Page 21 of Break Out

I shook my head. “I don’t think that was bad sushi though. You didn’t get sick, right? It was probably stress or something.”

“But why are you so tired?”

I shrugged. “Some months my cycle’s really intense and I get tired just before my period.”

“Okay. So, are we streaming a new show or are we going with a comfort watch?”

I stifled a yawn as I pulled a bowl out of the cabinet. “Sorry, but I think I’m gonna crawl into bed. I hate that I’m not showing you all the ropes.”

She swatted a hand at me. “Don’t worry about that. Ines, across the hall, told me about this party. Maybe I’ll see if I can tag along with her.”

I nodded and dumped some cereal in the bowl. “Be careful though. I’m not tight with her, and some of these parties are cool, but there are still creeps lurking and waiting for newbies like you.”

“Okay, Dad,” she said in a deeper tone.

Talk about a knife to my heart.

Not because she’d called me out for being protective, but because it instantly reminded me of Steel. And how I’d wanted to say the same thing to him.

“Like I’m being parental right now. Besides, I know you’d obliterate any moron stupid enough to fuck with you.”

“Nice save. If you need anything, call me.”

“Goes both ways, Lex,” I said, pouring milk on my cereal.

She scoffed. “You’d never hear your phone! I yelled at the TV last night when the basketball game went into overtime and you didn’t even blink.”

“I was in bed.”

“On the couch,” she chided.

I crunched on some Honey Nut Cheerios. “You’re right, I’m sorry.”

Alexandra chuckled. “Woman, you’ve got nothing to be sorry about. I’m just giving you grief. I’m more concerned about what’s making you so tired. But tomorrow’s Saturday, so you sleep in, got it?”

In the morning, I found a note from Alexandra on the fridge.

Hey sleepyhead!

The party was a bust and I got in before midnight. Ines is taking me to her Zumba class this morning. I have my phone – let me know if you want me to bring back donuts.

I loved donuts, but then that’s why she’d offered. With a grin, I dug my phone out of my purse so I could text her.

Only if the donuts are Krispy Kremes. Otherwise, why bother, right?

She responded with a mind-blown emoji

Holy cow, you’re alive and awake!

Okay, smartass, that’s enough.

Need anything else? A latte?

The idea of coffee turned my stomach, and that, too, was strange. Nothing went better with a Krispy Kreme than a cup of java. I opened the calendar app on my phone. Then I plopped onto the couch.

My period was over a week late.

How was that possible?

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