Page 32 of Delayed Penalty

I’m on my way. Need anything?

No. But I’m pretty sure you don’t want to be here if I have the stomach flu.

Kelly

Yeah, unfortunately for you, it doesn’t sound like the kind I can catch.

See you in twenty.

Weird.

Twenty minuteslater on the dot, she’s walking into the apartment with bags, setting them down on the counter and immediately digging through in search of something, pulling out a bottle.

“Here,” she says shoving a bottle of water at me as I rot on the couch now. “Chug.”

“I finally just stopped throwing up and you want me to chug this? Pretty sure that’s not going to happen unless you want me to vomit all over you. What the hell is even going on, Kel?”

“I brought you a pregnancy test.”

“You brought me a what? Why the fuck would I need a pregnancy test?” I ask, but already my mind is doing the math, calculating the timeline and possibility, but thankfully, she can’t be right. Peter and I have never really had the best sex life… but toward the end it became pretty non-existent. In fact, I’m honestly not sure we’ve even had sex in the last year so there’s not a chance I could be pregnant.

Oh, fuck…

“Motherfucker,” I say, my face dropping to my hands.

“Did you let that asshole knock you up right after you got the fucking courage to leave his ass? If that good for nothing motherfucker knocked you up when he couldn’t even give you an orgasm I will lose my shit.”

“It wouldn’t be his,” I tell her, the words sour as I say them sending another wave of nausea through my body at the fear that’s swirling in my mind. I’m waiting for her to pick up on it because I’m actually afraid that if I say what I’m thinking that I might just lose my battle and lose the crackers I just ate.

We’re each other's keepers; although, it still doesn’t feel good to tell her the truth of this one. I was honestly hoping I’d take this one to the grave. “Peter and I haven’t had sex in six months so it won’t be his or else I’d be closer to popping and definitely a little more obviously knocked up.”

“So, what are you saying?” Kelly’s eyes narrow as she watches me suspiciously, her head tilting like she’s trying to make sense of this and is just not understanding. When it finally clicks her eyes widen, the reality of what might be happening sinking in. “Oh, fuck.”

“Exactly my thoughts.”

I lean back, my head against the couch, praying for it to just swallow me whole.

“Are you telling me that handsome piece of man meat, the rockstar NHL player who came and dropped off fucking soupand Gatorade for you last week, driving an hourboth waysjust to make you feel betterandwho was able to give you so many O’s you lost count, is the one who would’ve knocked you up if this test is positive?”

“I mean… I guess that’s what I’m saying.”

“Praise Jesus, Peter’s karma is coming quick.” Kelly giggles, a little fist pump in the air, and I can’t help but smile. Kelly didn’t just dislike Peter, she fucking loathed him from the very beginning, but I was the right amount of broken that I let him in.

“Do you realize just how fucked up this might make my life, though? Peter has already been giving me enough problems as it is. He’s basically refused to let me tell anyone about us breaking up, which I mean isn’t too hard to fake with it being the summer now. But it’s been hell not being able to tell mom and dad. He threatened me that if I told anyone he will tell his parentsIcheated and get me fired since it goes against the school’s values. It’s bullshit but since his mom is in charge and she’s a bit out there, she’s crazy enough she might just believe him and do it. And then I’ll lose out on not only the penthouse, but I’ll also be out of a job and insurance and be well and truly fucked and then you’ll be stuck sharing a bed with me for the rest of eternity.”

“Okay, Miss Dramatic. First off, if Peter does shit, I’ll end him. I promise I’ll make that man regret his own existence if he fucks with you at all. Second, if his mom is really that crazy and would believe him over the truth that’s pretty black and white, do you really want to work for someone like that?”

“Well… I’ve always wanted to work there ever since we were kids and went to that school. I guess I’ve wanted to do it for so long that I stopped even questioning if it was actually what I wanted to be doing, or at least if it waswhereI wanted to do it. So… I guess I’m not exactly sure.”

“Why don’t we start with the first problem at hand… let’s find out if we even have a little nugget growing by you going to pee on a stick. Agreed?”

“Do I need to go find a stick outside or did you bring me one?” I ask innocently, batting my lashes because I can’t help it. My world may be on fire but at least I can still drive my big sister crazy.

“For fuck’s sake, Avery, take this seriously. Pee on a damn pregnancytest, you pain in the ass.”

“Fine… but I hope you know this means I’m definitely puking.”

“Why is that?”

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