HER BODYGUARD

Her warm breath stuttered against his neck as her arms slipped around his waist.

For a second, he was lost in the sensation of her soft, firm body pressed against him.

Then she pulled away. “Please don’t scare me like this again” she muttered. “I have this bad feeling, like the kind I used to have before I got kidnapped, and I think that’s the reason why I’m so paranoid right now.”

Asher forced his brain back to her and forced himself to listen to what she was saying. “It’s okay” he said. “I understand how you feel, but I’m here now. So you don’t have to worry”

She nodded, although she didn’t look too convinced, then she turned around and went into her room.

—————————–

“Just take the test,” Phoebe pleaded. “Just get it over with so that you can move on.”

“So that I can move on,” Kimberly parroted wearily. It was a nice afternoon. She sat across from her friend in her living room. Sipping Perrier with lime, watching TV. “As though taking the test will make everything all right.” Kimberly said.

“I didn’t say that.” Phoebe said.

“What then? Are you saying you think I’m not pregnant?” Kimberly asked.

“Er, well…” Phoebe murmured.

“Just answer the question.” Kimberly said impatiently.

“I’m saying I think you have to find out either way, so that you can decide what to do next.” Phoebe replied.

Kimberly sipped her Perrier. She didn’t even know what she was going to do if she was pregnant. She turned to Phoebe. “Tell me. Where, exactly, did you buy those condoms? The ones you gave me that night.”

Phoebe winced. “In the ladies’ at that little bar in Elk Creek called Charlie’s Place.” She said grinning.

“When did you have time to go there?” Kimberly asked.

“I, um, went in just to have a look, after I went to get my pickup from the car wash.” Phoebe replied.

“And you just decided to buy condoms?” Kimberly asked again.

“Because I was hoping to convince you that we might, you know, get a little wild to help you forget your troubles after your kidnap. And I went into the ladies’ and saw the condom machine and I thought, well, if we’re going to be wild, we should be responsible about it.” Phoebe said and grinned again. “And well, when I saw how much you wanted to have fun that night, I had to give you one. What I didn’t know was that you were going to get wild with the hot bodyguard… Who you seemed to really hate” she laughed. “Funny how things turn out”

Kimberly focused on the TV, watched a sailboat gliding smoothly on a wind-ruffled, turquoise-blue water of a harbor and softly advised, “I would not depend on the condoms from the ladies’ at Charlie’s Place again.” She said, ignoring Phoebe’s talk about Asher. She didn’t know what to think of her feelings for him lately.

Phoebe made a sad little sound. “Oh, Kim. I’m so sorry. I know this is all my fault and I’m… I’m just so sorry.” She said,

Kimberly relented. “Oh, of course it’s not your fault. I didn’t have to run off to Rowdy’s Roadhouse. And I certainly wasn’t forced to seduce poor Asher just because we ended up stranded overnight in a wrecked SUV in a blizzard and I happened to have a couple of condoms.” She said regretfully.

Phoebe reached across and squeezed her arm. “You’re a darling not to blame me. But I do see my part in what happened. Maybe I should have stopped you that night or maybe I shouldn’t have given you those condoms. And I’m turning over a whole new leaf, I promise. In the future, I’m giving up all my wild and ill-considered schemes.” She said,

“Oh, please, Pheebs. Your wild, ill-considered schemes are part of your charm.” Kimberly said.”I don’t usually do stuff like that. That just isn’t me. And see what happened the one time I decided to go crazy. And everything I did that night, I did by my own choice.”

“Still, I feel terrible…” Phoebe said.

“Well, stop. Sometimes things just happen. You get in an accident and the condom breaks. You pick up the pieces and you go on.” Kimberly said, wondering if she would be able to pick the pieces of whatever consequences she might have to face. She tried to sound brave, but she was so scared inside.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

Phoebe squeezed her arm again. “Just take the test. Please. You’ll feel better once you know.” She said,

Kimberly nodded, knowing Phoebe was right. She had to do this and get it over with once and for all.

—————————

Kimberly and Phoebe went to her room so she could take the test. She took five minutes just sitting in the bathroom just looking at the test stick, till Phoebe yelled at her to get over her fears and take the damn test because they didn’t have all day.

She did after a while, and then she rushed out of the bathroom with the test. Phoebe stared at her.

“Are you done?” she asked.

Kimberly nodded. “Yes” she said as she sat on a chair. She put the test on the table and pushed it far away from her.

“Isn’t it time to check? Phoebe asked impatiently. ” Did you pee on the damn stick right? ”

Kimberly gave her a look.”How many ways are there to pee on a fucking stick, Pheebs?” she asked. “I just did it now. I’m supposed to wait for a few minutes.. Maybe three”

Five minutes later, Kimberly took the test and handed it to Phoebe. “I’m sorry I can’t look. Just tell me what it is” she said.

Phoebe stared at her. “And what makes you think I can? I’m as nervous as you are” she said. But she took the test and stared at it.

“So what is it?” Kimberly asked.

Phoebe breathed a sigh of relief. “It’s negative” she said, as she handed the test back to Kimberly

Kimberly couldn’t believe her ears as she took the test stick so she could see for herself. A part of her doubting Phoebe. But there it was -negative.

The result should not have surprised her. It was what she wanted right? She was scared of being pregnant. She should be relieved that she wasn’t. But she wasn’t, which was weird.

And then she did something weird too. She cried.