Page 32 of Mortify

Guilt twists in my stomach.

Vail's been nothing but kind to me since I started at the station.

She and Gwen took me under their wings, made me feel like part of the team, and I'm repaying that by lying to them.

I'm okay,I text back.Just can't shake this bug.

Have you seen a doctor?

There's that question again.

The one everyone keeps asking.

The one that makes me want to laugh hysterically, because what would I say? "Yes, doctor, I think my abusive boyfriend sabotaged my birth control and now I might be carrying his baby, which he'll use to control me forever."

I lie:

I have an appointment.

A few seconds later, she replies:

Good. I'm going to stop by later with some soup. Gwen's orders.

Panic shoots through my gut:

You don't have to.

But I don’t get to say no. That’s the life of being in the club, people always want to take care of you.

Already decided. See you around 2.

I stare at the phone, then at the test.

Two o'clock.

That gives me four hours to take the test, have my breakdown, and pull myself together enough to fool Vail.

Except I can't seem to move.

The bruises from yesterday have bloomed into their full glory.

Purple fingerprints around my throat.

Dark marks on my hips, my wrists, my thighs.

The bite marks on my shoulders are the worst—deep enough that one broke skin.

Every movement hurts. Every breath reminds me of what he did.

What he's been doing to my birth control for God knows how long.

I pick up the test box with trembling fingers, read the instructions for the tenth time.

Pee on stick. Wait three minutes.

One line negative, two lines positive.

Simple. So fucking simple.

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