Page 66 of Stone Rules

Tonight, however, is different. Last night at the gym, he told me he wanted to take me out. Wine me. Dine me.Woo me,I think he called it. And then he said he would walk me to my door and kiss me goodnight. No pressure. No expectations.

No pressure.Right. I think of all the things I should do before our date, but don’t have time for. Pluck, wax, shave, moisturize. I know he said he would only walk me to the door, but I want to be ready. Ready for anything. Ready for everything.

Skylar watches me as Jarod and I roll silverware into linen napkins. She studies me so hard it starts to creep me out. “What?” I ask.

She walks over and pulls me by the elbow until we are alone in the kitchen, with the exception of Paul, the chef who is hard at work chopping and slicing. “You’re looking pale. Are you okay?”

I inventory how I’m feeling. I guess I am feeling a little run down, but that’s just because Ethan and I have been burning the midnight oil talking on the phone every night. “I’m fine,” I tell her.

Paul excuses himself for interrupting our conversation. He holds out a tasting spoon for Skylar, asking her to sample the beef stew he’s made for today’s special. I get a whiff of it and my stomach turns.

“Uhhhhhh,” I moan, putting a hand over my mouth as I dart out of the kitchen and run to the bathroom.

Skylar runs in after me just in time to see me puke into the toilet of the first stall. I didn’t even have time to shut the door. She comes up behind me, rubbing my back until I’m done. Then she fetches me a wet paper towel.

I wipe my mouth as I shake my head in confusion. “I don’t know what just happened,” I tell her. “One minute I was fine and then next . . .” I go to wash my hands. “I feel better now, though. You aren’t going to make me go home, are you? I’m sure it’s nothing. And I promise not to touch any food today.”

She eyes me up and down, chewing her lip the entire time.

“What?” I ask, worried she might make me leave and miss my shift.

“Are you pregnant?” she asks, looking me dead in the eye.

I guffaw. Then I shake my head in disbelief at her question. Then I guffaw again.

“What? I’m only asking.” She looks at her watch. “Because, Charlie, you felt sick at this exact same time yesterday. And now this. When I was pregnant, I had morning sickness like clockwork.”

“Morning sickness?” I look at her like she’s crazy. “I’m not pregnant, Skylar. I’m on the pill for Christ’s sake.”

Her eyes scold me like a child. “The pill isn’t always one-hundred-percent effective, you know. Do you have any other symptoms? Sore boobs, tiredness, missed period?”

“No.” I roll my eyes. “Okay, yes, I’m tired, and maybe I’ve been a little sore, but it’s only because I’ve been staying up later than usual. And I swim a lot. Sometimes things hurt. And I had my period a few weeks ago. Plus, I haven’t had sex in months.”

“Swimming makes your boobs hurt?” she asks.

“I don’t know. Maybe,” I pout.

She points to the chair in the corner of the bathroom. “Sit. I’ll be right back.”

“I’mfine, Skylar,” I say, scooting around her.

“You just threw up, Charlie. Sit down for a freaking minute. Stay here, I’ll be back in a flash.” She pushes me down onto the chair and gives me that big-sister stare that says I’d better do what she tells me.

Not twenty seconds go by when she returns to the bathroom, locking the main door behind her. “Here.” She shoves something in my face.

I take the box from her. It’s a pregnancy test. “What the fuck, Skylar? I’m not pregnant!”

“Then you won’t have any problem proving me wrong.” She grabs the box back from me, opens it, tears the plastic wrapper and pulls a stick out. She takes the cap off. “Pee on this end.”

I open my mouth to protest, but her hand comes up to silence me. “Just do it, Charlie. Humor me.”

“Fine.” I rip the stick out of her hand and open a stall. Then I turn around and narrow my eyes at her. “Why do you happen to have a pregnancy test here at work?”

She shrugs and then smiles. “Don’t tell anyone, okay?”

“Oh my God, you and Griffin are trying to have another kid?”

“We’re not trying, per se. But we’re notnottrying. We just decided to roll the dice and see what happens.” She points to the stick in my hand. “Stick. Pee.” She pulls the door to the stall shut to give me privacy.

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