Dr. Fellows was a little hesitant to allow me to travel to Luke’s parents’ house for Christmas. My due date is only five weeks away, but we promised we wouldn’t fly, and the drive is only about eight hours.

I feel like I’m going to pee my pants, but I already asked Luke to stop in the last town.

Maybe I need to go easy on the icees. But they help with my heartburn, and heartburn is pretty much the worst thing ever.

Worst. Thing. Ever.

I begin to wiggle in my seat, crossing my legs and bracing myself against any potholes. It’s not like they have many on the highway, but a girl can never be too careful. Especially when it comes to not wetting her pants in front of her best friend who would never let her hear the end of it.

“How you doin’ over there, Liv?” Luke glances at me before turning his eyes back to the road.

He’s wearing a light blue t-shirt that stretches across his muscular chest, his worn blue jeans covering his thighs.

I grit my teeth as he lightly taps his brakes, causing my butt cheeks to clench in hopes of preventing an accident of a different kind all over Luke’s leather seat and my simple black yoga pants.

I refuse to travel uncomfortably. Plus, yoga pants are pretty much the only thing I fit into right now, but that’s beside the point.

“You okay?” he asks, his lips tilting upwards in a smirk. I’m pretty sure he knows what my problem is.

“Fine,” I grit out, crossing my legs for the third time. “Just trying to keep your car clean.”

His jade eyes glance my way again before his smirk turns into a devious grin. Luke turns down the volume on his car stereo and lets the silence envelop me. I shift uncomfortably in my seat.

“So…now probably wouldn’t be a great time to tell you a joke?” he asks mischievously. His eyes are practically glowing with triumph, knowing how easy it would be to make my bladder explode like a water balloon.

I glare in his direction, praying he doesn’t have any new material I’ve never heard.

I already know that politely asking him to keep his annoyingly gorgeous lips sealed will be pointless. When Luke is determined about something, there’s no stopping him, and apparently, he wants to see me pee my pants.

Bastard.

That being said, it doesn’t stop me from sticking my pointer fingers into my ears and humming a Taylor Swift song while refusing to look at Luke. Mature, I know. I squeeze my eyes shut and try to think of the clown from It, or my mother-in-law. Nothing’s scarier than her.

After a few moments of silence, I open my eyes and peek at Luke. His eyes are glued to the road. I begin to wonder if he’s given up, when I hesitantly lower my hands to rest on my swollen belly.

My eyes stay focused on the side of Luke’s face, taking in his chiseled jaw and five o’clock shadow. His calloused palms grip the steering wheel casually.

After my eyes dart between the clock on the dashboard and Luke’s annoyingly attractive face for exactly five minutes, I finally begin to feel my muscles relax. I’ve been tense for so long, I’m starting to get a Charlie horse in my left butt cheek.

I bite my lip, still cautiously awaiting his next move. Because like I said, he doesn’t give up easily.

“So, I read an article in National Geographic the other day,” Luke states, casually.

My eyebrows crinkle; I can’t figure out what angle he’s going for.

After a minute, I decide to throw him a bone because, how is the National Geographic funny? I roll my eyes before playing along, my curiosity peaked.

“Okay?” I ask, dragging out the word.

“Apparently, there were these two elephants that saw a naked guy running around.”

I can’t tell if that’s the punchline to the dumbest joke ever, or if he really did read an article about elephants seeing a naked dude.

I shake my head slightly, waiting for him to get to his point. I grab my melted icee, placing the straw between my lips. I know I shouldn’t be drinking anymore, but did I mention the heartburn?

“Anyway, the first elephant turns to the second and says, ‘I really don’t know how he can feed himself with that thing.’”

My brows continue to furrow as I take a drink. I look at Luke, clueless as to what he’s talking about until….

I snort loudly, spewing bright red cherry slushie through my nose and down his dashboard, causing me to laugh hysterically, burying my face in my hands.

That is the dumbest joke I’ve ever heard.

As I try to catch my breath between bouts of laughter, I say, “Joke’s on you, my friend. ‘Cause now you have to get your car cleaned.”

It’s not even that funny of a joke. Really. It isn’t. However, the lengths my best friend will go to get me to pee my pants is ridiculous. Thankfully, his front seat will remain clean for now, even if his dashboard isn’t.

That being said, I’m afraid my underwear won’t stay dry for much longer if we don’t find a rest stop soon. Just as I’m about to ask for a funnel and a cup, I see a Chevron sign as Luke turns on his blinker, merging off the exit.

I say a silent prayer in thanks, throwing the door open, and booking it to the restroom before Luke can even turn off the ignition.

After using the facilities, I lumber back to the car, my lower back aching from sitting for so long.

Carrying around a twenty-pound watermelon isn’t easy on the joints.

Or the bladder.

Rubbing my chest, I attempt to relieve the heartburn that is still driving me crazy. Pregnancy is awesome. Seriously, a total miracle. But I’m so over all these shitty side effects.

I take a few deep breaths before grabbing the door handle, preparing for the next few long hours in the car.

As I slide back into my seat, I can see the dashboard has been cleaned, and a fresh cherry icee is sitting in the cup holder next to a brand-new container of Tums.

I glance over at Luke as he fiddles with the stereo, turning the music back on, totally oblivious to how much his small gestures mean to me.

The Liv Whisperer strikes again.