I barely hear them. My mouth is watering.
Inhaling deeply, I ask, “What is that? It’s heavenly.”
Kita stares at me for a moment and then looks at Markoban. “Can you go get some extra salain?”
“Sure I’ll flag down the waiter.”
“No…” she says it sharply and we both flinch a little. “Please go get it.”
He untwists his tentacle from hers, then looks back at me and, even though he’s still very clearly confused, he goes.
Kita scoops up a glob of her food on a spoon-like utensil and offers it to me. She’s never done that before, but I’m not going to complain.
Except, as soon as I lean toward it, she jerks it away. “What are you doing?”
“I thought you were offering me a bite?” I feel like I’m about to get whiplash.
“Absolutely not! This would poison you.”
“Then why did you offer it to me?”
“Holy mother of the void,” she whispers under her breath before she looks up at me, eyes narrowed. “What kind of protection are you using?”
The question is so absurd, I can’t stop the strangled laugh that escapes me. “What?”
“Is Phantom not giving you guys birth control?”
That clears any and all humor away. “What?”
Cursing, she wraps a tentacle around my wrist and squeezes. “You need to go see Phantom’s doctor.”
“Right now?” My mind spins and I wonder if I need to start a countdown clock.
She shakes her head. “Finish eating. Hi!”
Markoban hesitates before he sits. “Hey…”
He sets the shaker of salain down on the table and I know he wants to ask, but Kita immediately asks about the movie again and—he pays attention—I’m sure he knows when she doesn’t want to talk about something.
My lunch tastes funny… but that’s probably just a symptom of the idea Kita’s put in my head.
She’s probably wrong. Right?
CHAPTER 2
Dr. Love looks at me with a smile and a confused tilt to her head. Her braids are braided into more braids today and they’re wrapped around her head in a pretty coil, but the curled ends fall to the side and bounce a little, as she says, “Hey Cherry, I didn’t expect to see you for a few weeks.”
Because that’s when my next physical is scheduled.
Because I didn’t work today.
Because I don’t ever come in to see her unless I have to.
I’ve never liked doctors’ offices.
“Yeah, I… I think I need a pregnancy test?”
Her brows raise and her eyes go wide. “Oh. Okay.”
