"Erin, do we have painkillers or a hot water bottle in the house?" I speak quickly for her sake. Talking while running is tiring.
"No, we don't. Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, it's just Kennedy's on her period."
Erin clicks her tongue. "That sucks. We could always go to the supermarket… though Bon and I won't be back for another thirty minutes at least…"
I glance at Kennedy, who's gripping her spoon tightly. "I have my driver's licence," I say. "I could take your car."
At that moment, Kennedy wails out, "I'm in painnnnnn."
Erin hesitates, and if I were here, I'd hesitate, too. The timing of Kennedy's wail is a little too convenient. "You won't crash my car?"
"I won't crash your car," I say.
"Okay. The keys are in my purse, in the master bedroom."
I thank her and hang up.
Liam enters the kitchen. "I can't find a hot water bottle anywhere."
"There isn't one here," I say, before telling them my plan to go to the supermarket. When they don't respond for a moment, I'm worried I've done something wrong.
Then Liam's lips spread into a smile. "Damn, Curtis. Good idea."
"I can't believe Erin let you borrow her car," Kennedy says. "But then again, she would understand how much this sucks." She shoves a spoonful of cereal into her mouth, wincing.
"The first day cramps are always the worst," Liam explains to me, before walking over and kneeling beside Kennedy, rubbing a hand up and down her back. "Is there anything else you want? Oh, I know — the usual food?"
She manages a smile. "That'd be excellent. But I don't want to be a pest."
"You've dealt with me being a pest for the past eighteen years. This is the least I can do."
"I'll grab my things," I say, scoffing down the rest of my porridge and leaping up the stairs to grab a warm jacket — I don't need my wallet, since everyone pays with their phones now — and once downstairs, I dash into the master bedroom to grab the keys. I find them, but before I leave the room, I pause and look at the large bed.
Okay, stop it, Curtis. This is not the time to be thinking about having sex with Kennedy. I turn away, but that dream from this morning flashes before my eyes.
Don't get distracted.
I find Liam and Kennedy in the living room, Kennedy laying on the couch, while Liam arranges a thick grey blanket over her.
"I'm ready," Liam says when he straightens up, gesturing to his shoes.
"You're coming too?" I ask.
"I know Kennedy's favourite food."
"I do too," I say, but that's a lie. I'm pretty sure Kennedy likes vegan ice cream and… vegan chocolate?
"Do you want me to stay with you?" Liam asks.
She waves a hand. "No, I'd be better off alone. Besides, I trust you to get everything I need."
"That's sorted then," Liam says, clapping his hands.
We say bye to Kennedy and leave the house, walking to the car parked in the driveway. Before I get into the driver's seat, I flip the P plates on Erin's car, so the red side is showing instead. When you first get your provisional licence, you have your red plates for a year before changing to green, like Erin has, until you get your full license. I sit down and turn on the car, and beside me, Liam stretches his legs out before him, adjusting the seat so he has more leg space.
"So apart from the hot water bottle and drugs, what else does Kennedy need?" I ask once we're on the road.
