“Who knows you’re pregnant? Eli, Autumn and…me?”
“Yeah. And my doctor now.”
“They won’t be disappointed in you. They’ll probably be thrilled. Especially if Eli goes with you when you tell them. He’ll step up and say all the right things. He’s good at that,” Ellie reassures me.
“Yeah, you’re right.” I’m still scared to tell them though, which is irrational and silly, but I’m starting to realize being pregnant is making me overemotional.
About everything.
“Listen, let me jump in the shower real quick and then I’ll head down there. I can bring something for us to eat. You want anything in particular?”
I think of the pineapple that was on my pizza a few days ago, and my mouth literally waters. “A fruit bowl.”
“Okay…” She draws the word out.
“From the supermarket. With pineapple. Lots of it.”
“I can stop at Trader Joe’s and get the pack of sliced pineapple they sell,” she suggests.
“Yes! That sounds amazing.” My brain is literally envisioning me eating it and my stomach growls. “I think I’m craving pineapple. I can’t stop thinking about it.”
Ellie shakes her head. “You’re going to make a really cute pregnant lady.”
“You think so?” My doubt in myself is so obvious, I may as well be wearing a sign that says so.
“Yeah. And a cute mom—a good one, too.”
We talk a little more and I end the call, then make my way over to Eli and Caleb’s apartment.
Almost two hours later and Ellie finally shows up with my favorite salad from Panera and three packs of sliced pineapple from Trader Joe’s. When I open up the bag and see what’s inside, the smile on my face feels massive.
“I could kiss you right now,” I tell her, just before I pull her into a bone-crushing hug.
She laughs and hugs me back. “You said you were craving it.”
“I so am.” I ignore the salad and take the bag of pineapple to the kitchen counter, taking out one of the containers, and grab a fork from the drawer before I pop it open and start eating. “It’s so juicy, oh my God.”
Ellie is shaking her head. “At least you’re craving something healthy. My mom said she always wanted Dorito’s when she was pregnant with me.”
I laugh, my mouth full of pineapple. “My mom has told me she craved McDonald’s soft serve ice cream when she was pregnant with me. She was buying those hot fudge sundaes all the time.”
“At least it’s dairy?” Ellie says in her defense.
“Right.” I fork up a few more bites of pineapple before I snap the lid back on and slip all three containers of pineapple in the refrigerator.
We sit at the kitchen counter and eat our salads, Ellie glancing around the living room. “Where are the guys? School?”
I nod. “And they have practice after class.”
“So they won’t be home for a while.”
“Nope.”
“How is Eli? Is he excited?” Before I can even speak, Ellie sends me a look. “You can be honest with me, Ava. No one’s around. Tell me what you’re thinking. You seem upset.”
“I did some research earlier, and this is actually normal. All the crying and worrying.” I set my fork in my salad and watch her. “All those surging hormones are throwing me off.”
Her eyes are full of sympathy. “Are you happy about the baby?”