Force of Forever (All In #0.5)

A loud banging on her bedroom door caused her to drop the remote. “What?” she called out.

“It’s me, coming to your rescue.”

Perking up considerably, Pia rose to unlock her door. Her family had been particularly overbearing lately. Her mother, convinced she looked “peaky” from so many international flights, insisted on making tea and praying. Her brother Aron was on a break from school and bored. Her dad was always shouting questions at her from downstairs. They were all driving her crazy. She didn’t have energy to deal with any of them.

Ami, though, her favorite cousin, was easy.

She threw her door open, thrilled to see Ami’s grinning face. Her cousin held up both hands, her loose tee slipping off one shoulder. “Reinforcements. Snacks and a movie.”

The shopping bag, she could see, contained Extra Toasty Cheez-Its and Reese’s peanut butter cups, their standard period food. Since their cycles were synced, and both women prone to bitchiness and general misery while menstruating, they typically holed up and rode out the worst of it together. But Pia wasn’t on her period yet.

And instead of salivating at the sight of the red box, Pia’s stomach lurched. Cheez-Its sounded anything but appetizing.

“What’s that face?” Ami asked, shoving her way into Pia’s room and flopping onto her bed.

She shrugged. “Cheesy crackers just don’t sound good right now.”

“Yeah, your mom says you haven’t been eating much for weeks.”

Pia scowled. She was just tired. She locked her door again and joined her cousin on the bed. They’d been sharing this routine, this space, since they were teenagers. Despite how off she felt, Ami’s presence brought Pia some comfort.

“Ugh,” Ami groaned, tearing into the box of crackers. “The first day is always the worst. I feel like I weigh a ton. Even my leggings are tight. So, I broughtTheKarate Kidreboot. Redbox had it finally.”

The movie information barely registered in Pia’s brain.

“First day of your period?”

Pia hadn’t even had cramps yet. No jawline breakout, either. She usually ran a day or two ahead of Ami on their cycle.

“Yeah.” Ami frowned. “Didn’t you start, too?”

What started as a churning gut from unappetizing Cheez-Its turned into a sprint to the restroom in the hall, where Pia vomited what little food she’d eaten that day.

She stayed glued to the toilet, shaking from more than just emesis. Fears crowded her mind. Suspicions that she was afraid to give shape to.

Ami joined her a few minutes later. She brushed Pia’s hair back and didn’t comment when tears started to fall. Emotions she’d never felt before flooded her body and leaked from her eyes. Emotions, and an out-of-body awareness that was beyond disorienting.

“Well, we’re in an interesting situation, aren’t we? Seems like you might be dating again, if I’m reading this right. Puking is a fun way for me to find out. You could have just told me you met someone. It’s less dramatic.”

Pia managed a smile. “I’m not dating, actually.”

“Think it might be a stomach bug then?”

“I’m really afraid it isn’t.”

“Immaculate conception?”

Pia snorted, even as more tears slipped out. “No, dummy.” She hadn’t told Ami about Matt. Like she knew she would, she’d kept him a secret. Her secret. She hadn’t felt the need to share any part of them with anyone else.

Until now, when she didn’t have much choice.

“There was a guy in Paris during a layover.”

“Oh, my. A one-night stand isn’t like you.” Ami continued to move her fingers through Pia’s hair in soothing, rhythmic motions.

“We basically went on seven dates before I put out, I’ll have you know. They were just really short dates.”

Ami smiled, dark eyes crinkling. “Seven dates in one night? That’s kinda cute, actually.”