My feet hit the pavement as I ran down the darkened sidewalk, music blaring in my ears, the beat thumping through me and keeping my pace steady. I timed my breaths, working to keep myself controlled, but all I really wanted was to get home and be done with this so I could shower and wrap up in Becca.
We’d only been back for twenty-four hours, but I already felt like I was losing her to normal life, to the pressure of her business and my job and the expectations of everyone else around us. Just as I had feared. I took the corner and made my way down the long hill leading to the main street downtown. None of the businesses were open yet, as it was fucking early, but it gave me a chance to run by the bakery and see what my wife and her sister had built together.
Surprisingly, the lights were on, and I could hear music coming out of the open window. Scarlett’s old red Honda Civic was parked around the side in the alley. She and I hadn’t really had much chance to get to know each other. So far, her only impressions of me were probably ones I’d rather not know about. She didn’t hate me, but she was suspicious. And I didn’t blame her. I hadn’t proven myself to be worthy of her sister. But I sure as hell was going to try.
I knocked on the back door, but she didn’t hear me. So I tried the handle, and it opened easily. Walking in, I called out, “Scarlett? Are you there?”
I found her hunched over the toilet in the small washroom, puking her guts out.
“Oh my God. Are you all right, lass?”
Her shoulders sagged, and she rested her forehead on her arm, sighing in defeat.
“What are you doing here?”
“What are you doing here? I’m relatively sure you shouldn’t be baking a damn thing if you’re vomiting.”
“I’m fine. Leave me alone.”
“What do you mean, you’re fine? You were puking your guts out. Being sick all over the bathroom.”
“I made it to the toilet this time.”
“Where were you last time?”
“The garbage bin.”
“Scarlett, why are you here? You should be resting. You’re sick.”
“I’m not sick.”
“Yes, you are. By the look of you, I would say you’re quite ill. Let me drive you home.”
“No, you don’t need to.”
“I’m not going to let my new sister-in-law drive herself home sick and shaking. You’re pale. Your skin is all clammy. You should be in bed.”
“It’ll pass.”
“Will it?”
“Yes, it will.”
“Scarlett, what’s going on?”
She got to her feet, flushed the toilet, then washed her hands. I snagged a cup of water for her and handed it over. After rinsing out her mouth and then taking a hearty gulp of the water, she leveled her gaze on me.
“You cannot tell anyone, and by anyone, I mean my sisters or any of your teammates.”
“What are you going to tell me?” Fuck, I was worried. Very worried I was going to be harboring a secret I shouldn’t be keeping. “You’re not knocked up, are you? You’re a virgin. That’s sort of your thing.”
She closed her eyes, tilted her head up, and took a long, deep breath.
“Scarlett, the virgin.” She sighed. “Scarlett, the idiot virgin who got knocked up on her very first try.”
Tears welled in her eyes before trailing down her cheeks almost immediately.
“I was just kidding. You’re not really...”