Page 34 of Embers in Our Past

“Thanks, Serena,” I tell her. She nods and walks back to the front of the lobby.

The elevator dings, and we walk in. He hasn’t said anything, just silently stands on the opposite side of the metal box as we ascend to my apartment.

We get to my floor and walk out to the hallway. The moment I get my door open, I walk straight to my washer to hopefully get this mess fixed up. After I get his sweater into the machine, I walk to my restroom and get myself cleaned up. I must be coming down with something. Hopefully, I didn’t pass it on to Kennedy too.

I walk back out and find Rios sitting on a stool in my kitchen.

“Can I get you some water?” I ask, opening my fridge in hopes of finding a ginger ale.

“How far along are you?” Rios asks.

I quickly straighten and close the fridge.

“Excuse me?” I ask. We barely know each other for him to be that forward with his question.

“I have four sisters. Three of which I’ve watched go through this. You’re knocked up. How far along are you?” he asks again.

“I’m not pregnant.” I laugh. “If we hadn’t started off on the wrong foot, Rios, we’d be friends because you’re funny. That’s a good one. I can’t get pregnant.”

“I’m not trying to be funny, Abby. I’m serious. I think you’re pregnant.” He’s not letting this go.

“Well, you’re not letting this sink in. I. Can’t. Get. Pregnant,” I repeat.

“Like ever?” Is this guy dense?

“Rios, are you trying to piss me off even more or something? Do you need me to call my doctor to prove it to you?” My laughter dies off because now this guy is pissing me off.

“Abby, I know you think I’m an asshole, and I guess I am, but I’m really asking you. Are you one hundred percent unable to have children or something? I’m asking because you already didn’t look great when I saw you with Kennedy. Then you threw up on me. I have this gift of knowing when people are pregnant. I knew when all my sisters were pregnant before they even knew. So yeah, I think you’re pregnant.” He says this like he’s some sort of pregnancy whisperer.

“I don’t think I’m apregnancy whisperer, but I think I’ve got some sort of sixth sense about it,” he says, and I realize I must have said that last part under my breath.

“There’s like a five to ten percent chance I can conceive naturally without the use of fertility drugs or hormones.” I roll my eyes.

“That’s not zero, Abby,” he says like I don’t understand math.

“Someone paid attention in math class.” Apparently, I took my asshole pills today.

“Don’t be a smart-ass. It’s unbecoming. Plus, you know what I’m saying. You should call Malloy and tell him. He’ll be thrilled.”

“What are you talking about?” I look at him like he grew a second head.

“Well, haven’t you been spending a ton of time together?”

“Yes. Can I get pregnant from osmosis now?” What the hell is he referring to?

“What do you mean?” he asks me.

“What the hell doyoumean?” I throw back.

“You’re telling me you two really arejustfriends? All this time, he’s been telling the truth?” Rios looks at me like I’m lying to him.

“Yes, Rios, Malloy is being honest with you. Why would he lie? He’s an honest person. We are just friends. Malloy is a good person. Pull your head out of your ass and realize you have a good friend by your side. We are friends, that’s it!” I smack my hand on the counter.

“I’m so tired of you making Malloy out to be some lying friend who betrayed you. Stop making him feel guilty over nothing. He’s a good person. Believe him when he tells you that he is who he says he is.”

Right then, I see the realization hit him.

“Fuck. You’re right. I’ve been a dick,” he says.

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