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Audry glanced at me, following Liam’s stare. “I didn’t know you were into cars.”
“I’m not.” I glared at Liam. “Never been much of a car guy, but Liam here?” I let out a low whistle. “He would fuck a car if he could.” Liam’s job in this shit show wouldn’t be behind the wheel. No, that was all me. He could tear apart a car, but driving one in a high-speed chase? He’d crash or miss his turn.
Audry giggled, and Liam’s jaw tightened, the sharpness enough to kill me where I stood.
“We need to get going, don’t you think?” Liam said, placing his drink down and adjusting his belt. His stare darted between Audry and me. “I’ll wait in the car.”
We both watched him disappear out of the hotel into the cool night.
“You sure I can’t stay with you tonight?” she asked, drawing her fingers along my thigh again.
“Liam might be an ass, but he’s right. We have a lot to get done.” I tugged her close. “And you won’t be letting me get any sleep.”
Her face reddened, and she pulled her knees together. “Stop at my place tomorrow if you get a chance?” There were storiesbehind her eyes, questions she wished to ask me. I saw it there in the brief sigh, and the tug at the corner of her lips.
I suppose it was fair she held her own secrets, as I did mine. I didn’t want her to feel she had to hide anything from me—that was, unless she wanted to.
“Why don’t you stay at the hotel tonight?”
She giggled. “I haven’t stayed here in quite some time.”
I licked my lips, trying to figure out the best way to tell her without laying my sordid history at her feet. Something about this girl told me one day I would have to—if I wanted anything serious with her. But that day wasn’t today. We were moving down our to-do list one stupid item at a time, and, unfortunately, settling down in the fictitious possibility of the American family dream was at the very,verybottom.
“Stay at the hotel tonight, Audry,” I said, shoving my tongue to my cheek. “It’s closer to your doctor’s appointment. And I’m sure Carson will be here bright and early to ensure you go.”
She scrunched her nose.
“You should go talk with the doctors. So, stay here and get the extra hour of sleep. I’ll call you in the morning, okay?” I kissed her cheek, lingering against her warm skin. I inhaled the coconut scent deep into my lungs, wanting to capture it. Just in case. “I, uh…" I paused. “I can’t wait to see you in the morning.”
Chapter 39
Audry
Isat in the back white room. The patient table stuck to my exposed thighs. The paper crinkled and ripped with the most subtle movements. Carson was in the waiting room, as supportive as usual. The clinic was a small hole in the wall. A normal doctor’s office, but Carson swore that no one would know I was here. There wouldn’t even be a patient file on me, merely a list of lab results that had the name Jane Doe. The only ones who would know my name were Carson and the nurse.
I swung my legs impatiently, my heels hitting the wooden drawer underneath. A nurse had come in a few minutes prior, made me pee in a cup, and took a vial of my blood. The whole ordeal went by quickly, except for the waiting part.
Waiting was the bane of my existence. I was too impatient for this and didn’t want to be here. The only reason I entertained the idea of stepping foot in here was a three-letter name: Kai. I didn’t want to ruin whatever future he dreamed of because I was pregnant or carrying around an STI from a man who no longer breathed air.
He shouldn’t breathe air, I told myself as a way to support what I did. But was murder ever okay?
I twisted my fingers in my lap, doing rounds in my head about the ethics of snuffing out a soul. Before I could get too far into it, a light tap at the door snatched me from my thoughts.
A tall woman with a short haircut snuck into the room. Her pink scrubs were bright against her skin, and a stethoscope was tucked into her deep pocket, somewhat peeking out. She smiled widely at me, her teeth shining against her pink lips.
“Hi, hun. I’m Nurse Joy.” She took a seat in the swivel chair and scooted closer to me. “I received your rapid test results.”
I nodded, swallowing down fear. I was so sick of my life being on a tipping point, ready to be upended and tossed over a cliff. I wanted the security and consistency I had before. I wanted the carefree feeling I felt when I went out. Sure, there was terror—terror any woman had—but I never thought it would beme.
I didn’t want to be the one sitting here in front of a nurse, a pit in my stomach, the memory of the pain resurfacing. Nor did I wish it on any other woman. But whyme?Why did I have to put on the armor to face the day after he stripped me of mine and my own autonomy?
“Audry?” Nurse Joy placed a soft hand on my knee, a comforting grin on her face.
“Sorry.” I shook my head.
Her grin deepened in a way that screamed a knowing pity.God, I hated that.
“Your test results. You aren’t pregnant,” she said. My hand went innately to my stomach as it twisted into knots. I was relieved, but the world still pressed into me, ready to collapse. “I got your blood panel back, too, and based on that, you are negative for STIs.”
