Page 79 of My Ex's Best Friend

I shake my head. I know I can't hold it in anymore. I put a hand over my mouth and beeline toward the bathroom.

I barely get there in time, retching violently over the toilet bowl. I'm not sure how long I'm in there for.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, I feel like I've totally emptied myself out. I feel a hand on my back, rubbing it gently.

"Go away," I groan as I lean against the cool tiles of the bathroom floor. "Please, I don't want you to see me like this."

"You're not okay, Kiera," Jake says. "I can't leave you in here."

I retch once more. I try to get out whatever is in there, but it seems like I'm finally done.

Jake waits a couple of minutes with me in there before he carries me back to the bed. A few minutes later, he returns with a wet towel and some water. He lets me sip on it before he presses the towel against my forehead.

"You know my cooking isn't that bad," he jokes.

Despite everything, I laugh. The sound barely comes out as a croak, and my stomach hurts like freaking hell.

Jake notices this and leans me against the headboard. "Just relax, baby."

I take the towel from him and press it against my own forehead. "Can you just go away?"

"Why?"

"I don't want you seeing me like this," I say, wiping my face and hoping there's no residual drool. "I'm disgusting."

Jake shakes his head gently. "You can never be disgusting to me, Kiera. You're perfect and beautiful."

"Thanks, but I'm sure you weren't thinking that when I was throwing up all over your toilet bowl."

"No, I was thinking that I hoped that I didn't give you food poisoning," Jake says.

"I'm sure it wasn't you. It was probably something I ate or—"

I count the dates in my head to make sure I'm right, and I am. My stomach sinks. I’m late.

Oh no. I'm always on time, except this time, it seems.

"Earth to Kiera," Jake says. "You okay? Do you want me to take you back to the bathroom? You look ill again."

"No, no, no." I try to sit up straight on the bed.

My head spins.

I can't be pregnant, I can't be. It's just a fluke. People are late all the time.

But those people are not having unprotected sex multiple times. And sure, I have an IUD, and it’s supposed to be very effective at preventing pregnancies. But not everything is foolproof, is it?

I start getting off the bed. "I need to go."

"Go where?"

"I'll be back soon, I promise,” I say.

I wear my pants, and I'm out the door before Jake can stop me.

Once I'm out of the apartment, I feel like I can breathe freely again, and at the same time, it feels like the world is closing in on me. The world is too bright outside, and everything is so much louder. Or maybe I'm just that sensitive right now.

Okay, I need to think objectively. I'm probably only just freaking out. It's not a big deal.

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