LITTLE KISSES

CHAPTER TWO // TWO LINES

I pulled a bottle of chilled wine from the cooler as my hand settled the delicate drinking glass to the granite. It clinked against it, almost falling but I caught it. Rolling my eyes, I dropped the wine bottle beside it. Four hours of sleep hadn't been enough, I felt like I needed a whole week.

My fingers left the items and I leaned into the counter tops, taking a moment as a dizziness over took me.

Groaning and moaning didn't help cure me, but it helped irk me. My eyes fluttered open to gaze over the alcohol choice, I thought of Beth in that moment and what she'd stupidly suggested to me earlier. I mean, she was always a bit dramatic but... something about her words bothered me and for that, I picked up the bottle of wine and put it back in the cooler.

I wasn't pregnant.

I wasn't.

I stared at the bottles and bottles of alcohol, twitching – I looked like an alcoholic.

Turning in a fit of agitation, I slammed my palm to the counter hard.

“Owe!” I screamed, holding my thumb where I'd bent it back in my angry outpour, “What the heck is the matter with me!”

I literally wanted to beat myself and then my thumb started to swell, my eyes followed actual tears cascading my cheeks.

I was a freaking mess. I was so happy I was not at work. Doug would have just stared at me, maybe even fired me.

No, he wouldn't do that...

I doubted myself for a split second and then moved across my apartment quickly, “I'm going to prove her wrong!”

I grabbed my purse and coat, moving out into the hallway quickly as I threw myself together. I was impatient for the elevator, even more impatient for the arrival of where I was going but I was determined.

I played with the keys in my hand and then once I was down in the main lobby, I dashed out and on to the sidewalk before anyone or anything could disrupt me.

I was quick down the block, even though I felt like I may hurl my empty stomach. Finally, I got to where I wanted to go. I burst through the doors and stopped inside the quiet pharmacy. It was silently deafening.

I looked around me as slow music played in the background and then one step at a time, I moved forward. Then I really moved, I turned sharply down the aisle I wanted.

It was then I became overwhelmed. There were so many choices and then there were condoms beside those choices. Staring me right in the face like a bunch of cocky... I stopped myself.

I grabbed the nearest and most expensive box and moved to the check out. Where grabbing a pack of gum seemed like a smart idea.

A pregnancy test and gum, brilliant.

Not.

I waited. Waited. The woman in front of me talking to the cashier like no one behind her existed. I was about to snap, when finally she finished and took her one little bag of nothing.

I threw the items by the cashier and fumbled to pull out my wallet.

The beep and then the second beep, followed by the sharp tapping of keys and the girl's voice snapped me out of my not wanting to look up.

“Twenty-five seventeen.”

I gave her my credit card and she swiped it through the machine. We then waited for it to process.

“How are you?” She smiled at me.

I hated small talk. I really, really hated small talk.

“Fine, thanks.” I mean, really! I'm buying a freaking pregnancy test in a fit of rage against my friend. I was so far from fine.