week, I only ate scrambled eggs with ketchup. This week, I want to eat everythingexceptscrambled eggs with ketchup. Pregnancy cravings are just weird.”
"That food combo isn't that weird,"Laura offers.
Bailey looks a little green as she admits, "I also added mustard. Dijon mustard. Honestly, it sounds disgusting now, but I went through three dozen eggs last week because it tasted so good to me.”
"Oh!" Laura pauses. "Yeah, that's weird. Sorry, Bailey."
“When I was pregnant with Claire, I loved peanut butter and bacon sandwiches. Loved them. I ate one almost every day.”
“Pregnancy is just weird. My doctor says it’s all normal, but…" Bailey leans forward, dropping her voice, "Good God, the things that are happening to my body. Why doesn't anyone talk about the round ligament pain, the constipation, or the death of your libido?"
“I know, right? So much happens that no one talks about!" I say, commiserating with her. "With my first pregnancy, I had a metallic taste in my mouth that didn’t go away until the second trimester. And don’t get me started on the hemorrhoids.”
Laura freezes mid-chew as her gaze ricochets between Bailey and me.
Bailey's eyes widen. “Are you kidding? Hemorrhoids? Is that normal?"
"Unfortunately, it can be."
Our conversation pauses as the server drops off several appetizers. But as soon as she leaves, we pick back up where we left off as we dish out the food.
Glancing around, Bailey whispers, "I'm also sprouting hair in weird places. Like, before Rowdy and I go on our babymoon this spring, I think I might need to get my stomach waxed because of the weird little patches of hair. I look like a freaking Ewok!"
“I've heard of that happening! But don't worry. After you give birth, your hair starts to fall out."
Bailey gapes. “No!”
"Oh yeah," I nod. "And your areolas will probably get bigger too."
Bailey slumps, leaning her elbow on the table. "They already have! I swear, I'm sporting areolas the size of coasters now."
"I hate to break it to you, but… mine got bigger with each pregnancy."
"Oh, hell, no. I don't have big boobs to begin with… If we have more than one kid, my nipples will outgrow my boobs!"
Aghast, Laura pushes her plate away from her, muttering, “Remind me to call my gyno after lunch to make sure I have refills left on my birth control prescription.”
“Sorry! This isn’t polite table conversation, but I’m surrounded by grown men who don't understand what I'm going through,” Bailey apologizes. “I need to talk about this stuff while I can.” Her gaze shifts to Laura's abandoned plate. "Oh, hey, if you aren't going to eat that, can I have your crab hush puppy? And your cheesesteak egg roll?"
"Have at it. I've lost my appetite," Laura says, a polite grin tugging at her lips. But it lands closer to a grimace. Then, she flags down the server and orders a glass of wine.
I smirk at Laura. This feels like some well-deserved payback for all the times she’s graphically discussed her sex life and made me uncomfortable.
Bailey's text yesterday asking if I was free for lunch surprised me. After spending Christmas together, I consider Bailey a friend, especially given how close she and Hayes are, but this is the first time we’ve hung out without Hayes. I tried to reschedule for another day since I already had plans with Laura, but Bailey insisted I invite Laura to join us. I'm pretty sure Laura is regretting her decision to tag along.
Taking pity on Laura, Bailey changes the subject. “How are you doing, Annabelle?”
"Busy but good," I respond, dabbing my napkin at the corner of my lip.
Bailey and Laura both look at me, waiting for more.
"Fine, I'm overwhelmed and stressed AF," I admit. "I'm stretched thin right now with the moving, house hunting, being a mother, and being a girlfriend. I just have a lot on my plate."
