Take Me with You (Take Me #2)(4)

“The motherf*cker deserved it for what he did to Ari.”

Signing with Hollis was one thing, but the thought of being around Donovan Jenkins made my blood boil. That * had kissed Ari and insinuated that he’d f*cked her. It was one thing to want us broken up, but it was another to actually act on it.

“Where is Ari anyway?” Miller asked.

That was a good f*cking question. Normally, we’d already be a half hour into rehearsal and working on perfecting the new song I’d dropped on Miller last week. Ari hadn’t missed a rehearsal since we got back together. She might be lost in a mountain of chemistry homework on the weathered couch, but she would still be here.

I was used to singing “Life Raft” to my life raft.

So, where the hell was she?

Incoming call: Grant McDermott

I bit my lip and then silenced my phone. I couldn’t talk to him right now, not here. I’d thought I would have been done with this already and then on my way to band rehearsal like normal. Everything had run over, and I didn’t want to tell Grant that I’d come here.

I glanced around the examination room and then swallowed hard. I couldn’t keep my feet from tapping anxiously on the linoleum tiles as I waited for the doctor to come back. I couldn’t believe I was even here right now.

Incoming call: Grant McDermott

God, can’t you give me a minute, Grant? I deliberately ended the call that time. Maybe he would get the picture.

Knock, knock.

The door cracked open. “Aribel,” the doctor said.

“Hi,” I said softly.

The doctor closed the door behind her and took a seat on the rolling stool next to the computer. “Well, you’re not pregnant.”

I sagged forward in the seat. That was so good to hear. I hadn’t missed a period or anything, but even with condoms, accidents could happen.

“The rest of the tests will come in later this week. A nurse will give you a call to let you know the results. Here’s your prescription.” The doctor handed over a piece of paper. “If you’re still concerned about anything, feel free to give me a call at anytime. I still suggest sending the young man you’re seeing over for peace of mind.”

“I’ll take that into consideration. Thank you.” I folded the piece of paper in half and stuck it into my purse with a sigh.

“Just check out at the front desk before you leave.”

“Thank you again,” I said before hurrying out of the office.

As soon as I exited the office, I pulled my phone back out. My finger hovered over the spot to give Grant a call back. I should have told him about coming here, but I hadn’t wanted to freak him out over nothing. I still didn’t want to freak him out.

“Ugh!” I exited out of the screen and dialed my brother’s number instead.

“Aribel?” he answered.

“Hey, Aaron.”

“What’s up?”

“Just having a slight mental breakdown, and I needed to talk to my big brother.”

“You’re having a mental breakdown?” he asked in disbelief. “What? Is O-chem causing you problems?”

I laughed hollowly. “No. School is fine. It’s more…guy-related.”

“I see. Well, this is a first. My little sister is all grown-up.” He chuckled softly.

“This isn’t a joke, Aaron! I just left the doctor!”

“What? What happened? Are you pregnant?” He sounded pissed.

“No! Christ, Aaron, no,” I said, flustered. I hadn’t meant for this conversation to happen this way. I opened the door to my BMW and sank into the driver’s side. “I don’t know how to be this girl.”

“What kind of girl?”

“Look…I don’t even know what I’m saying. I really like this guy.” No way was I about to directly tell him about Grant. He wouldn’t understand why I was dating someone like Grant. “But being with him terrifies me. Have you ever been in that kind of situation?”

“Sure. I know what you mean. You’re in love, kiddo.”

I threw my head back onto the headrest and closed my eyes. Maybe that was all it was. Maybe I was just in love and scared. “We had an argument a couple of weeks ago, and now, I feel as if we’re trying to pretend nothing happened.”

“Aribel, calm down. It’ll be fine. You don’t have to tiptoe around me. I know what happened with Henry over break. I’m sure it will be fine.”

“With Henry?” I asked, sitting up straight.

“Yeah, when you left Le Petit Parlor,” he said, referencing the bar we had gone to after the New Year. “He’s a good guy for you. Don’t let one argument get in the way.”

“I…”

“I’ve got to get back to work, Aribel. If it’s about Henry, then don’t worry. You guys were meant to be together. I wouldn’t be surprised if Mom is already planning your wedding.” He laughed again. “See you, sis.”

The line went dead in my hand, and I stared down at it in shock. Aaron thought that I had slept with Henry? And that we were now dating?

Ugh! Not good.

This afternoon had gone from bad to worse in the span of one conversation.

“She sent me to f*cking voice mail!” I threw the phone onto the couch and stormed over to my guitar.