“Is that pantsuit new?I don’t think I’ve seen you in it before.”
At Kerry’s question, I looked down at my baggy outfit. As a confident curvy woman, I usually went for things that accentuated my figure. Now, I had to find things that hid it.
The longer I looked, the more I realized I was seeing a bump. It could have been bloat, but I didn’t want there to be any questions.
“I’m trying out a new style. Do you like it?”
“Yes,” she said. “It looks socomfy.”
In some circles, “comfy” didn’t mean anything nice. But I’d long ago learned not to think too hard about the things Kerry said. Most of the time, she was being nice. And if she wasn’t ... then I’d see about it on the Facebook group when she tried to vague post. She’d been better since things blew up over a year ago when Mollie moved into town and they got into it, but I didn’t know how long it would last.
The jumpsuit, though loose, was cute as hell. I wouldn’t let her stop me from enjoying it.
“Thanks, Kerry,” I said. “I have a few more of them if you wanna try one on.”
“Oh, I think that’s a thing only you could pull off.” She waved me away.
Yeah, she hated it. Oh well.
“Of course. What else can I help you with then?”
“I saw something on the internet that I wanted to show you.” She pulled her phone out and showed me a woman clad head to toe in leopard print.
Kerry was theworstabout following fake internet trends. I was pretty sure this entire photo wasn’t even real.
“I might have a shirt in this style, but I’d really recommend against pairing both together?—”
“I’m bold enough for it. I want people to stare when I walk by.”
This had happened with a hat before. I’d told her it was a terrible idea, and she told me my fashion sense was stuck in the past. This time, I knew better than to argue with her.
“In that case, let’s get you glammed up.”
As I pulled out the outfit for her, Kerry watched closely, as if hunting down something different about me.
I tensed. Thingswerechanging, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. I was still tired and my body was slowly growing. I couldfeelthat I was pregnant, and for some reason, I thought everyone else could now see it. I needed to figure out how to tell the town eventually, but under Kerry’s appraising stare, it felt impossible.
“Here you go,” I said as I handed her the outfit. “Why don’t you go try this on?”
“Oh! Right. Be right back.”
I let out a breath when she disappeared into the fitting room.
Kerry came out looking like a leopard. While it wasn’t my style, she practically bounced on her feet.
“How do you feel?” I asked, even though I knew the answer.
“Amazing!” she said. “I’m gonna be the talk of the town!”
That was the thing about fashion. It didn’t matter howIfelt about it. It was how they did. My own style was one thing, but others had different views on how they wanted to look, and I wanted everyone to leave happy.
Even if they would end up being made fun of in the Facebook group.
“You should get it then,” I replied. “You look amazing.”
“I knew I didn’t have to get just one thing in leopard print! Don’t you have some pants like these too? We could match!”
I wouldn’t be fitting into those for a while, and allof my current clothes budget was going toward things that would accommodate my growing belly. Did they even make patterned maternity jeans?