Page 151 of Resolve

His words don’t register for a moment, and then I bolt upright.

“What?” I glance down to see that yes, that is a broken goddamn condom in his hand.“What?”

He plunges his free hand into his hair. “Fuck, I’m sorry. I should’ve realized. I just thought that with you…” He lets his hand fall, face slack with disbelief. “I just thought it was extra good with you.”

I’m starting to panicky-breathe. “What, like I have a magical pussy or something? I promise I don’t. It’s a standard-issue vagina.”

My voice is sharper than I intended, but fuck.Fuck.

He notices me gulping air and swings around to face me fully, his voice careful and calm. “Okay. So I haven’t hooked up with anyone in months. Not since I moved in here, and all my tests came back negative during my last checkup, so—”

“Same. Negative tests, nobody else in a long time. And I’m on the pill.” My voice is steady, but eleven billion thoughts slam through my brain too quickly for me to put them into any kind of order.

He shifts uncomfortably. “Okay. So that’s good.”

Silence falls. Worst-case scenarios beckon.

“I can’t…” I suck in a breath. “I mean, I know the odds are low, and we’re lucky to be in a blue state, but I don’t want to even…”

Without meaning to, I press a hand to my stomach, and it reminds me that we’re still buck-ass naked. With a moan, I roll off the bed and scramble around to grab my underwear, jeans, sweater, yanking it all on in a blur. By the time I’m done, he’s pulled his jeans back on.

God, four minutes ago I was having the best time.

I grab my shoes and shove my feet into them, then stand abruptly. “I’m gonna go.”

Without another word, I turn and walk out of the bedroom, practically breaking into a run when I hit the stairs. Cam’s voice stops me when I hit the sliding door that leads to the backyard.

“Wait! Where are you going?”

I’m fiddling with the latch, but my fingers are too clumsy to work it.

“The pharmacies are still open tonight, right?” I tug, but the door still won’t budge. “I mean, it’s not even six yet. People fill prescriptions on New Year’s Eve, right?”

Cam’s still only wearing jeans as he walks over and releases the lock with a flick. I reach for the handle and start to slide the door open.

“Emergency contraception,” I say shortly, taking pity on his confused expression. “You know, the morning-after pill.”

“Ohh.” Understanding crosses his face, followed by something soft and almost nervous. “I want to come along. Can I come?”

I glance up from my phone, where I’ve just confirmed that I have my driver’s license and a credit card stashed in the case pocket. “Why? I can deal with it.” The last thing I want is Hot Neighbor tagging along while I pop some Plan B.

“I was there too.” He ruffles his hair. “The least I can do is, I dunno, keep you company.”

I fold my arms over my chest, not clear on his endgame here. He should be glad to see me skip off and handle this on my own. Unless…

“I’m not going to lie about taking it or anything.” I lift my chin and hope it’s dark enough that my angry, embarrassed flush isn’t visible.

“God no, I wasn’t… Sorry. I didn’t mean to imply that.” He rubs the stubble that felt so good against my skin earlier. “Just wait here.” He holds his hands up, palms facing me, as if commanding me not to move. “Will you wait here for me?”

He darts out of the room and clatters up the stairs, and I’m still considering cutting and running when I hear him thunder back down. A door in the front hallway creaks open, and he lopes back into the kitchen, wearing shoes and a sweatshirt and carrying two coats.

“Here.” He thrusts one at me.

“Um, okay.” On autopilot, I slip my arms into what looks like an old Army jacket, my head too fuzzy with anxiety to argue. “Thanks.”

He drops a knit hat on my head, tugging it over my ears. “Let’s go. I’ll drive.”

4

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