Page 130 of Playing My Rivals

My stomach twists and my chest heats. I have an awful feeling about this.

“Why and where are you taking her files? And how can you test him if you’re going to see Dori?”

“Dori’s sick. Hunter has been caring for her all weekend. He asked me to bring her files to him so she could work on them. I’m dropping them off at her loft on my lunch break.”

The wind leaves my lungs. I go numb and my mind spins a million miles an hour.

I turn away from Melanie so she can’t see I’m upset. “Did you see Dori at your spin class yesterday?”

“Nope. She slept all day. I guess she was sick Saturday, and it wiped her out. If you ask me, she needed it. She has been a royal pain in my butt. She gets all snippy when she’s tired.”

“What’s she doing with Hunter? I thought he was out of town this week.”

“He leaves later today. Stop worrying about Dori. I’m taking her to the doctor on Wednesday. She’ll be fine.”

I face Melanie. “If you’re so sure Dori will be fine, why are you taking her to the doctor?”

“I guess Dori’s having terrible stomach and lower back pain. She told him she thinks she has a UTI and doesn’t want it to turn into a kidney infection. She’s been sick for a week and the pain is so bad she can’t eat. With the next launch coming up so fast, he wants her to get better as fast as she can.”

All I heard was Dori’s having terrible pain in her stomach. My heart lurches out of my body. All this information has me wanting to run to her and make her take a pregnancy test. I would, but with Hunter there, I can’t.

By the time the day is over, I’ve worked myself into a tizzy. I’ve got to get to her.

Sitting outside Dori’s loft, waiting for Hunter to leave, has me wanting to scale the wall. I’m so fucking nervous I can’t think straight. I know her history. If she’s pregnant, she needs to get to the doctor as soon as possible and find out what’s causing the pain.

The door swings open, and he comes into view, leaving her building. He’s dressed as if he’s getting ready to attend a business meeting. Once he’s in his car, I bolt to her loft.

I get to her apartment and knock, praying she’ll let me in. The door creaks open and our eyes meet.

My shoulders slump with relief. “You look like you could use some help.”

“Thanks for the compliment.” She leans against the opened door. “What are you doing here?”

Her eyes are sunken in and rimmed with dark circles. Her face is pale and dull. She’s nowhere near herself. Still beautiful as ever, but not radiant like usual.

“You’ve been ignoring my texts. Can I come in so we can talk? I don’t think you want your neighbors to hear our discussion.”

She sighs and opens the door all the way. “Come in, but I’m not in a place where I can have this discussion you need so badly. I’m exhausted and need to work.”

I step in, wanting to hold her and help her through this, but my anxiety is choking me. “I know. Melanie told me you’ve been sick and sleeping all weekend. Why haven’t you responded to me?”

“I’ve been staying with Hunter. It wouldn’t have been a good idea.” She goes straight to her couch and sits.

I follow and try to keep from dragging her to the bathroom. I pace for a second to think about how I can make her take this test.

Fuck it, we need to know.

My heart races as I hold out a bag. “This is for you.”

“What is this?” She reaches for it and peeks inside. Her head snaps up to me. “No. I’m not doing this right now.”

She tries to give it back to me, but I shake my head. “Have you had your period yet?”

“Good God, Jami. I don’t need this today. I’ve got a million things that need my attention.” She stands, color coming back into her cheeks, and holds the sack out to give it back.

“Since you avoided the question, I’m going to take that as a no. This needs your attention too. It isn’t just you who is affected by this.” I step back and raise my hands in the surrender position, showing her I’m not taking the bag. “I’m not leaving until you take the test.”

“What difference does it make?”

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