Page 91 of On My Side
that’s perfect, thank you
shit, can you grab ibuprofen too? i’m out
Ren
on it, i’ll be at the cottage in like 45 minutes
Audrey
thank you again, i really appreciate it
Ren
“What is he doing now?” Piper asks, pointing at the TV. She and I are snuggled up on the couch, a microwaved dish towel across her lower belly. I don’t get my period with my IUD, so I was completely unprepared for when Piper tearfully told me she saw blood on the toilet paper. I should’ve been prepared, considering she’s fifteen and hadn’t gotten one yet. I should’ve had pads and tampons for her to choose from. I should haveknown. Been ready.
“What is who doing now?” I ask. I’d been thinking about Ren, and I wasprettycertain she wasn’t asking about him.
“Patrick Verona, of course.” I can sense Piper’s eye roll as she gestures to Heath Ledger’s character in10 Things I Hate About Youserenading his love interest on the bleachers.
“Oh, sweetie.” I’m about to break this poor girl’s heart.
Luckily, a knock at the door interrupts us and Piper adjusts so I can get out from under her. “While you’re up, can you microwave this again?” She holds up the DIY heating pad I’d made her out of a kitchen towel drenched in water and shoved into a gallon freezer bag. I should have asked Ren to get a heating pad. The DIY project works fine when I need it, but Piper’s cramps are pretty bad, and it doesn’t stay hot for long.
I take the heating pad from her and put it in the microwave for thirty seconds before opening the door.
“Hey,” I greet Ren, who’s on the porch with much, much more than the four items I’d requested.
“Hey,” he responds. “I, uh. I brought way more than you asked for.”
A smile spreads across my face when I notice the cat carrier slung over his shoulder. “You brought Princess Leia.”
I’m not sure how, when he has at least four reusable shopping bags and a living being hanging off his arms. “Yeah… I should’ve asked… I brought food and stuff too, so she can spend the night, if it’s okay with you.”
“Leia’s here?” I jump when Piper is suddenly ducking under my arm to unzip the cat carrier.
“You’re in too much pain to get off the couch to microwave your heating pad,” I remind her.
“Yes. But not too much to come get my best friend!” she says, lifting the fluffball into her arms and kissing her all over her fuzzy head. “Can she stay? Pleeeeeease?” She widens her eyes into a puppy dog pout, which is playing dirty and she knows it.
“Okay,” I agree, meeting Ren’s eyes. He’s fighting back a laugh, but his eyes are sad. I know it’s my fault, and I don’t know how to fix it.
“You should stay too, Mr. Q!” Piper says excitedly. “We’re watching a really old movie called10 Things I Hate About You.”
“Ah, an ancient artifact,” the traitor agrees. “I’m gonna help your mom put this stuff away, but then I have to head out.”
Piper’s face falls. “Oh,” she sighs sadly. “It’s okay, I guess.”
“I… I mean. Maybe I can stay for the rest of the movie,” Ren stammers, cheeks reddening. I roll my eyes. Is he this much of a sucker for his other students, or does Piper have some sort of evil power?
Piper goes back to her spot on the couch while Ren and I head to the kitchen to unpack the bags. He surprises me when he not only pulls out the items I’d asked for, but several other things I didn’t. Ice cream, Midol, and a heating pad. My stomach flips when he pulls the last item out of the bag. It’s like he knew what we needed without me telling him.
“Leia’s food and bowls are in this bag,” he says motioning to a colorful reusable bag next to him on the floor. “And I can come grab her in the morning if you want, or after I have dinner at my parents’ if Piper wants her for longer and if it’s okay with you.”
“Whatever’s easiest for you,” I respond, pulling my phone out. “How much do I owe you?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
