offended her. As wonderful as Alli is, I'm sure we'd drive each other crazy in this house with only each other for company for months.
"Really?" She cocks her head to the side, shrugging. "Well, whatever you want."
"Wait." I tug on her sleeve when she tries to get up. "You don't think I should see a doctor?"
"Of course I do." She pats my hand. "I just think you should take advantage of the home visits. I mean... You don't want someone in Eden Falls recognizing you, do you? They'd tell Dex—and everyone else. Your father. All the other guys. And no offense, but you're already showing a bit. If you start appearing all over town with a huge belly, everyone will find out. Is that really the best? For them to find out through someone else?"
"I guess not."
"No, it isn't. So let's do the home visits. I'll make the caretaker get us everything from town. And I'll have the doctor come by every two weeks."
"But..." I glance at her. "How will we pay for all that?"
"I have a few tricks up my sleeve," she winks.
"But we don't have any money."
"We don't need money." She spreads her legs, making me flush when I realize she isn't wearing any underwear. "Why else would God bless us with these?"
I'm so shocked I can't even manage an answer. I'm not sure I should assume, but I can't help it—is she paying the doctor the old fashioned way?
"You'd really do that for me?" I ask before I can stop myself.
"For you and the baby," she nods gravely. "I love him already. And I just know it's going to be a boy." She grins.
"I love you, Alli," I mutter, taking her hand in mine. "Thank you for everything. Seriously. What would I do without you?"
"Be very very lost," she laughs. "It's okay. I'm here for you."
She sets off to the caretaker's cottage, making me wonder whether she'll use the same powers of persuasion on him as well, to make sure we have groceries.
I'm so lucky Alli came into my life.
Without her, I'd be totally lost.
"Where are you going?"
I turn over my shoulder, my hand lingering above the door handle. "Oh, hey, Alli. I was just taking the trash out."
"No." She practically runs toward me and wrestles the trash bag out of my hands. "You need to rest. I'll take this out. Don't worry."
She pushes past me out into the cold, and I bite my lower lip before walking over to the sofa. I sit back down, telling myself it's nothing.
Alli just wants to help. She doesn't have an ulterior motive. Why would she? She didn't even know me until a few months ago. She's my best friend. The only person I can trust completely. Sometimes even more than myself.
She wouldn't keep me cooped up in this house on purpose. She's just doing this to protect me and the baby.
I tell myself it's nothing. I glance through the window and see her outside, stuffing the trash can. I barely get a minute to myself these days. Alli goes out once weekly to get groceries from the caretaker, and my next doctor visit is fast approaching. I'm planning on doing some research while Alli's gone. And just as it happens, her weekly trip that takes all of forty-five minutes is scheduled for tonight.
For the rest of the evening, I keep up pretenses, and wave Alli off when she leaves. But the moment she rounds the corner, I'm back on my feet.
There are a few bedrooms in the house, and Alli and I have each got one. She doesn't like it when I come into her room, which has left me suspicious. But tonight's my chance. I can see what she's trying to hide so much. Why she always flinches when I appear in her door frame.
I think of her leaving with her basket tote and me waving her off.
She'd feel so betrayed if she knew what I was doing. But I can't help it. I need answers.
Minutes later, I'm digging through her room. I look under the mattress, under the bed. I check all her drawers. In the end, I find my answer hidden in plain sight.
I'm assuming there are three sizes of them, each labeled with a trimester. The first and third are there. The second one is missing.
I stare at the fake pregnancy bellies in disbelief. Why the hell does Alli have these? What could she possibly need them for?
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?"
I