Page 96 of Second Down Darling

That truly is good news. I should be elated, but my emotions have two modes since I got beaned by that Diet Coke. I’m either in tears and falling apart or completely detached fromeverything.

The head injury might play a role in this. It’s possible I have a concussion, but I checked out of the hospital because my parents removed me from their health insurance, and there’s no way I could afford an ER visit without it. Guess my parents weren’t excited about the bills for my last hospital admission after the fire. Honestly, I’m shocked I had coveragethen.

She lowers her voice. “One of the girls wasYvette.”

My eyes widen. “Jake fired her after she said that crap to me about Dakota being better-looking.”

“Good for him. What abitch.”

“But if he hadn’t fired her, I’d probably still be going with the team to the playoffs.” Last weekend’s game clinched it for the Broncos. “Not that I’m blaming him. I’mnot.”

Then why are you so upset with him?That I can’t explain. Logically, I understand why he confided in Roxy about what her dad asked of Jake, but that doesn’t lessen my ire. He should’ve toldme.

“I’m sorry, Charlie. This sucks all around. I tried talking to my dad about it, but he has a bug up his ass about Jake not ‘following direction.’ Coach is really upset you gothurt.”

“I get it.” I sigh. “Please tell him I’m fine.” I glance around the cafeteria. It’s filling with the lunch hour rush. When someone walks by with a plate of fried fish, Igag.

“Gross.” I cover my mouth and nose for a minute. “Kinda felt nauseated there for a sec,” I explain to Roxy when she asks what’swrong.

She folds her lips, like she has to physically restrain herself fromspeaking.

“What?” I don’t want her to hold back withme.

“Could you be pregnant?” shewhispers.

I laugh becauseno.

Except…

Everything around me slows down and goes a little sideways as a dizzy spell hits me. I suppose that’s what I get for checking out of the hospital against doctor’sorders.

I can’t bepregnant.

I don’tthink.

“Oh my God. What if Iam?”

“When did you get your last period?” she asks as I break out the calendar app on myphone.

Swallowing, I choke out, “Six weeksago.”

Istareat the pregnancy tests like they’re infected with a virus. Roxy and I weren’t sure which one might be best, so we got three differentbrands.

We’re holed up in the bathroom at Jake’s, but he’s at practice, and Buffy is watching cartoons in the other room withAsher.

“Just bite the bullet,” Roxy says as she holds my hand. “Here. We’ll do it together.” She grabs one of the tests and pops open thebox.

“In case I haven’t told you lately, you’re a really good friend. Thank you for doing this with me.” I grab a box and break theseal.

“Of course. Us badass bitches have to stick together. Listen, you’ve been under a lot of stress lately.” She shrugs. “You’ll probably get Aunt Flo in a fewdays.”

When she says it like that, I feel silly for being so worried. It helps that she’s willing to take a test withme.

I read the directions on the box as Roxy pees on her stick and then I do thesame.

As I take my turn, she washes her hands and applies lip balm in the mirror, joking, “You know you’re besties when you can peetogether.”

I laugh, so grateful for my beautifulfriend.

---