Page 38 of The Choices I've Made
Were there problems in paradise for Molly and my former best friend? Because the girl I had known way back when wouldn’t have been so sure. Even when we had been careful, which was ninety-nine percent of the time, she would still be paranoid.
The yellow walls came back into focus as my body fell limp against the sweat-stained sheets.
“Holy shit,” I managed to say as my lungs worked overtime, trying to catch up with the rest of my exhausted body.
“You can say that again.” Molly laughed, curling into my side.
“I thought you said we’d never do it in your parents’ house.”
Her nose nuzzled into my chest while I drew tiny circles along her bare back.
“I guess you have a way of changing my mind.”
“Doing it on a bed sure beats the back of my truck.”
“I don’t know,” she replied. “Making love under the stars is pretty epic.”
“Everything with you is epic.”
We enjoyed the few minutes of alone time, talking and cuddling, in the empty guest room we’d stolen for the afternoon. Molly’s parents would be home in a while, having caught the morning ferry to grab supplies for the inn.
“What would you do if I got pregnant?” she said after amoment of silence.
I froze, before rising up on my side. “What kind of question is that?” I asked, scanning her body like I expected some sort of telltale sign of motherhood.
“Calm down,” she said, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. “I didn’t mean to freak you out. It was just a random thought.”
“You know we’re being careful,” I assured her.
I’d bought a lifetime supply of condoms from Hatteras last time we’d visited, for fear of buying them here since word got around fast.
“I know,” she replied as she continued to stroke my shoulder.
I tried not to fixate on her naked body.
“But you know what they say; nothing is one hundred percent, except—”
“Don’t you dare say abstinence.”
“Abstinence.” She laughed.
“That’s what adults say to keep us from going at it like rabbits in heat.” I smiled.
She playfully slapped my shoulder. “But, seriously, what would you do? I mean, it’s possible.”
I rolled my eyes, something that was usually reserved solely for her. “It’s not, but I’ll play along,” I said, caving like usual to her never-ending persistence. “I’d be right here,” I vowed. “Right where I always am…where I always will be.”
She smiled as I stretched back onto the mattress. She resumed her previous position, snug against me, wrapping a tan leg around my own.
“And I’d name the baby Mortimer,” I added, making her snort with laughter.
“You’re evil.”
“Oh, you have no idea,” I said, pulling her back on top of me, intent on proving again and again just how wicked I could be.
“We’re all done in here. I’ll help you to a chair in the waiting room and go grab the X-rays.”
“Okay,” she said as I pulled the lead vest off her body.
