Page 41 of Teaching Roman

Chapter Nineteen

“You haven’t goneout with us in a month,” Jillian exclaimed, planting her hands on her hips as she glared at me from the doorway to my room. She was already dressed in skinny jeans and a tight, velvet top. Make-up on. Hair curled. Next to her I looked homeless. “Either join a convent or get dressed!”

Normally Jillian could talk me into going to Garrett’s with her big, doe eyes and the promise of shenanigans. But I wasn’t feeling up to it. I hadn’t felt up to it since I’d gone and broken my heart all over again in Roman’s office.

“Look, he’s not going to be there,” she assured me.

I stared at her, wondering how she’d guessed who I was thinking of. I hadn’t told her or Cassie about my little faux pas behind closed doors in the communications building.

“What?” I asked.

“Brett’s not going to be there,” she said. “He never goes in there. You clearly got Garrett’s in the break-up.”

Of course, that’s who she had meant. Why would I be worried about running into Roman at a bar? I’d never seen at one—within the continental United States. He seemed to walk a very straight line between his professional duties and his social life in Olympic Falls—with one exception.

“Honestly, I don’t really feel like staring at your face attached to Liam’s all night. Don’t be offended. I love both your faces. I just could do with a little more separation of the two.” The two had been nearly inseparable since Christmas, glued to each other like the end of the world was coming.

Unfortunately for them, it was.

“You know he leaves for Scotland in June. We don’t have much time left together,” Jillian did a good job of hiding the hurt in her voice, but I knew her better than that.

I sighed and closed my study guide. “I’m sorry. I’m being a stone cold bitch these days. Blame it on the stress.”

“And the broken heart,” Jillian added softly.

“And…that.”

“Does it feel better to admit it?” she asked.

“I guess.” I shrugged, unprepared to concede that a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. It felt good to be honest, even if I hadn’t come clean about everything.

“I promise there will be little to no sucking face tonight.” She dropped onto my bed and laid her head across my lap, barring access to my book. Grabbing her stomach, she grimaced. “The fates have cursed me. An unwanted relative has come to call: nasty, old Aunt Flo.”

“What? Liam’s afraid of your period?” I asked, arching an eyebrow. That surprised me—nothing seemed to faze him when it came to Jillian.

“A girl has to have her lines,” she said, and I laughed. “Don’t laugh! It’s true. I have boundaries.”

I shook my head. History was not in her favor on that matter. “No, you don’t.”

“Take that back,” she demanded, reaching up to pinch my stomach. “I am a lady!”

“More like a Madame,” I corrected her. She pinched harder and I yelped in between laughs.

“See what you’re missing in life?” She bounced off the bed. “We’re leaving at nine. No buts about it!”

Apparently Jillian hadn’t lost her touch, although I didn’t exactly remember agreeing. I was about to remind her of that when she popped her head in again. “Stop overanalyzing it. You’re coming out tonight,” she informed me. “Oh, and do you have any tampons?”

“Maybe. I’m probably out. I don’t remember buying any, but there might be some in the bathroom in my basket.”

“Thank you!” She disappeared again, then called out. “ Jackpot! Full box!”

“You’re welcome,” I yelled back. Flipping open the study guide, I started another practice test. If I had two hours before I had to walk out the door, I could finish one and throw on something other than the threadbare T-shirt and jeans I was wearing. Five questions in, my blood froze, which wasn’t technically possible. I was studying to be a doctor, but it sure felt like ice was creeping through my veins.

A full box of tampons.

A full box of tampons that I didn’t remember buying.

Question #5: In females, implantation occurs during which phase of the reproductive cycle?