“What? I think that looks good.” He shrugs.
“Yeah, for a night out… in the city… at a nightclub. Not a family day on a boat.”
Digging through the drawers he cleared for me, I pull out a pair of my raw edge denim shorts, a black tee, and my Converse. Holding the outfit up toward him, I say, “This is a more laid-back, casual outfit.”
Disappearing back into the closet, I emerge with his Balsam Cliffs PD hoodie. “And this will tie the outfit together perfectly.”
“You just like wearing my clothes.” He slips on his own boxer briefs.
“Sue me. They’re comfortable.” I giggle as he pinches my hip when I walk by to find a pair of underwear and a bra.
I’m excited to see everyone, but the anxiety of leaving the house is starting to creep back in, and I’m doing all I can to keep a happy face on.
The Whale Watch is putting me through the wringer. I’ve never thrown up this much in my life.
Apparently there’s a reason I was a landlocked girl. The waves are not my friend.
“Girl, are you okay?” Aubrey walks over next to me to rub my back.
Wyatt went to find me some ginger ale. At least it would put something in my stomach to come up the next time.
“No. This was a terrible decision. I was already nauseous the last few days because of my anxiety, but this is just making it worse.” I swipe at my mouth with the napkin she brought. “I feel so bad I’m ruining the day.”
“I hate to mention this right now, but are you sure it’s anxiety and the rocking boat? It’s almost that time…”
A blank stare in her direction is all I can muster at this moment. I have no idea what she’s getting at.
“Remember… Rebels… no condom… being tied to the pull up bar…” She jogs my memory in short spurts.
“Shit.” The sudden realization hits me.
“Oh my God, are you pregnant?” A sharp, high-pitched squeal from Emma sounds at that precise moment.
“No!” I shout before the rocking motion takes me out once again.
“She totally could be. Apparently, she forgot it was a possibility.” Aubrey fills her in.
“Do you have any tests? Could you test when you get home? Does Wyatt know? Obviously Wyatt knows. I mean he had to be there,” Emma rambles.
“No. He doesn’t. I haven’t told him. Or reminded him I guess. And no tests. I’m sharing a bathroom with the man. Plus I want to keep living in denial. Why can’t I live in denial?” I rest my forehead on my arms along the railing of the boat, trying to focus on the floor after the horizon didn’t work.
“Okay, new plan. After we leave here, I’ll come up with an excuse to need something from my house. You two offer to come with me. I have a whole damn box of pregnancy tests that only pop negative for me.” A sad smile passes her face. “It might be nice to see a positive one for once.”
“Emma… I’m so…” I don’t get to finish my sentence.
“Goodness. Give me your wrist.” Emma grabs the arm hanging over the railing.
She digs her thumb in the middle of my arm just below my wrist. The nausea starts to ease.
“How did you do that?” I ask her.
I’d be more amazed if I wasn’t so damn tired.
“It’s a pressure point for nausea. When I was little, I’d get really seasick. They make bracelets so you don’t have to sit and hold it, I might suggest getting one.”
Wyatt approaches us, his lopsided grin turning upside down when he sees me. “I got you a ginger ale with some extra ice.”
“Thank you,” I manage to muster.
