“You don’t look fine.” She held a hand to my forehead. “Seriously, you look like you’re going to be sick.”
I sank down on the toilet lid and fanned myself with my hand, but it did nothing. It felt like I was boiling alive.
“Did you get sweat gland injections?” I joked, needing a distraction. “I mean, here I am sweating like a pig, and you look…cool as a cucumber.”
“Nah. I decided it wasn’t worth it. But I also don’t have two men duking it out over me at my kid’s birthday party. Want to talk about that?”
I shook my head, finding it difficult to swallow even as I forced myself to stand. “I need to get back out there. I’m sure the rumors are already spreading like wildfire.”
She grabbed a magazine and started fanning me. “You need to take a minute. Sit. Do you want some water or something? You look flushed.”
I couldn’t believe I was missing Sophia’s birthday party. I could only hope she was having too much fun with her friends to notice.
“I’ll get you some water. Don’t go anywhere.”
I barked out a laugh. Like that was going to happen. Any time I even considered standing, I was overwhelmed with dizziness. What the hell was wrong with me?
Lauren returned, but she wasn’t alone. She gave me an apologetic smile as Cal followed her into the bathroom.
I stood, and spots swam before my eyes. “Get him out of here.”
I needed to lie down, and I took a few steps toward the bed before Cal wrapped his arm around me. “Whoa.”
Lauren’s face was marred with concern. “Alexis, you need to go to the doctor.”
“I’m fine.” I waved a hand through the air.
“You know,” Cal interrupted. “The last time I saw you like this, you were…”
“I was what?” I bit out as he helped me over to the bed. I slumped down on the edge, wishing I could lie down and go to sleep.
He glanced at Lauren, then back at me. “You were pregnant.”
My eyes went wide. “I’m…” I couldn’t breathe. “I can’t be. There’s no way. It’s just…exhaustion.”
Right?
Though, now that I thought about it, I was late for my period. Still, that didn’t necessarily mean anything. At least, I hoped it didn’t mean anything.
“Calm down,” Lauren said, taking my hand in hers. “I’m sure you’re right. I mean, you’ve been working like crazy lately.”
“This can’t be happening. I can’t be pregnant. I’m on the pill. And…and he only has one ball, for crying out loud,” I blurted.
“What are you talking about?” Lauren asked at the same time Cal said, “Well then, he’s clearly less of a man.”
I swung to face him, my entire body vibrating with rage. “He had testicular cancer, you jackass.”
Lauren gasped. “Preston had testicular cancer?”
“Wait…” Cal furrowed his brows. “Surely you don’t mean…?” He glanced back toward the door as if someone would appear. “Preston, as in the manny? The manny is your baby daddy?”
I covered my face with my hands, wishing the floor would open up and swallow me whole. It was all too much—the fight, Preston leaving, the fact that I might be pregnant.
“It’s time for you to go.” Lauren’s tone was sharp and left no room for negotiation. I heard shuffling as she ushered him toward the door. “Go keep an eye on Sophia. We’ll be down shortly.”
A minute later, I heard the door latch shut, and then I felt her hand on my back. “Hey.” Her voice was calm, soft. “It’s going to be okay. You know that, right?”
I shook my head, finally removing my hands from my face to grab a tissue. “How?” I asked. “How on earth is any of this going to be okay?”
