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But she would never, ever again be foolish enough to trust him with the remaining pieces of her heart.
The aftermath of their sexy fling on the plane had been awkward, but she hadn’t gone into it expecting anything more than a good time. This interlude, however?
This time she’d believed things would be different. That if they had a connection this powerful, this special, it meant they would figure out a path forward, no matter how difficult. She hadn’t even braced herself for his disappearance. Had never imagined for a minute that he would leave her high and dry. Not this time. Not after how good, how wonderful, how special it had been.
It hurt to be so wrong.
She didn’t hear her mother approach until she said, “Are you okay, sweetheart? You look a little peaked.”
When Lyssa was young, she’d cried a few times on her mother’s shoulder about boys, about school. But she absolutely could not talk about this.
She rubbed a hand across her brow and forced a smile. “I’m fine, just overheated from too much dancing.”
Her mother, always caring, always noticing when something was wrong, put her hand on Lyssa’s forehead. “You don’t have a fever.” She held Lyssa’s chin in her hand. “You haven’t started getting cramps again, have you?”
For years, her period had been bad enough to keep her out of school one day a month. Thankfully, as she’d gotten older, the pain had subsided. “I’m fine, Mom.”
But her mother didn’t let up. “If it’s really bothering you, I can get you something.” She rubbed Lyssa’s arm. “I thought you’d grown out of those cramps and hormonal swings.”
She couldn’t tell her mom that her mood swing had nothing to do with her cycle and everything to do with Cal. “I swear, I don’t have those bad periods anymore. They stopped a few years ago.”
“Then what’s wrong, honey? Are you coming down with something, do you think?”
Lyssa was trying to think of an answer that would satisfy her mom when it hit her, as though someone had boxed her ears so hard, they’d started ringing.
Oh no.
No no no no no no.
When was the last time she’d had her period? Her mind quickly ran the numbers as the horrible, terrible, debilitating realization sank deep into the pit of her belly.
It couldn’t be true.
But, somehow, she already knew it was.
“Lyssa, honey? I think you need to lie down. The color just drained right out of you.”
What was she supposed to say? I’m freaking out because I think I’m pregnant with Cal Danniger’s baby.
Her mom was having the time of her life at Evan and Paige’s surprise wedding. Even if she could have voiced her fears, Lyssa couldn’t stand the thought of bringing her mother down today.
“You’re right. I probably just need to lie down.” Lyssa fanned her face. “I’m sure it’s too much champagne and too much rich food.”
“Shall I come with you?” Her mother was so sweet and compassionate, Lyssa nearly crumpled to the floor.
“I’ll be fine, Mom. I’ll take some aspirin and rest for a bit.” She pressed a kiss to her mother’s cheek. “You should go back to the wedding, and don’t worry about me even for one second.”
Though Susan looked uncertain, she finally nodded and left Lyssa, after extracting a promise to call immediately if she felt worse or needed anything.
Hell yes, she needed something. She needed to find a drugstore this very minute and get a pregnancy test.
They hadn’t used condoms because she was on birth control. Had she forgotten to take a pill? No, she would have noticed.
When she got to her room, she fumbled with the card key. Finally, she got inside, grabbed a pair of panties out of her suitcase, and stepped into them. Before, she’d felt sexy and giddy and powerful, but now her semi-nude state felt sordid.
Everything was tainted now.
And she needed that test.
She tried to look nonchalant as she headed out to the drugstore. The concierge said it wasn’t far, and she didn’t care that she looked ridiculous, wearing tennis shoes with her fancy teal dress.
At the store, she walked the aisles, looking for what she wanted, her heart beating fast. Finally, she found several different pregnancy-test brands in the same aisle as the tampons.
“Don’t tell me you’re in the same pickle?” a familiar voice said.
Lyssa turned like a robot.
“My period came early,” Rosie went on. “Maybe it was the dancing that shook things loose.”
Rosie, Ari, Chi, and Kelsey were all grouped in the aisle, waiting for Lyssa to respond. The only thing she could do was grab a box of tampons she definitely didn’t need. There was no way she could pick up a home pregnancy test now.
“It’ll happen soon,” Ari said to Rosie, putting her arm around her friend in empathy that her hopes had been dashed for another month. Ari surely felt a pinch around her heart too, since she and Matt were trying.
