Page 93 of My Almost Ex

“Crap,” I say in the bathroom the next morning, spotting blood on my underwear. I should’ve known when that old familiar feeling of cramps woke me in the middle of the night that something was going on.

“What?” Adam’s shadow is outside the door. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I just have some bleeding and I had some cramping last night.”

“Is this your way of telling me you need me to go to the store and buy tampons? Because you just ruined my day.”

I chuckle because I know he’s joking. “I shouldn’t get my period. Since I got the IUD, I haven’t had one, other than a little spotting in the beginning.”

He tries the doorknob, but I locked it. “Is this more serious? I’ll call in to work.”

I finish up in the bathroom, shoving toilet paper into my underwear since I have absolutely nothing here. I doubt Adam keeps sanitary items for his renters. When I open the door, Adam’s sitting on the edge of the bed, his face pale white.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“I don’t like this. It sounds like you should go to the doctor and I should call in.”

“I’m fine. I’ll call my old doctor, and in the meantime, it’s just a period. Who knows? It’s not like I have blood gushing down my legs.”

He cringes. “You sure?”

“I’m positive.”

“I wasn’t too rough last night?” He rises from the bed and places his hands on my hips, hovering over me.

I roll my eyes. “Relax. You know I enjoyed every minute of it.” I give him a saucy smile.

He kisses me way more briefly than I want. “Okay. Call me though. Let me know what’s happening. I’m training a new guy, so we’ll be in the truck most of the day while I show him the trails and stuff.”

I inch up on my toes and wrap my arms around his neck. “I’ll keep you in the know.”

“Good. There’s a plate of eggs in the microwave for you.”

“You’re too good to me.” I kiss him again, hating when we part.

“I know.” He winks.

I playfully swat at him and fall back to my heels.

“Want me to grab you stuff before I go?”

I eye the clock. “No, you’ll be late if you do. I might call Cora or one of the girls to take me into town. Maybe Cora can take me to the doctor.”

“This weekend, we’re getting you a car, okay?”

I nod because it’s inevitable. Part of moving forward is getting me a car and continuing on with my life. “Sounds good. I’m going to call Principal Richards about maybe subbing and see if there are any openings for next year.”

“That’s great, but don’t worry about anything financially. I’ve got us more than covered, okay? All the rent this place brought in, I put it in an account because it didn’t feel right to spend it myself when this place was ours.” He eyes me as though he’s worried about my reaction.

I’m fine to talk about the past. I just wish I knew why I left him. Not because I doubt where we are, but I want to close that book and know whatever it was isn’t hidden and waiting to come out and jeopardize our new beginning.

“I don’t want you to pay for everything though. I want us to be a partnership.”

He presses a soft kiss to my forehead. “We are. This is just my turn to hold the backpack, okay?” His thumb and forefinger linger on my chin, keeping my gaze glued to his. There’s worry and trepidation in those hazel eyes.

“Okay,” I say, but in order for me not to feel like a freeloader, I need to start getting my life on track.

He places a gentle kiss on my lips and walks toward the door.

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