Page 783 of One More Kiss

Riley

My father’ssurgery goes as planned and he’s released from the hospital a week later. Nicholas comes by a few times to check on us, but he never stays long. I try to talk to him about the hospital bill and how I’m going to pay him back, but he brushes me off like it’s not a big deal every time.

He hasn’t called or texted. Hasn’t even asked when I would return to work. It’s almost like he’s purposely ignoring me, and that idea gives me terrible anxiety.

Even while I was worrying about my dad, I couldn’t help worrying about work. Did Paula tell anyone about the office blow job? If she did, I’m already the talk of the company… and not in a good way.

Ugh, I groan as I open the fridge. It’s pretty much empty beside a half-eaten Chinese takeout box from the other day.

Suddenly, I feel an eruption of nausea overcome me. I run to the bathroom, making it just in time to vomit into the sink. It was closer than the toilet, and anyway, I didn’t have time to lift the toilet seat. I look into the mirror and see my pale face and watery eyes staring back at me. Wow, where the hell did that come from? I clean my face and grab the hand towel to soak it with cold water, and dab it over my face after rinsing the sink out.

Slowly, I make my way to the bedroom and change into a purple two-piece pajama set. I lie down on the bed and put the wash cloth over my eyes.

Just when I think I’m going to doze off for a bit, my phone rings. I grab it from the nightstand without looking and press the green answer key.

“Hello,” I croak.

“Hey, best friend. Just checking in on you. How is your dad?”

“Hey, Ross. He’s great, considering how close to death he was.”

“And what about you? Have you decided to go back to work?”

I moan and groan before I answer. “I don’t want to think about that today. I know I have to face the whole work situation, but I’m not feeling too great right now.”

“What’s the matter? Did you drink too much last night?”

“No, not at all. I don’t know. To be honest, I haven’t been feeling like myself for the past couple of days. I keep thinking it’s stress, and maybe it is. I don’t know, something seems off with me.”

“Do you need me to come take care of you? What symptoms have you been having? Not feeling great, like what? Like a cold, the flu?”

“No, none of that. And no, I don’t think I need you to come over, not just yet. I have been feeling nauseous. I even threw up earlier.”

“Do you think you’re pregnant?”

“What, no!” No, no, no… I keep saying the word in my head, but thinking it doesn’t make it true. Fuck. I’m so fucked.

“Well, how can you be so sure? Those surely do sound like pregnancy symptoms.”

“Do you think that’s it? No, it can’t be. Wait a minute, how would you know what pregnancy symptoms are, Ross?”

“Sweetheart, how do you not know? You’re a grown woman. You should know these things. Anyhow, I know, because I paid attention in sex-ed class.”

I can always count on Ross making me laugh. Even when I don’t want to or feel like it. But right now, not even he can change the dreadful feeling spreading across my chest.

“Do you want me to bring you a pee-stick?”

“A pee-stick. Really?”

“Yes, really. I’ll bring you one.”

“I just don’t know. I guess I’ve been so consumed with everything going on that the thought hadn’t crossed my mind, but maybe you are right.” I pause, thinking it over for a moment. “Okay, sure, bring me a test. I will pee on your stick.”

“Ugh! I don’t like the sound of that, but I know what you mean. I’ll be on my way shortly.” He hangs up, and I wait patiently for Ross to arrive.

I drink water to prepare for peeing on the stick. Turning on the TV, I try to distract myself from thinking about what my life will be like if I’m really pregnant. I won’t be able to work for a while right after having the baby, and then I’ll have to leave the baby to return to work. It would be another mouth to feed, but the thought of abortion or adoption never crosses my mind.

I have no idea how Nicholas may feel about me being pregnant, but if I have my way, he will never find out. Maybe Ross and I are jumping the gun, and if we are, and I’m not pregnant, then there will be no need to even mention it to Nicholas. But if it’s positive, I don’t even want to think about that.

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