Hourglass Squared by K. S., Megan C. Smith

turned to the side and ran my hands over my belly, noticing its growth since I'd first taken the pregnancy test. I wasn't sure if I'd ever get used to the fact that twins were growing inside of me, but I felt like it was time to start dealing with it. I stepped into the shower. As the boiling hot water splashed over my skin, I began talking to my belly like an idiot.
    "Alright, you two, I've got a serious problem with what you're both going to do to my body over the next few months, but it looks like at this point I have no choice. I hear they have a name for it in Florida. Squatter's rights. In a nutshell, it's when you take over someone's property, and there is nothing they can do about it. I'm not sure that's the true definition, but we'll roll with it for now. From here on out, you two will be known as my squatters. Your dad will probably think it's a stupid name for our twins, but I know, deep down, he understands my quirky way of dealing with things."
    I reached for the shampoo and began washing my hair, allowing the familiar scent of lavender to envelop my nose. "So, let's continue this meeting. I'm your mother, Savannah Worthington, high-end fashion photographer for the world-famous Hourglass Magazine and wife to Jake Worthington, also known as your father, co-owner of Worthington Squared. I don't have time for morning sickness or crazy cravings. I love to run, and I plan on running as much as possible to keep myself from gaining too much weight. Couture dresses and stilettos are among my favorite things, but they, of course, come after your father. He is my most favorite thing in the entire world. I haven't really been showing it lately, but I promise, that's all going to change."
    Placing my soapy hands back on my belly, I tapped it with my fingertips. "Okay, I'm going to be real with you two. I don't want any kids right now, but it's a little late for that, so let's make a deal. I let you live here, rent free for nine months, and, in return, you all use your magic powers to give me a girl and a boy."
    Lathering conditioner in my hair, I continued the ridiculous conversation with the squatters in my belly. "I want my daughter to be just like me, beautiful and confident. Smart and sassy, but not conceited. Take life by the horns, and do with it whatever you wish. Don't be afraid to fail. It's a part of the learning process, and it'll make you that much more appreciative when you finally succeed. Love with every ounce of your being, even if your heart gets shattered into a million pieces. Trust me when I tell you, when you finally find the person who you are meant to spend the rest of your life with, every shattered piece will have been worth it."
    I reached for my razor and began shaving my lathered legs. "And for my son, I want you to be just like your father. He is the most loving, compassionate, hardworking man I've ever met in my entire life. I know you'll be just as, if not more, handsome than he is, but you can't count on your looks. Your father and Uncle Josh have worked so hard to build an empire that one day you and your cousins will inherit. Be wise enough with your choices in life so you are able to continue building such a legacy that one day you can pass along to your children. Love your sister and protect her in everything she does. She is and will always be the closest part of who you are."
    I stood under the water and allowed it to wash away the suds from my body as I turned the handle and reached for my towel. Drying off, I finished up my conversation. "And always know that regardless of how I currently feel, when I finally hold the two of you for the very first time and see the beautiful creations that your father and I have made together, my life will never be the same. Everything I do will be for the two of you. I will love you until I take my very last breath and still, even after that."
    Opening the foggy glass door of our oversized shower, I stood there wrapped in a plush white towel, face to