Page 107 of Dancing in the Rain

“I know! I can’t wait to see it. I think it starts next week.”

“We should go.”

“Can we pause the movie? I need a bathroom break.”

“Sure.” He picked up the remote and hit the button. Another piece of pizza would be good.

He returned to the family room couch and relaxed, chomping down the thick-crust, double-cheese pizza and washing it down with a glass of iced tea. He finished the piece, considered one more…nah. He was full.

He tapped his fingers on the couch, bounced his knee. Waiting…

Jesus, what the hell was taking so long? Did she fall into the toilet and drown?

He frowned and pushed up off the couch. Down the hall, he paused outside the main floor powder room. He heard nothing. He knocked gently. “Hey, you in there?”

“Yes.”

“Are you feeling okay?”

“Um…”

His heart punched against his sternum. “What’s wrong? Are you sick?” It couldn’t be the pizza already…andhefelt fine.

“No.”

“Chloe. What’s wrong?”

After a short silence the doorknob turned and she cracked the door open. Her cheeks were pink and her eyes looked a little red and puffy. Aw, fuck. She was crying? Jesus. Was it about her mom? That probably wasn’t unexpected. But why was she locked in the bathroom?

She sniffed and looked up at him. “Um…I have a problem.”

“What is it, kiddo?”

“I, uh, started my period.” She dropped her gaze.

He froze in place. “Oh.”

Christ! What the hell did he know about girl stuff like this? “Do you…feel okay?”

“I’m not sure.” She rubbed her belly. “This has never happened before.”

“You mean…” Fuck! He was messing this up. “This is your first?”

“Yes.” She nodded miserably. “And I don’t have…anything.”

His eyes popped wide.Hesure as shit didn’t have anything.

She bit her lip, eyes teary. “I think maybe I need to go to the store. Or go home.”

“You want to go home?” He frowned.

“I have some things there. My mom bought them for me a while ago, so I’d be ready…but…”

“Right. Okay. But there’s a drugstore just a couple of blocks away. We can pop over there.”

Fuck, fuck, fuck. Why did this happen tonight of all nights? Why couldn’t it have happened when Peyton was here? She was probably an expert at feminine hygiene products and knowing what to do and what to say. Also it figured that Sara had planned ahead enough to buy her daughter napkins or whatever it was she used.

He hesitated. “You’re okay for a little while?”

---