Page 72 of Theirs

“This is so embarrassing,” I mutter, sinking deeper into the water, and shutting the faucet off with my left foot. “And very unfair.”

“I disagree that it’s embarrassing, you’re not the first, nor will you be the last woman to bleed on her boyfriend’s sheets,” Mac says, pulling on a pair of dark grey slacks. “But why is it unfair?”

“You would think science and doctors would have found a way to prevent periods in women who don’t want to have kids and have also had their tubes tied,” I say bitterly. “Why should I have to go through this every month, when I don’t even want a baby?”

He takes a sky blue shirt off a hanger, buttons it, and tucks it into his pants. “I understand that. But such is life. Just let us learn how to take care of you when this happens. Alex is probably buying every candy bar at the checkout counter right now, making sure he gets you whatever you need.”

“Guess this means I’m out of commission for a few days,” I say, sitting up and using the fork to take a bite of the chocolate cake with raspberry filling between the layers. So glad I didn’t get the chance to eat this last night, it’s hitting the spot now. “Whatever will my boyfriends do?”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that, Kitten,” Mac says, tugging on his matching suit jacket. He kneels at the bathroom cabinets, pulling out something and sitting it on the counter. “Here’s a heating pad if you need it. Help yourself to my joggers. There’s more Tylenol here, but I think Alex is picking you up some Midol, and more goodies.”

“Thank you, Mac,” I say.

He crosses over to the bath, and leans in to place a kiss on my lips. “I’ve got to get to work, but Alex should be back soon. I love you, Kitten.”

My heart swells at him saying those four words. I reach for his tie, holding him close to me, not concerned about my wet hand soaking his tie. “I love you too, Shane MacKenna.”

He beams at me, before going back into his closet to grab a dry tie. “I’m going to tie you up with this one later as punishment, little one.”

I pout. “We’ll see. Day one cramps are the worst.”

“Good to know,” Mac says, tapping his temple to remember that info. “But also, exercise and sex are a good way to curb period cramps. Ask Benjamin, he’s a doctor.”

I splash some water. “Yeah yeah, get out of here! Go make some money, MacKenna.”

Mac winks at me before leaving the bathroom, and I soak for probably twenty minutes. The cramps have finally gone away enough, thanks to the warm water and medicine, or it could just all be placebo. I get out and dry off. I check my purse in Mac’s room and find one lone tampon, cherishing the little guy, before going back to the bathroom to insert it and put on my clothes. The bed sheets are already changed, and the bed made. Mac really did take care of it.

I walk down the hall, surprised to hear Ben and Colin awake and moving about in the kitchen. Ben’s got on work clothes, but Colin’s dressed pretty casual. I guess being the young CEO of your company, you can dress how you want.

Alex walks in the door just then, also dressed for work, but carrying three reusable bags.

“Hey, Teagan,” Alex says. “Got you a bunch to choose from.”

I go over and wrap my arms around his torso. “Thank you, Alex.”

“No problem, baby,” Alex says, softly rubbing my back. “You feeling better?”

“A little,” I say with a nod, pulling away from him to tie the strings on Mac’s joggers he laid out for me to wear.

“We’re making chocolate chip waffles,” Ben says. “And bacon. Hope you’re hungry.”

“Starving,” I say, even though I ate the entire piece of cake, I’m still hungry. “Can I help?”

“Nope!” Colin says. “Let your men provide sustenance for you.”

I flinch as another cramp rages through me, hobbling over to the white couch that someone has laid a blanket on for me; just in case. I plug the heating pad in, and put it on high. Alex comes over, setting my goodie bags by the coffee table.

He sits on the edge of the couch next to me, and massages my hip, easing some of the discomfort.

“Can I ask you something?” he says, and I nod. “Why were you so upset this morning? You acted like we were going to get mad or disgusted.”

“I thought you would,” I sigh. “I’ve only shared a bed with one guy while I was on my period, and that was in college. He woke up saying I bled all over his sheets, and told me how disgusting that was. I told him I would wash them and return them to him, but he made me buy him a new set. Not that I destroyed some designer sheets; they had holes in them and Pokémon characters like he’s been using the same sheets since he was ten.”

“That punk is an absolute idiot,” Alex says. “Any man that gets squeamish around blood, or acts disgusted by a woman’s period, has no right to enjoy a woman’s body.”

I toss my arm over my eyes. “How is it that you always know the right things to say?”

“Eh, I think we both know that I haven’t always said the right things,” he admits. “We started out pretty rocky.”

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