Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
Laughing, I pat her on the shoulder. “I’m glad you enjoyed yourself. Maybe an Epsom salt bath is in the works?”
Alyssa elbows me playfully. “No, no bath needed. I just need Ron to stretch me out again and again with that giant cucumber so that I get used to it. Sort of. I don’t know if you ever get used to something like that.”
I grow red because actually, her dad has been giving me my own workout in bed, and I’m sore and tender at the moment from Cyrus’s ministrations. But I merely paste an playful smile on my face.
“Well, it can’t be that bad right?”
Alyssa looks shocked.
“Bad? No, you’ve got it wrong, girlfriend! This is the epitome of good. Plus, you could be enjoying yourself, too. Just come out with me one night and we’ll find you your own version of Ron to bring home for a little fun.”
I look away from her and giggle even if my mind is racing at a hundred miles an hour. After all, what do I say? That I’ve been boning her dad day and night for months now? After all, I sneak out at every opportunity to see Cyrus, and fortunately, Alyssa’s hardly ever home these days, so she doesn’t notice my absences. Yet, these conversations are becoming harder to fake as our relationship progresses. Alyssa is my sister in every way that matters, and I hate lying to her like this. Especially because I’m doing it with her dad. It feels doubly wrong in that respect.
“Hey.” Alyssa reaches over and puts her hand on my shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. “Are you okay? I didn’t mean to insinuate that you can’t find your own boyfriend or anything. I just thought it would be fun to go out and double date sometime. Sorry if I pushed too hard.”
Turning back, I shake my head and force a smile. “No no, you didn’t say or do anything wrong. I’m good. Work’s just been so stressful lately, and I’m exhausted from it all.”
Of course, I don’t mention that I’m exhausted because I hardly get any sleep. Cyrus keeps me up all night putting me through my paces, and most mornings, I wake up dead tired and yet satisfied in the best way possible. But of course, his daughter has no idea.
“Maybe you’re getting sick,” Alyssa says with a frown. The pretty brunette leans in closer and presses the back of her hand to my forehead. “You look kind of pale, to be honest. Maybe you’re running a temp.”
“What, no I …”
All of a sudden my stomach rolls, like it was just waiting for this moment. Quickly, I cover my mouth with both hands as a belch erupts from deep in my chest. That makes me hop off the couch and dash for the bathroom. I barely have time to lift the lid to the toilet seat before I’m throwing up everything I’ve eaten that day. OMG, this is so gross! Coffee-colored chunks hit the water in a series of splashes and the bathroom smells like rotting garbage.
“Holy shit!” my friend exclaims from behind me. Then Alyssa grabs my hair, holding it behind my neck and out of my face as I continue to heave until my stomach’s empty. With that, I drop to the floor and put my face in my hands with my elbows resting on my knees, just trying to take some deep breaths of much-needed oxygen. I hear a cabinet door being opened, and then the sound of the water running in the sink before Alyssa nudges my shoulder.
“Here,” she says.
I lift my head and see a cool, damp washcloth being offered. Taking it from her, I hold it to my face, relishing the soothing relief against my clammy skin.
“Thank you,” I mutter, still trying to keep down the bile.
“No problem. But Josie? I’m worried. Maybe you should see the doctor because you’ve been tired a lot, and now this. Do you think it’s the flu? I heard a bug is going around.”
I hadn’t heard about that, but I have been tired more often than usual lately. But I just figured that it was from my sleepless nights in Cyrus’s bed, so I didn’t think much of it.
“Maybe you’re right,” I say. “I’ll give it a day though. Hopefully it’s just a stomach bug that’ll go away on its own.”
Alyssa nods.
“Okay, but if you’re still sick tomorrow then I’m taking you to the ER myself.” She stands up and holds her hands out, helping me up off the cold bathroom floor, but then she shakes her head and laughs.
“What?”
“I was just thinking that maybe you could be pregnant because you have some of the symptoms, right? Fatigue and nausea are two, for sure. But it’s crazy because if one of us is knocked up, it would be me. You’re the responsible one who only sleeps with men you’re in a relationship with whereas you know I sometimes bang every good-looking Tom, Dick, and Harry I meet. OMG, I’m such a slut.”