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Turning so she could see the back, I rolled my eyes.

“Unfortunately, yes, I really don’t know if it’s wedding jitters or what, but I’ve been consistently gaining since I picked out this dress.

” As I spoke, my eyes burned, and I blinked rapidly.

I wasn’t trying to freak this lady out by crying like an emotional nut.

Flipping her ponytail over her shoulder, she gave an understanding nod as she took in the dress.

“Okay, well, I’ll be honest. It’s not as uncommon as you might think.

A number of things could be the cause, but don’t worry, I can add a bit of stretchy fabric between the zipper and even a corset tie, I just need to take a few measurements.

” She was still eyeballing the dress and circling me as she spoke, but she made it sound so simple I couldn’t help but calm down.

It took about half an hour of her moving around and prodding before she finally finished with a smile.

By then, I was so comfortable, I didn’t even bat an eye at having to ask her for help getting back out of the dress.

One minute, I was trying to shimmy it down my body, and the next thing I knew, another dizzy spell hit me, but this time, I wasn’t able to recover.

I landed on the floor with a loud ass thud, and Kristy immediately started screaming.

Victoria and a handful of other women all ran in as I confusedly tried to pick myself up off the floor.

“Oh my god! Don’t move, I’m going to call 911!”

“No, no, I’m…I’m okay,” I lied, not recognizing my own voice.

“No, you’re literally not okay!” Victoria fussed. “Sharon, call the ambulance!” Instead of continuing to argue with her, I stayed my ass right there on the floor, trying to figure out how in the hell I’d gotten there.

When the EMTs finally arrived, I had to convince Victoria and Kristy that they didn’t need to tag along.

I was already embarrassed enough, especially when we made it to the hospital and the doctor began interrogating me with even more invasive questions than the paramedics.

I had to admit, though, that after they hooked me up to an IV, I was starting to feel a little better, but I wanted to go home and forget all about this humiliating ass shit.

“What the hell! What’s going on, Avery? Are you okay?” I was lying in bed, resting my eyes, when Keyani’s loud ass came in asking me a million questions. She ran to the side of my bed, taking in the monitors and IV like I was on my deathbed, and I had to bite back a laugh.

“I’m fine, boo, I really don’t know what happened though.

One minute I was trying to get out of my dress, and the next thing I know, my ass is on the floor looking crazy.

The doctor hasn’t been back in yet, but I think I might’ve just been dehydrated.

” I tried to downplay the situation, but she still frowned.

“Dehydrated?”

“Yes, dehydrated. They hooked me up to this, though, and I’m already starting to feel better.

” I motioned to the IV dismissively. “I’m just glad you’re still my emergency contact, because if they’d called Maasai, he’d try to postpone the wedding and have me on bedrest for the next month over this shit.

” My intentions were to keep this entire ordeal to myself.

There was no need to have him worrying about something as minor as my water intake, but I could see it on Keyani’s face that she didn’t agree.

“Well, just wait and see what the doctor says, because it could be more than just you needing fluids, Avery.” She sounded just like my mama, and I was just about to tell her ass that when there was a knock at the door and my doctor walked in.

“Oh, hello, I didn’t know you had company.

I’m Dr. Grace.” The older woman reached out and shook hands with Keyani, who introduced herself as my sister, making me smile.

“Well, we ran a few tests, and I’d like to go over those results with you, Avery.

Would you like for your sister to leave the room or. ..?”

“No, no. You can speak freely in front of her,” I said quickly. I was already done and just wanted to go home. Plus, Keyani knew everything about me and vice versa, so whatever came out of the doctor’s mouth wasn’t anything I needed to keep away from her.

Nodding, Dr. Grace gave a warm smile and opened up the chart she was holding. “Okay, so we ran the regular tests: glucose, anemia, dehydration,” she rattled off, never lifting her head. “You mentioned that you were feeling lightheaded before leaving the house, correct?”

I could feel Keyani’s eyes on me, burning a hole in the side of my face, but I didn’t look away from the doctor. “Yes, but it was pretty late in the afternoon, and I hadn’t eaten yet, so I thought that was why. I did grab a banana on my way out though.”

“And you haven’t had anything else today?” Dr. Grace looked up with her brows furrowed.

“Well…yeah, but that’s only because I was in a rush. I was going to get a yogurt or smoothie once I left the bridal shop and…” My voice trailed off as they both stared at me like I was speaking a different language.

“Is that the type of thing you eat on a daily basis?”

Keyani cleared her throat and narrowed her eyes at me with folded arms, waiting for my answer.

I knew she was going to have a fit once she found out that it was, but now when I was in the hospital it wasn’t the time to hold back.

Focusing on my fingers, I let out a hum before answering.

“Umm, sometimes. I’ve been on a fruit and juicing diet, but I do eat salad too.

It’s just been for this last week or so. ” Keyani’s dramatic ass gasped.

“Bitch, you been eating like a rabbit for a week! I know you fuckin’ lyin’!” I shot a look at her, but she only rolled her neck, unfazed by her brashness in front of the doctor.

“Okay, so if you haven’t been getting the proper amount of calories and nutrients, that is likely a part of the reason for the dizzy spells. Another reason could be that you’re about twelve and a half weeks pregnant, which could also be affected by the amount of things you eat and don’t eat?—”

“Pregnant!”

“Pregnant?” Keyani and I shouted at the same time.

Of all the things that could’ve been going on with me, the last thing I was expecting was a pregnancy, and over three months at that!

I tried to think back over the last few months, if there had been any signs, and came up empty.

Then I immediately started thinking about the amount of drinks I’d consumed over the course of three months, and I instantly started panicking.

“Yes, pregnant. You were also dehydrated and had an elevated blood pressure, but other than that, you’re okay, you just need to eat better?—”

“But…I’ve been getting a period, and I’ve had a few drinks and…”

“Were they regular periods or just spotting that lasted a few days?” Dr. Grace asked, finally lowering the clipboard she was holding.

“There was some spotting, and sometimes nothing at all, but I figured it was the stress of planning my wedding and…other things.” I stopped short of telling her about the other shit that was going on as far as me being married into a criminal enterprise.

“Awww, boo, you’re having a baby!” Keyani gushed, dropping into the chair next to me as her eyes watered.

“Spotting is normal in the beginning of pregnancy. Some women have spotting for months into the pregnancy, so they don’t even realize they are…

much like you. As far as the drinking goes, we don’t know for sure, but so far, things seem to be okay.

Your hormone levels are normal, but we can check the heart rate and even do an ultrasound if it makes you feel better, but you’ll still need to schedule an actual doctor’s appointment right away, since we’re so late in the game.

I’ll get that set up for you, and they’ll be in shortly. ”

The room filled with silence once she left, as the gravity of my being pregnant began weighing on me. There were so many things that could be wrong, that I’d caused from drinking and eating poorly, I just kept praying that my baby was healthy and growing as he or she should be.

“I can’t believe I’m about to be a Teetee! And your ass was out here feeding my Teetee baby that bullshit! Well, I don’t give a damn about your dress. You’re gonna eat real food, even if I have to stuff you myself!”

“Ugh, I didn’t know a baby was the reason I was gaining weight. I promise I don’t need you to stuff anything. Maasai is probably going to do enough of that for both of you,” I groaned, already dreading having to tell him that I was the reason me and his baby were in the hospital.

It was as if Keyani was just remembering that I had a husband, and her eyes widened. “Ooooh, I didn’t even think about that! He gone fuck you up, for sure.” She tisked, shaking her head.

“Thanks so much, Key, I really appreciate you making me even more anxious than normal.” I couldn’t help being sarcastic, and she only gave a halfhearted shrug as she squeezed my hand.

“You know that man ain’t gone do nothing but love you more!

Hell, he probably ain’t gone let y’all out of his sight.

It’s no reason to stress, you’ve literally got it made.

At least we know it was my little baby adding the extra weight and not some random unknown illness.

That’s cause for celebration!” I had to admit, I did feel better knowing why I’d suddenly been gaining weight so fast. I just hoped everything with my baby was good, because I didn’t think I’d be able to live with myself otherwise.