Page 22 of Key Lime Kisses
“My birth control pills!” Shea cried.
Oh shit. “Did you drop one?” I asked.
“No,” Shea groaned. He sank down onto the lid of the toilet, one hand clamped over his mouth, face pale. He mumbled something into his palm.
“What?”
To my surprise, his eyes almost looked like they were tearing up as he turned a stunned expression toward me.
“I forgot them,” he whispered in horror. Shea took a deep breath and the rest of his words burst frantically from him. “I take them before bed! I didn’t bring them because it was just supposed to be brunch. And then I forgot last night because I was seasick and I guess I never brushed my teeth and we slept so late. Or was it early? I didn’t even think about it. Oh my god. Now we’ve had sex twice and I’ve missed two pills!”
“It’s okay,” I said before he could get too worked up. “It’s okay. It can’t bethatbad. Maybe we can go to a pharmacy tomorrow.”
“Yeah,” Shea said. “Wait no! Tomorrow is Canada! We can’t get off!”
I groaned. “I’ll check the clinic then, where I got the seasickness stuff. I saw condoms, maybe they have something.”
“Would you?”
“Of course! You wait here!”
I hurried out of the room to the clinic, heart pounding. My head was spinning as I rushed down the halls. No, he couldn’t be pregnant. He didn’t want this. I didn’t want this! We hadn’t even gone on that stupid blind date wanting a relationship, nevermind a kid! It was too soon, too easy. He only missed a couple of pills!
I was nearly convinced it was impossible for him to be pregnant by the time I got to the clinic. As it turned out, condoms were the only thing they had.
Shea was, naturally, not happy with that news. Admittedly, I had been planning on having sex with him, but it was clear neither of us felt like it. Nevertheless, we climbed into bed together and I put my arm over him. It still felt right.
As I lay awake in bed, snuggled up with Shea, I found myself thinking about what would happen if he had gotten pregnant. I wouldn’t leave him, somehow, I was convinced of that. No, if Shea was pregnant I’d step up and stay with him. Maybe… Maybe being a father wouldn’t be so terrible… With that thought in my head, I fell asleep.
Chapter Seven
Shea
By the time the cruise was over the pill situation seemed more like a bad dream. The first morning had been stressful, but as I slowly accepted there was nothing I could do – not to mention Weston was shockingly supportive and reassuring – I started to try to enjoy the vacation again. To my surprise, it grew easier and easier to forget the forgotten pills.
While lack of birth control was a nightmare, my time with Weston was like a wonderful dream. Even though I really hadn't been looking for any sort of boyfriend whatsoever, I couldn't deny that Weston was the perfect one. I almost couldn't remember how against the idea I had been just a week earlier.
If our chemistry on the cruise was any indication of what a relationship on dry land would be like, we were both in for a very happy immediate future.
But as we walked along the sidewalk, away from the ship for the last time, the bad luck that seemed to keep sneaking up on us reared its head once again.
“Oh shit,” Weston said suddenly, stopping dead in his tracks.
“What?”
He pointed to a car parked on the street in front of us. “That's whereIwas parked. And that’s not my car.”
“Are you sure?” I asked.
He looked around. “Positive.”
There was a sign nearby and I went over to read it, then winced. “This says four hour parking.”
Weston groaned and smacked himself on the forehead. “Of course! I parked here back when I thought the freaking cruise wasn't going to be any longer than that. I completely forgot. I hope you didn't park in one of these spots too.”
“No,” I said relief. “Although I think my stay in the garage is going to be a little more pricey than I was expecting. Do you need a lift home?” I offered.
“That'd be wonderful; if you don't mind.”
