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19
My uterus is trying to kill me.That’s what I’ve decided while I lie in bed waiting for my ibuprofen to kick in.I hear pounding on the front door, but I ignore it.I’m a little busy fighting back the tears.
My period didn’t used to be this painful, but when I was eighteen the cramps started getting debilitating.It was another three years before I figured out why—endometriosis.I can usually manage when I’m home with ibuprofen and my trusty heating pad, but my heating pad stopped working, and the one I ordered online won’t be here until tomorrow.Which doesn’t do me a whole lot of good today while I lie here feeling like one of the dire wolves fromGame of Thronesis trying to rip my uterus out.I should be grateful the band is on hiatus right now.Tours have always been the worst because we’re always moving from place to place.It’s not exactly convenient to deal with debilitating pain once a month when you’re on the road.
My phone dings next to me, and a text from Tristan pops up on the screen.
Tristan:You home?
Me:Yeah.
Tristan:There a reason you’re not answering the door?
Ugh, I donotwant to tell him I’m on my period.That is the least sexy thing imaginable.Not that I’m trying to be sexy, because I’m not.I’m simply trying not to be gross.
Me:Today’s not a good day.Aunt Flo is visiting if you catch my drift.
He doesn’t respond and I don’t hear any more knocking, so I close my eyes and try to breathe through the pain.The meds have to kick in soon.A particularly sharp cramp hits, and I roll on my side, curling into a ball and groaning into my pillow.
I don’t know how long I lie there, but it can’t be more than twenty minutes before the sound of my front door opening causes my head to pop up.My ears perk, listening closely as heavy footsteps walk purposefully in my direction.
Shit, someone’s in my house.
My fingers are poised to dial 911 when my door is tapped and Tristan’s head pops around, his bright blue eyes the first thing that capture my attention.I sag back against the bed and place my hand on my heart.
“Jesus Christ, you scared me.I thought someone broke in.”
He dangles the spare key Robbie and I gave him years ago that he’s used plenty of times.“Just me.”
He pushes the door all the way open, and the crinkle of plastic draws my gaze down to the bag in his hand, the familiar red bullseye logo of my favorite store printed on the white bag.
“I ran to the Target down the street and got you some stuff.”
“You what?”I say, surprised.I figured when he didn’t respond, he left and went back home.He starts pulling items out of the bag, and with each one my heart pounds quicker and heavier against my chest.My favorite chocolate candy, a pint of my favorite dairy-free ice cream, and last but certainly not least, a brand-new heating pad.
“How did you know?”I ask, completely baffled by how thoughtful this all is.
“About the heating pad?”
I nod, stunned speechless.
He shrugs like it’s no big deal when it is in fact a very big deal.“You mentioned your old one stopped working a few weeks ago.”
“I could’ve ordered a new one.”I don’t tell him the new one is coming tomorrow, which isn’t much help to me today like his will be.
He talks as he takes it out of the box and plugs it in.“You’ve been busy going through Robbie’s stuff, putting your house up for sale, and house hunting.I figured you lost track of time and probably forgot about yourself.You tend to do that when you’re busy.”
I did do that, but I never realized I was so predictable.I also never realized how much Tristan noticed.He turns the heating pad on and places it on the bed next to me.He places the chocolate and the ice cream on my nightstand next, and I watch him, my mouth slightly agape and feeling like I’ve never seen this man before in my life even though I’ve known him since I was fifteen.
But this is not the man I thought I knew.
“I’ll grab you a spoon for your ice cream.Need anything else?”
Clearing my throat and shaking myself out of my stupor, I say, “Uh, no.”
He points to the bottle of ibuprofen on my nightstand.“When was the last time you took some?”
“About an hour ago.It’s kicking in a bit now.”
