Page 70 of East (The Moral Compass 3)

I run back to the office and retrieve her phone. I have to admit, my heart is thumping like a base drum being kicked hard. Shit, what if she is pregnant? Fuck.

I pass her the phone and watch intently as she scrolls through her calendar.

“I’m eight days late.”

“Is that normal?” I ask. I don’t know these things, but it doesn’t sound positive.

“Sometimes. It could just be stress, or it could be the other option. There is no way of finding out now. I’ll go and buy a test in the morning.”

“I’ll go now. I’ll go and find an all-night supermarket.”

“Zed, calm down. It’s not going to make any difference if we go now or in the morning.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, now stop stressing and come and get in this lovely bed with me. Whatever happens we will deal with it in the morning, okay?”

I nod. My head is fucking spinning. She could be pregnant. She could be carrying my child, and I just fucked her hard over a desk. Shit.

“Do you feel okay? Is there anything I can get you?” I can’t fucking think straight.

“No, but if you’re going to weird out on me, I might as well go home. Sometimes my period is early, sometimes it’s late, and sometimes it doesn’t come for months. I’m fairly sure I’m not pregnant. We’ve only done it once, well, twice now, without a condom. Stop freaking out. You’re making me nervous.”

“I can’t help it. What the hell am I supposed to do? I’ve never even considered kids.”

“Zed! Stop it. We don’t know anything, and I don’t feel any different.”

I nod. I can tell I’m stressing her out, but I can’t stop.

“Right, that’s it. I’m going home. I’m not lying here all night as if I’m the guilty party in all this. You were the one who shot your load in me, without my consent, may I add.”

“Woah, hold your fucking horses, lady. You most certainly did give consent. Don’t start that shit.”

“I didn’t mean that, fucking hell, Zed. Go and have a word with yourself, will you? I meant you came inside me, and we hadn’t discussed birth control. I didn’t mean I didn’t consent to the act itself, just you pumping your gun. Sorry. I’m a bit stressed, too, you know. That’s why it’s better if I head home. I don’t want to fight with you.” She stands up and grabs the sheets. I start to have flashbacks of the morning she fell.

“East, please sit down on the bed. Please. Don’t move.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I need to get my clothes…” Then, she twists and slips, but this time, I’m ready. I put both arms out and catch her just as she’s about to hit the floor.

I sit her back down on the bed.

“Don’t bother going to buy a test in the morning. We are going to the doctor. Your balance is fucked. You fall over fresh air.”

“I know. I have been like this for months. It’s nothing, but if it’ll stop you from going on about it, fine, I’ll go, and they can do the test at the same time. Can you please get me my clothes from the office?”

“No, you’re staying here where I can keep my eye on you. God knows what else you’ll fall over. Mac told me that when he picked you up, you were on the floor. Did you fall then?”

She nods. I didn’t want to bring it up tonight, but now is as good a time as any.

“How long exactly has this been going on for?”

“About six months. Maybe a bit longer.”

“And you never thought to go to see the doctor?”

“Zed, it’s nothing. I’m tired. I work stupid hours, I eat total crap, and I loathe exercise. So, yeah, my body gives me warning signs every now and again. Sends me little signals like the floor shifting to make me slow down.”

“It doesn’t sound like nothing, but to be on the safe side, you’re stuck with me,” I say sternly.

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