Page 20 of Solid Ground

I knew all this when I sold my company, but the closer I get to the conclusion of my contract, the more adrift I feel.

“What’s crawled up your ass?” Caitlin asks.

Brandon is out with friends, and I invited her over to hang out. She’s leaving in a couple of days, but now I’m regretting hosting her. I’m not feeling great, and I’m cranky as hell. She’s not done anything wrong, but the last thing I want is for her to cop it just because I’m grumpy.

“Nothing.”

“He hasn’t called yet? What a prick.” She’s on my side—I know that, but everything is grating on me right now and her words still irritate me.

“Maybe he’s busy.”

“For eight weeks?” She frowns. “I’m sorry, Zoe, but the guy’s an asshole. He should never have asked for your number and given you hope.” I burst into tears, and her sad expression changes to one of horror.

“I know all that. It’s just …” I sniff.

“What’s going on?” Her soft tone makes everything worse.

“I don’t know. I’m getting closer to the end of my contract, and you’re moving, and everything’s a mess.” I fling my hands up to add melodramatic flair.

She bites her lower lip before resting her hand on my arm. “Don’t take this the wrong way …”

My eyebrows rise. “What?”

“Have you thought about taking a pregnancy test?”

I shoot her the side-eye. “Why would I do that?”

“Because you’re grumpy all the time, and you were a little green around the gills when we had breakfast the other day. You’re just not yourself.”

“I’m not pregnant.” I huff.

“Go and buy a test. It’s not like it’s far to get one. There’s a pharmacy …”

“I know where it is.”

She shoots to her feet. “Fine. I’ll go buy one now.”

“Don’t. I’ll get one. Just not this instant.”

Before I can stop her, she’s grabbed her bag and flung her coat over her shoulders, and is stamping toward the door.

I’m not sure how long I sit there, frozen by uncertainty until she storms back in, slamming the door in her wake and waving a small blue box at me.

“You owe me.”

I laugh. “What are you talking about?”

“The woman at Walgreens recognised me. She’s a big Brandon fan. Now there’ll be rumours about me being pregnant.” She flicks her blonde locks over her shoulder.

“Well, if I remember rightly, I told you not to go out and get a test. It’s your own fault.”

She wriggles out of her coat and throws it on a nearby chair. “Now I’ve gone to all that trouble, you can go and take the test.”

I shake my head. “You’re a pain in the arse.”

“You’ll miss me when I’m gone.”

My throat tightens. I will miss her. Regardless of what happens, we’ll be in different parts of the world and not in each other’s pockets like we have been these past two years.

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