Page 13 of Wrong Number. Right Don.
“You sure? Because if you did, I’m marching back to the cafeteria and kicking someone’s ass.”
Despite myself, I laugh, or at least try to. It comes out as more of a pained whimper.
Mia’s expression softens. “Okay, talk to me. What the hell is going on?”
I exhale shakily. “It’s just bad nausea. It’s been happening for a couple of days.”
“A couple of days?” She pulls back to look at me. “Nicole, you’re a nurse—you know full well that’s not normal.”
I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, forcing myself to sit back on my heels. The nausea is fading, but I still feel off.
“It’s probably a stomach bug,” I mutter.
Mia gives me a look. “But you don’t feel sick otherwise?”
I shake my head. “If I did, I wouldn’t be at work risking the health of our patients,” I mutter, almost annoyed. She knows me better than that.
She hums, gears clearly turning, then goes utterly still.
I frown. “What’s wrong?”
She meets my gaze, dead serious. “You aren’t pregnant, are you?”
The word rattles around my head like a curse. My body locks up, short-circuiting. Pregnant? No.There’s no way. Right? I swallow hard, my mind racing.
“No,” I answer immediately, more out of shock than anything. “There’s no way.”
I do the math, counting back the weeks in my head. Then I realize that I don’t remember when my last period was. My cycle’s always been a little inconsistent, so being late rarely fazes me. Of course, I don’t usually have hot, wild sex with a stranger.
Mia must see the panic in my face because she gently grips my arm, keeping me anchored. “Hey. Deep breaths.”
I take one. Then another. But my heart is racing.
Pregnant? No.There’s no way.
I feel dizzy. Mia steadies me, helping me stand. She leads me to the sink, her firm touch the only thing keeping me upright. I grip the edge of the counter, staring at my reflection under the unflattering fluorescents. I look shaken. My skin is pale, my lips parted slightly, my eyes wide with something between fear and disbelief.
Mia grabs a paper towel, wets it, and presses it to my forehead.
“Are you okay?” she asks softly.
I shake my head.
She nods, like she expected that answer.
“Okay. Listen to me.” She tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “We don’t know anything yet, so there’s no reason to panic.”
I nod weakly.
“So let’s just get you a test.”
I freeze, the mere suggestion making this all feel far too real. “What?”
Mia nods, all business, and grabs her purse.
“I’m getting you a pregnancy test.”
My chest tightens. “Mia, I?—”
