Birthday Flowers | The Kissing Booth

35. Rule Revisions

(Elle)

I wake up way too early Sunday morning to a flurry of kicks and then the feeling of Noah's hand sliding over my belly, followed by another volley of kicks. Or maybe punches, I can't really tell yet. Noah's hand shifts again, lightly pressing, and I realize he's intentionally chasing Dino around, provoking her. And as heartwarming as this little game of tag is, it's less cute when it's my guts getting jabbed when I'd really rather still be asleep.

"Quit it," I mumble, my voice not quite working yet.

Noah's hand stills. "Awake already?" He asks, sounding surprised.

"Yeah. Because someone is being goaded into kicking me. You realize I can feel that, right?"

He laughs softly. "Sorry. I wasn't thinking. She started it."

I roll over to face him. "She started it? Are you five? You realize you're supposed to be the grownup here, right?"

His expression sobers instantly. "Yeah. I do realize, as terrifying as that is. That's actually why I was awake," he admits.

"Are you doing the thing where you make a list in your head of things to do and then obsess over it?" I know him. That's how he deals with stress.

"I don't obsess. I plan."

"Let me guess. You're running through all the crap you think your dad is going to nag at us about."

"Pretty much."

"Go run," I tell him. "I can practically hear you getting worked up and it's stressing me out. Go run or to the gym or something so you're not cranky for family lunch."

"I do not get cranky." Noah protests.

"You do. You get cranky if you don't work out, and it's even worse when you're worked up over something. You need to get this nervous energy out of your system."

"I can think of better ways of burning off energy."

It is way, way too early for the look he is giving me. "After. I told you, you're already amped up and stressing me out. And stop making Dino kick when I'm trying to sleep. Go run, let me sleep, and then we can talk. Or... not talk, if you're lucky."

"Dinah." He corrects me with a smug grin.

"GO." And we really need to get a place with a larger bed so I can actually roll away to express my annoyance.

Noah returns two hours later bearing coffee and muffins, and I am much, much friendlier to him then.

~~~~

I am staring into my closet and realizing I am down to two pairs of uncomfortably tight yoga pants, drawstring lounge pants, and some leggings that keep rolling off my belly. I'm going to have to bite the bullet and buy actual maternity clothes. An idea occurs to me and I pick up my phone.

"Hey. Wanna go shopping?"

"Always. Where? I'm out of the loop on which thrift has the weirdest stuff these days." Lee asks.

"Nooo, I think I need the mall this time."

"What exactly are we shopping for?" Lee asks suspiciously.

"Nothing fits anymore. I have reached the limits of my stretchiest, loosest clothing."

"You're making me shop for maternity clothes?"

"Please? How is this different from all our other shopping?"

"The maternity store has those creepy pregnant mannequins. And this really seems like it should be Noah's job."