Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 76000 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76000 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“I’m surprised you’re here and not over at Apollo’s,” Sarah says, trying to act casual.
“Why would I be over there?”
“Oh, come on,” Luna says, rolling her eyes. “We’re not stupid, June. We’ve seen you two together a hundred times since before Halloween, and it’s obvious to anyone with eyes that you’re together. Stop pretending that you aren’t.”
I lower the cracker to my lap and stare down at it. “I don’t know why we kept it a secret. Well, yeah, actually, I do. It was because I told him that I wanted to because, what if we just slept together a few times and then it was over, you know? There was no need to announce that to the world.”
“But it hasn’t been just a few times,” Sarah says softly.
“No, and I don’t think we’ll stop any time soon. We were going to tell everyone this week, but then I wasn’t feeling well, and it seems like there’s been something constantly keeping us from telling you. Frankly, I feel a little guilty that I’m talking to you about this because Apollo and I agreed that we’d tell everyone together, but holy shit, it feels so good to get this off my chest.”
“I admit, my feelings were hurt at first,” Luna says. “Him not telling me, I understand, but you’re my best friend, and you kept me out. After I thought about it for a bit, I realized that it’s not about me. I’m so glad you’re together. Given how explosive you are when you can’t stand each other, I bet it’s like a nuclear bomb when you do like each other.”
“It’s pretty wild,” I agree, nodding. “Now, if I could shake this stomach thing, everything would be great. I need to get to work, and Christmas is a couple of weeks away. I have shit to do.”
Luna and Sarah share a look, and then their gazes return to me.
“What?”
“Well, we brought you something else,” Luna says, reaching for her handbag. She pulls out a slender box that is very clearly marked as a pregnancy test.
“Whoa.” I hold my hands up in defense. “Let’s not go overboard. It’s a queasy stomach, that’s all.”
“Honey, how long have you been sleeping with Apollo?” Sarah asks.
I sigh and think back. “I don’t know, since before Halloween. Maybe a week or two before that.”
“You need to take this test.” Luna holds it out to me, but I cringe away from it.
“I’m not pregnant.”
“Great. You can go pee on this, get a negative result, and then we can take you to the doctor to figure out what’s up with your stomach. Win-win. Now, go pee.”
“You and your brother are both really bossy.”
“Yep.” She smiles serenely, not backing down, so I grab the box out of her hand and stomp into the bathroom.
“I’m not fucking pregnant,” I mutter as I open the box and quickly read the instructions. Just pee on the thingy and wait a few minutes.
Fine. I can do that.
When I’m done, I return the stick to its little foil packaging, return to my room, and drop the stick onto the bed.
“We can check it in a few minutes.”
“Great, thanks.” Luna pats the bed. “Sit. You look exhausted.”
“I’m probably dehydrated.” I blow out a breath, suddenly nervous. “I’m not drinking enough water. That’s what it is, I’m sure.”
“That could be,” Sarah agrees, but it’s clear they both think I’m full of shit.
And until right this minute, it never occurred to me that I could be with child, as Annabelle would say.
“We’ve been careful,” I insist, answering a question that no one asked. “I’m on the fucking pill, and most of the time, we use condoms, too. Not every time, but a lot of the time. Like, at least half.”
I blow out a breath because I’m rambling and need to stop.
“Shit, we haven’t used condoms in a really long time. Still, I take my pill every day without fail.”
“Then maybe you’re not pregnant,” Luna says as she reaches for the stick in the package. “You want to look, or do you want me to?”
“You do it.” I stand and walk to the window, chewing on my thumbnail. Damn it, I can’t be pregnant.
I. Can’t.
His reaction when he realized he didn’t wear a condom that first time was intense, and he was so freaked out that it took him an hour to calm down.
Jesus, I assured him that we couldn’t get pregnant because I was on the pill.
“Uh, June?”
I close my eyes and then turn back to them.
“Yeah?”
“Open your eyes.”
“I don’t want to.”
“June,” Sarah says. “It’s okay.”
“I’m not pregnant?” My eyes pop open in relief, but when I see their faces, I know I’m wrong.
“No, you are pregnant,” Luna says. “She means that everything’s going to be okay.”
“Holy shit, I’m going to throw up.”
I run back into the bathroom and drop to my knees by the toilet in time to get violently sick. Someone’s rubbing my back, and someone else is holding a wet cloth to the back of my neck.