At that moment, there’s a knock on the bathroom door, and Carolyn peeps her head in only to frown when she sees me sitting on the floor, limp and pale.
“I called Dani, girlfriend. You shouldn’t be here, that much is clear.”
I nod stiffly.
“I’m so sorry, Car. I swear I felt fine until now and I can stay for as long as needed before Dani gets here.”
My manager gives me a sympathetic look and then touches my forehead gently. “You’re clammy, but you don’t seem to have a fever. Have you had any other symptoms?”
I sigh, shaking my head.
“Not really. I’ve been tired lately and sometimes I feel sick in the morning, but I figured it was just stress because you know how I’ve been busy writing my business plan. I don’t think it’s anything serious.”
Carolyn nods because she knows about my dreams to open my own ice cream parlor. If anything, she’s really supportive and has joked that I should hire her as manager once I get things up and running.
But the older girl throws me a measured look then.
“I’m going to ask you a question and please don’t get mad at me for it, okay?”
“Okay,” I reply, bracing myself. Whenever people start off like that, it promises to be bad. Carolyn nods and bites her lip.
“Well, do you think you might be pregnant? You’ve been seeing those two guys for three months now, right?”
My neck snaps as I turn to face her. “What? Absolutely not. There’s no way, and it doesn’t matter that I’m seeing two men instead of one.”
Carolyn nods but looks serious.
“Well, whenever you describe Dylan and Frank, it seems like you guys go at it like rabbits. Plus, there’s double the amount of male seed, right? With two men in the picture?”
I flush hotly because it’s true. My lovers use my body for their pleasure, and are always erupting like volcanoes in my sweetness. Carolyn reads my expression and nods knowingly once more.
“I mean, has there been a time when you maybe didn’t use protection? It happens to everyone, girlfriend, so don’t be embarrassed.”
I start to tell her that my lovers and I never go without, but then my mouth snaps shut because that’s not quite true. Of course, we’re diligent about protection but there were a few times when the moment was so hot that we completely forgot. It doesn’t happen often, but it has happened.
Carolyn’s face softens because it’s obvious what I’m thinking. “Girlfriend, it’s okay. Just stay here in the back until you feel strong enough to drive home, but be sure to pick up a pregnancy test on your way home.”
My head spins and I smile wanly.
“Will do,” I say on a whisper, and with that, Carolyn nods.
“I have to get back on shift now, but April, this is a blessing, right? A baby with the men you love? Isn’t that wonderful?”
My cheeks flush as my throat contracts. Do I love Dylan and Frank? Suddenly, tears spring to my eyes and I know it’s true.
“Yes, it is a blessing,” I whisper while running a hand over my tiny tummy. “You’re right, this could be something good.”
Carolyn winks and departs, leaving me in the cool of the back room. I caress my belly again even as tears blur my vision, but they’re not tears of sadness. Instead, these are tears of pure joy because I would love to be pregnant with Dylan and Frank’s child. Of course, I haven’t spoken with my boyfriends about this possibility, but in my heart of hearts, I know they’d be wonderful dads.
Of course, a potential pregnancy is terrifying at the same time because we haven’t planned for this at all. What if Dylan and Frank don’t want a child? What if they’re too wrapped up in Lube It All to make time for a baby?
I shake away these negative thoughts. The guys would never think like that because they dote on me, and would adore any child of mine. I can’t be a Debbie Downer, not when so much is at stake.
With that, I manage to lever myself up off the floor and grab a cup of water from the water cooler. The icy liquid helps my heartrate slow, and I can feel my energy seeping back.
Then, I poke my head out in the front of the store. Good, Dani’s here. I wave goodbye to both her and Carolyn, and then exit out the back before hopping into my trusty Civic. Fortunately, there’s a convenience store right down the street from the Frosty Freeze, so I pop in, pick up a pregnancy test, and try to ignore the jitters in my stomach the rest of the way home. It’s hard though. The shopping bag seems to be saying something, but I force myself to keep my eyes on the road.