Jab (Fighter Romance) (Las Vegas Series #2) by Marie York Read Free Book Online Page B

forbid she picked them up herself. I dropped the paper back on the counter, and went back to my coffee when my heart nearly stopped. I ran to the calendar, and started to count the days. Oh no. No. No. No.
    I counted again because I clearly counted wrong. But, no matter how many times I recounted, it always came up the same.
    It had been thirty-five days since my last period. My period was like clockwork. Always had been ever since I went on the pill at eighteen. Knox and I hadn’t used condoms, too caught up in the moment to remember. But, I’m on the pill. I couldn’t get pregnant.
    Could I?
    My heart raced, beating frantically in my chest. My breaths came in short gasps, and I fell to the floor. I put my head in between my legs because I remember seeing somewhere that it could help if you were hyperventilating, which I think I was.
    This couldn’t be happening. It wasn’t. I took deep breaths trying to calm myself down. Trying to get my shit together long enough to think.
    My phone rang, and Knox’s name flashed on my screen. I threw the phone like it was a bomb about to detonate. How could I talk to him right now? See him. No. I needed to get out of here. I needed to get away.
    I grabbed my keys and phone, and took off. I didn’t have work for another seven hours, but I needed to talk to someone. Ariana was the closest thing to a friend I had. I’d originally become close with her so that her husband, the owner of Honey Pot, wouldn’t try to sleep with me like he did with every other girl that worked the stage. But, it turned out she was a good person who filled the void my mother’s death created.
    I went to her for advice and valued her opinion. In my panic, she was the only thing I could think of. I got to Honey Pot, and went through the back door. There were a few girls I didn’t recognize getting ready. All the new girls got stuck with the shitty early hours. It was basically an audition to see if they were worthy enough to make it to the primetime slots. I never had to do the early shift. Ariana had told me it was because it was clear I had what it took to be a star. That’s how my nickname came about.
    Ariana was always at the club early, checking out the new girls, and making sure everything was running smoothly before the night crowd arrived. I found her at the bar, a glass of pinot in front of her.
    “Sweetie, what are you doing…What’s the matter?” she asked as she saw my face. Her eyebrows furrowed as much as they could with all the Botox she had in her forehead.
    “I’m freaking out,” I said, pacing in front of her, unable to sit down.
    “Is it Mackenzie? Is she in trouble again?”
    “No,” I managed.
    “Then, what is it? It can’t be that bad. It’s not like you’re pregnant.”
    I stopped pacing and stared at her. Her brown eyes widened. “Oh, honey. Are you sure?”
    “I always get my period on time. It’s five days late. Five!”
    “You didn’t take a test?”
    I shook my head as I bit my nails.
    “Don’t panic until you take a test. Do you need me to go get you one?” she asked, resting her hand on my forearm and urging my nails from my mouth.
    “No, I could go. I can’t be pregnant, Ari. I can’t.”
    “Why not? You’d be a great mother, and Knox is a great guy. Plus, he could take care of you.”
    “I don’t need him to take care of me. I can take care of myself,” I snapped and then, instantly, I felt guilty. “I’m sorry. I’m just on edge.”
    “Understandable. Why don’t you go to the drug store? Take a test, and then we decide if you need to panic or not.”
    “Okay,” I nodded. “I can do that. I’m going to go do that.”
    Ariana walked me out to the car and gave me a hug. “You sure you don’t want me to come with you?”
    “No, I’m good.”
    “Call me,” she said, as more of a command than a suggestion.
    “I will.”
    I got in the car, and took off toward the nearest drug store, praying the entire way.
    You’d be a great mother.