MY STOMACH IS so unsettled today, maybe the Chinese we ate last night isn't agreeing with me.
Renee laughed upon seeing me, laughed at me! I don't think the green shade I'm wearing is very funny at all. Ugh, I can't take anything but Tums. That is on the approved list I am allowed to take while pregnant. For any and all ailments, my choices include Tylenol, Tums, or Robitussin. Of course those are so magical they will work, right? Damn, do I hope so.
“Well hey little mama,” Renee says as I make copies in the office.
“Hi,” I say keeping my head down. The ink smell is going to make me hurl. I smell everything so much clearer, it's weird!
“Morning sickness finally getting you, baby doll? Everyone gets it at different times. Me, mine was all day but only for a few months. Thankfully not like my sister, hers was her entire pregnancy,” she informs me.
“God bless her that she went on to have more. I am really hoping this is a limited engagement, feeling nauseous all day is not my idea of a good time by any means,” I tell her, gulping air to keep from breathing through my nose.
Renee and I have been friends since high school. She got pregnant at the end of our senior year, but it never hindered her going to college and making her career, which I'm thankful for.
We were able to go to the same elementary school to do our student teaching, and I love it. Seeing her on these days helps so much, especially now.
“Hey ladies, you almost done with the machine? Need to just make a few in a jiffy while my class is in Art with Ms. Epps,” Tiffany says from the doorway.
“Yeah, almost done,” I say.
Walking closer to get her pile together, she stands next to me and smiles. I smell the coffee she is carrying in her mug. Oh God, not here. Please don't let me blow it here!
I wrinkle my nose. “Can you move your coffee out of the room, please? The smell of coffee really is making me feel sick to my stomach today,” I tell her and Renee.
“Sure thing, sweetie. You alright? A little under the weather today I take it,” she says so sweetly while rubbing my back.
Renee decides this is the time to open her big mouth. “She should be alright soon enough.” She winks at me. “By summer vacation and her college graduation she will be spewing a baby out,” she describes oh so eloquently.
Turning to face Tiffany, I tell her my news.
Hugging me tightly, she quickly makes her copies while asking about my appointment at the doctor, how Trent is taking it, and what my plans are.
Everyone has been really and truly great about my news so far. I mean, I guess I was waiting for the judges and jury to come and point their finger at the unwed soon to be mother. No such thing has happened, yet.
That reminds me, Trent was supposed to talk to his mom today about dinner plans for tomorrow night. The sick feeling returns as I think of the reactions of Mr. and Mrs. Zito. Being very traditional Italian, I am so afraid of the reactions to come. I truly enjoy both of his parents and they have been nothing but respectful to me since I have met them. I like to think I'm a pretty good and wholesome girl, guess this will blow that out of the water. Good wholesome girls don't just go get knocked up, now do they.
Turning toward the door, I wave goodbye to both ladies. “I will see you ladies outside after lunch. I think I noticed we have recess duty together today.”
Smiling, they both say goodbye as they pack their things up to head back to class.
***
Grabbing some crackers and juice, I jump in my car to head to my class I have tonight.
I grab my phone out of my purse and see I have a missed call and voice mail from Trent.
Pulling it up I listen with a smile.
“Hey, baby, just wanted to check and see how you're feeling. It was a busy day today and I wasn't able to try and catch up with you before now. I know you have class tonight, meet me at my place after? Call me and let me know when you can, sweetheart. I love you.”
My face could split with the dopey grin I have on it.
Calling him back, it rings a few times.
“Hi baby,” he answers.
“Hi handsome,” I say, smiling.
“How are you feeling? Any better than this morning?”
“It was up and down all day,” I tell him. “I would say that the smell of coffee is a definite trigger for me right now. Renee says I am probably having morning sickness.”
“Morning sickness lasts all day? That's a silly name for it,” he says, sounding confused.
Laughing at his confusion, I try and enlighten him. “Well it's just a name really, and it affects everyone differently. I'm just hoping I'm one of those that it goes by quickly with,” I tell him frustrated.
“I hope so too, baby. I hate that you aren't feeling good. Honestly, I'm going to miss making coffee at home, but getting it before work is better than you feeling sick, so I'll live,” he says sweetly.
“Well aren't you just my Prince now,” I say sarcastically.
“I am, aren't I?”
Rolling my eyes, I pull into the parking lot of the Dearborn campus of school. “I just got to school, babe, and need to finish this day up. I’ll head on over when I get out of class. Just leave the door unlocked so I don't scare Brad and Lauren when I come in,” I tell him.
“Okay, sweetheart, I'll see you later. Have a good class, I love you.”
“Love you too, babe,” I say, hanging up.
Walking into Ms. Perkins’ English Lit class, I find my seat and set down my stuff. Needing to pee before class starts, I run to the bathroom real quick. As I finish up washing my hands, I feel like I'm being watched. Looking up I see a blonde a few sinks down putting on lipstick and staring at me through the mirror.
“Oh hi,” she says.
“Hi,” I say looking away and grabbing a paper towel.
“You're Andrea, right? As in Trent’s Andrea,” she asks, now smiling sweetly.
While drying my hands, I answer, “Yes, my name is Andrea and my boyfriend is Trent Zito.”
“Well, well. I hear big congratulations are in order then.”
“I'm sorry, who are you?” I ask confused.
“Oh, I'm so rude. I'm Marissa, an old friend of Trent’s.” She smiles and sticks her hand out to shake.
Stepping back, I feel myself stiffen and my face drops. “Marissa, as in Marissa his ex girlfriend,” I say, laughing sarcastically. “Forgive me if I'm being rude by not shaking your hand. I'm just a little confused as to why you are talking to me or how you know who I am or anything about me for that matter.”
Smoothing her hair down and smiling saccharine sweet through the mirror at me, she shakes her head. “Well, darling, I have seen you two together. You know Trent and I still talk quite often. Well, we do more than talk, if you catch my drift. Seems he likes to keep us both. As a matter-of-fact, we just had dinner together last week after class and a pretty spectacular lunch today.” She winks saucily.
Feeling suddenly sick to my stomach, I turn to leave.
“What's the matter, Andrea?” she sneers. “Sharing your man isn't sitting well with you? That's too bad because that Carter of yours was one hell of a wild time too,” she says on a shiver as if remembering.
“You were the blonde at his apartment, the night we broke up,” I say in shock.
She looks up at me and blows a kiss.
Narrowing my eyes at her, I decide I've had about enough of this bitch. “Sharing isn't something I would call my relationship with Trent. We are happy together and I'm pretty sure you are lying. I don't know the game you are playing here, Marissa, but I'm not going to be part of it. As for Carter, he's free to roam; he’s not my property,” I try to tell her convincingly.
Stepping back and sticking out her full chest, she smooths her hands down her sides. “Don't worry, angel face, he will come back to me soon enough. He knows where to really have a good time. And he will once he’s tired of playing house with you and you've lost that cute little figure of yours.” She grins.
“My figure….”
“Oh yes, I’ve heard your amazing news,” she says, clapping her hands delightfully. “A baby, how sweet. Was this your way to finally tie him down? To be the one to tame the wild Trent Zito.” She laughs a little crazily.
“My way? This baby was not on purpose, but we are actually both very happy about it. How is it you even know what's happening with us?” I ask her, annoyed and confused.
“Well, my roommate Megan waitresses at Slots. She overheard a little tidbit about Trent becoming a daddy. Don't get me wrong, sugar drop, I am completely happy for you both,” she sneers.
“We also had “lunch” today,” she says in air quotes, “so he could let me know I needed to find my fun elsewhere.”
I can't breathe, I need to get out of here. What if she isn't lying? That lying sack of shit!
“Just remember what I said,” she says, stepping a little too close for comfort. “Trent has been mine for a very long time. He wanted to give me up when he met you, but he couldn't. Not sure I see why, but that is neither here nor there,” she says, looking me up and down.
“Anyway, just remember what I said, dumpling. Trent Zito is a highly enjoyable stallion. You can't tame that wild one and he will come back to the stable soon enough where he belongs.”
Shaking with rage and gulping air, I turn to leave.
“I'm not trying to upset you, Andrea. I just want you to understand what you're up against here. As soon as your little pregnancy charade fails, he will be gone,” she says, clapping her hands laughing. “Poof!”
Running from the bathroom, I can hear her laughter down the hall. Suddenly not feeling so hot, I walk to my table and grab my things. Apologizing to Ms. Perkins, I leave.
***
Tears streaming down my face, I try to concentrate on seeing the road on my way to Trent’s apartment. Pulling my CD out of the holder strapped to my visor, I put in Limp Bizkit. “Break Stuff” starts up and I take a calming breath while bopping my head and banging the steering wheel to the beat. Hitting the chorus, I belt it out loud and angrily. This is amazing therapy on a bad day, let me tell you. That lying piece...I can't believe how stupid I am.
Pulling up in front of Trent’s building, I throw my Mustang in park and go to his door. Walking in, I see the TV on in the living room. I don't see Trent, so I head toward his bedroom. Pulling his door open and peeking in, I hear the shower running from his attached bathroom. I push the door open a little and am hit with steam.
“Babe, I'm here,” I tell him, my voice still cracking a little from crying.
Pulling the curtain back revealing him in his naked glory, he smiles big. Appreciating the beautiful man in front of me, I look up at his throat clearing. Red faced I look to him.
“Come join me, baby, I'll help you destress your long day away,” he says, wiggling his eyebrows.
“No, babe, that's okay. Just go ahead and finish. I'm pretty tired and just want to lay down,” I tell him, stepping back toward the door. He isn't touching me, not until he can assure me Marissa is a liar. I bet his shower is to wash her skank away…I can't even.
“Everything okay, sweetheart? Your eyes are swollen. What's the matter, why were you crying?” he asks concerned, with his eyebrows drawn in.
Nodding, I close the bathroom door and go to crawl in his big King size bed. I'm not going to stand there and have this out while he's gloriously naked in the shower.
Hearing the shower turn off, I roll to my other side and hope that deters the conversation I know is coming. I'm too tired to even deal with this right now. It hurts me, but maybe I should just keep my eyes wide open so to speak. I don't really want to rehash all the nasty things Marissa had to say to me tonight.