‘I’m gonna call it a night, guys,’ I announce.
‘Ah, Chloe, don’t go,’ Ruby says, but Levi doesn’t protest. I don’t blame him. Three’s a crowd and all that.
‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come. I’m no company at all. You stay and have fun with Levi.’ I lean into her ear. ‘He’s a great guy. Go for it.’
‘Are you sure it’s ok? You don’t …like him?’
‘No, Rubes, I don’t. He’s all yours.’
Levi stands and politely pecks my cheek. ‘I knew there was a reason I kept bumping into you,’ he whisper-shouts over the music into my ear. ‘Your friend is AMAZING.’
‘I know. Just do me a favour. Don’t hurt her.’
‘Scouts’ honour.’ The skin on either side of his eyes creases as his lips lift into a grin.
At least something worked out today.
Naveesha, my housemaid, arrives before eight o’clock the next morning. Normally I’d be on the terrace having my coffee and croissants, but this creature of habit is well and truly rattled.
Jayden, the man who won’t commit, is actually engaged.
I can’t get my head around it.
I grab my phone from the bedside locker and see another eight missed calls from him. It’s well and truly over. There’s no coming back from how he’s treated me and I don’t want to talk to him. And yet I can’t bring myself to block his number.
The pitter-patter of approaching feet draws my attention. Naveesha pauses, hovering at the bedroom door, and her familiar features crinkle into the biggest grin.
‘Miss Chloe, welcome home.’
I can’t return an ounce of enthusiasm.
She crosses the floor, placing the back of her hand against my forehead. ‘Are you sick, Miss Chloe? You look terrible. Is it that time of the month?’
My hand falls to my stomach. My periods are few and far between because of the birth control shots.
Oh god, I never got my last one. What with the tour and trying to take over the world, it didn’t even cross my mind.
I couldn’t be… could I?
‘Let me get you something. You look like a ghost floated right in front of your face. Naveesha make you some nice camomile tea.’
‘Can you lace it with gin?’
She frowns as she peers at her watch. ‘It’s eight o’clock.’
‘And?’ Although alcohol won’t help. Nothing will. And there’s no way I’ll drink a drop of anything until I’m one hundred percent certain I’m not in the club.
I can’t be. I just can’t be. But the nausea lately…
No, that’s just heartbreak, plain and simple. Still, I’ll buy a test to rule it out.
Naveesha folds her arms over her gingham shirt and shoots me her disapproving mom look. ‘What’s wrong, Miss Chloe? Maybe I can help.’
It would be laughable if she didn’t sound so earnest.
The truth is, no one can help me.
No one.
