As a result, I think I might have a couple drinks and relax. Why not? Soon enough, I’ll be beneath Julian again, too delirious to do anything but moan his name. Suddenly, a loud banging sound comes from the kitchen and Jackie sighs. “We hired a new line cook, and he’s not very good. I’m hoping he gets better, but…”
There’s another loud bang followed by some shattering glass.
“Shit. I’ll be right back. Do you know what you want to eat? Burger? Fries?”
I nod.
“I’m craving pickles, actually. So yes, the bacon cheeseburger and fries please, but with a mountain of pickles, if that’s possible.”
Jackie nods before disappearing into the back, and my mouth waters at the thought of the upcoming meal. Okay, I’ll be bloated because pickles are so salty, but still, they’re good.
A few minutes later, the sassy redhead reappears, looking exasperated. “That darned line cook. If I could just …”
I giggle.
“Feed him a pickle?”
Jackie rolls her eyes. “More than a pickle. He needs a good club to the head, is what he needs. He’s got two left hands, and no one can work in a kitchen if they’re klutzy.”
“Well, I guess his days at the Hard Swallow are limited then. By the way, I’m super-parched. Can I get a Malibu and pineapple juice if you have time?”
The redhead shoots me a weird look.
“Uh Serenity, are you being serious?”
I smile. “Yes, of course. Why would I joke about ordering a drink? You know Malibu and pineapple is my favorite and this is a bar, after all.”
Jackie bites her lip.
“Yeah, but I don’t think that’s a good idea. You probably shouldn’t be drinking.”
I stare at her as annoyance flows through me. “Excuse me? That’s not really your decision to make, if you don’t mind me saying. I mean. This. Is. A. Bar.”
She holds up both hands in a placating manner.
“No, I get it. I come in peace, girlfriend. It’s just that I have four older sisters, and they have eight kids between them. I’ve seen enough pregnant women in my time to recognize the signs. That’s why I don’t think a drink would be right just about now.”
I stare at her.
“What are you trying to say?” is my low question.
Jackie cocks a hip out and looks at me oddly.
“You’ve got this glow about you, Serenity. I noticed it when you first walked in tonight, and that, plus the craving for pickles and being super hungry adds up to one thing. You’re pregnant, girlfriend, and I’m ninety-nine percent sure.”
It takes a while for Jackie’s words to compute in my brain, but once I process what she’s saying, I push away from the bar.
“No, I’m not! You don’t even know me! I’m obviously not pregnant. OMG, I can’t believe you said that!”
Jackie remains unfazed while scrubbing down the gleaming bar top.
“I’m just saying, girlfriend, based on my ten years of observation as my sisters got knocked up again and again. Forgive me for asking, but when was your last period?”
I open my mouth to answer the question, but I can’t actually remember when my last period was. Oh shit. But then I jolt into motion while scrabbling for my phone. There’s an app on my cell that I use to track my period. This app will solve all my problems.
“See, look, my last period was…” I stare at the screen. That can’t be right. The end date that I marked was over two months ago now.
Jackie just keeps on scrubbing while I shake my head, looking at the screen with confusion. “No, I just forgot to enter the dates for the last two months, that’s all. I can’t be pregnant. I’m on the pill!”
The redhead looks up at that comment.
“Two of my sisters were on the pill, but they still got pregnant with my niece and my nephew. The pill is not one hundred percent, Serenity. No contraception is.”
My eyes merely grow wide as I continue staring at my phone. This can’t be happening to me. No, no, no. At that moment, there’s a ding from the back, and Jackie disappears to retrieve my order. Then she reappears, placing a steaming burger in front of me, complete with a mountain of pickles beside it.
“Eat,” she commands.
Obediently, I take a bite out of the burger, but my stomach turns. How can this be happening? I’m usually so careful, but then the contraception failed? OMG, this is a nightmare. I shake my head miserably.
“I’ve been so busy I didn’t even notice I’d missed my period twice. I think… oh my God, there’s a really good chance I’m expecting.”
Jackie nods.
“It’s okay girlfriend. Just take a test, and you’ll know for sure.”
I bite into my burger again, but this time there are tears in my eyes. “What if he doesn’t want the baby?” I whisper, pressing a hand on my stomach. “OMG, I feel like I’m going to throw up.”