Marlee wasn’t really listening to what Claire was saying because she hadn’t had her monthly since a week before her wedding date. She’d been so relieved to have it over and done with so she wouldn’t have to deal with it on her honeymoon. Then her life fell apart and she hadn’t given it any thought. Stress had caused her periods to stop before. She’d assumed that’s all that happened and it’d show up any day.
Besides, one actually had to have unprotected sex to get pregnant.
One actually had to have sex at all, and up until very recently, Marlee did not fall into that category. Except…in Vegas. With a recalled condom.
“Oh my God.” The blood drained from Marlee’s face.
“Marlee?” Heather rubbed at her back. “Was it one of these?”
Marlee didn’t need to look to know, but she glanced at the screen anyway.
She nodded.
“She hasn’t had her period,” Velma said on a breath.
Marlee shook her head in a short, quick burst.
“Oh honey.” Velma grabbed her hand across the table.
There was a moment after one got unexpected news when it kind of just sat there, not sinking in. This was that kind of moment. The buzzing in the bar went quiet, everything muffled. Marlee’d had sex with a recalled condom, and she hadn’t had her period since.
It sunk in.
Her lungs constricted. She started wheezing.
Lothario barked at her. She grabbed her inhaler from her cleavage, taking a hit. The problem with her rescue inhaler was that while it opened her airway so she could breath, it also made her heart beat faster. Which in this instance wasn’t the best thing, given that it was racing anyway.
“Even if you’re not pregnant, you should probably talk to Eli about it.” Claire’s concern was the genuine kind. “I mean, I’m sure he’s clean, but you might want to have that conversation.”
“I…” Marlee opened her mouth. Closed it. “I thought my period stopped because I was so stressed.”
Lothario nudged her arm in chihuahua solidarity.
Claire leaned closer. “That might totally be the case. It’s going to be fine.”
“How do you know?” Marlee asked, her voice oddly calm given that her heart was beating about a zillion beats a minute. “Nothing’s fine. It’s like my life is one big ball of not fine. And every time I try to make it fine, it getslessfine.”
“Let’s go to the drug store.” Heather was already standing. “There’s only one way to find out for certain. And if it’s what it could be, you know you have options.”
Yes, of course, she had options. But this was Eli, and if she was pregnant with his baby…she couldn’t give that up.
“I don’t want it to say yes. But I don’t want it to say no. This is so confusing.” Marlee focused on one of the Bud Light signs on the wall. “We just had a whole conversation about taking things slow.” The neon flashed the tiniest bit every so often. She couldn’t pull her gaze away from it. “Eli talked about how he’s scared of having to take care of someone, but he’s willing to try a relationship with me.” She glanced between them. “Me. I mean, he’s opening up to me and he’s practically taking care of me already and now…”
He had his restaurant to buy. They couldn’t afford a baby in the midst of that.
“Eli is a great guy,” Velma said. “Give him a chance to be the guy we know he is.”
“Or maybe don’t tell him?” Claire rummaged around for her stuff, shoving everything into her handbag.
“You don’t think he’s going to notice when her stomach starts showing and then a kid shows up?” Velma asked.
“We don’t even know if she is.” Heather grabbed her purse. “Velma, you’re gonna have to drive.”
“I mean, if it is what it might be and you decide to do this, don’t tell him right away,” Claire continued, scooting out of the booth. “Give him some time.”
“Starting a relationship by not disclosing something like this seems like a really bad way to start a relationship.” Velma scooped Lothario up. Which was good, since Marlee couldn’t really focus on anything but a Bud Light sign.
Velma headed toward the bar, probably to tell her husband so he could tell Eli and Marlee wouldn’t have to. Eli who was supposed to arrive any moment.
