Dirty little secrets

37

Riley

I sat there at the kitchen table, shoving scrambled eggs around my plate like they owed me money, while Ava's mom kept piling more bacon on Jax's plate like he was some starving orphan she'd just adopted.

Jax, that little s**t, was grinning ear to ear, stuffing his face, and I shot him a look like, dude, slow down before you choke, but he just winked at me, the cocky bastard. Chloe was across from me, picking at her toast her face all pale and pinched, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes because here we go again with her dramatic ass morning routine.

"So, Riley," Ava's dad piped up from the head of the table, sipping his coffee like he was in some commercial for old-people energy drinks, "you holding down the fort while Ava's off galivanting for her mental health shii? Bet the house feels empty without her chaos."

I snorted, stabbing a fork into my eggs harder than necessary. "Gallivanting? That's a fancy word for 'probably causing a scene somewhere.' Yeah, it's quiet, but Jax here makes up for it by snoring like a freight train at night. Kid, you need to get that checked sounds like you're dying in your sleep."

Jax flipped me off under the table and whispered.

“You ugly piece of s**t shut the f**k up” , but Mrs. Mom caught it and swatted his arm. "Language, young man! And Riley, don't encourage him. Chloe, honey, you okay? You look like you haven't slept a wink."

Chloe forced a smile, the kind that doesn't reach her eyes, and pushed her hair back. "I'm fine, just... my stomach's acting up. Probably that takeout from last night. Riley insisted on being extra spicy, like she wants to burn everyone's insides out."

"Oh, please," I shot back, leaning forward with a grin that I knew would piss her off. "You were the one who said 'make it hot, I can handle it.' Newsflash, princess, you can't. You're over there sweating like you're in a sauna every time we eat anything with flavor. Stick to your bland yogurt if you're gonna whine."

She glared at me, those green eyes narrowing like she was plotting my murder, and damn if it didn't make me want to laugh. We've been like this since day one me and Chloe, cat and mouse, always circling each other with snarky comments and eye rolls. She's Ava's new best friend, and Jax's girlfriend, I'm the best friend who doesn't know when to shut up. "At least I don't eat like a garbage disposal, Riley. You inhaled that pizza like it was your last meal."

Jax burst out laughing, spraying orange juice a little, and Ava's dad chuckled while Mrs. Mom tried to look stern but failed. "Girls, girls, play nice. Chloe, eat something, sweetie."

Chloe's hand went to her belly automatically, rubbing it in that absent way she does, and I felt a weird pang in my chest part annoyance because she's always so damn fragile about everything, part something else I didn't want to name. She's been here a couple days now, and every time she winces or complains, everyone jumps like it's the end of the world. Me included, apparently, because I caught myself watching her too closely.

Then it happened Chloe's face twisted suddenly, her fork clattering to the plate, and she clutched her side with a sharp intake of breath. "Ow... shit."

Mom was on her feet in a second. "What? What's wrong?? Do we need to call the doctor?"

"No, no," Chloe said quickly, waving her off, but her voice was tight, pained. "Just... cramps or something. Maybe gas. I think I need to lie down for a minute."

Jax looked up, mouth full. "You sure? Want me to get you water or… "

"I'm fine," Chloe snapped, pushing back from the table, and I saw the way her hand shook a little. She stood up too fast, wobbling, and I was out of my chair before I even thought about it.

"I'll go with her," I said, ignoring the surprised looks from everyone. "What? She's gonna pass out on the stairs or something, and then we'll have a real problem."

Chloe shot me a look over her shoulder as she headed out of the kitchen. "I don't need a babysitter, Riley. Go finish your eggs."

"Yeah, well, tough s**t. I'm coming anyway." I followed her up the stairs, our footsteps echoing in that awkward silence where neither of us wanted to admit we were worried. She was moving slowly , one hand on the railing, the other on her belly, and I hovered behind her like an i***t, ready to catch her if she tripped. "You know, if you're faking this to get out of dishes, that's low even for you."

She huffed a laugh, but it sounded forced. "Shut up. It's not... it's probably nothing. Just feels like someone's twisting a knife in there."

We got to her room with the bed all made up and her stuff scattered around like she'd exploded a suitcase and she flopped onto the edge of the mattress, doubling over a bit. I shut the door behind us, leaning against it, arms crossed. "Okay, drama queen, what's really going on? You eat something bad? Or is this the cramp stuff?"

"I don't know," she muttered, rubbing her side. "It hurts, but not like... Period hurt, I think. Google says it's normal, but f**k, it sucks."

I pushed off the door, grabbing the water bottle from her nightstand and handing it to her. "Drink. And breathe or something. You're all tense, like you're gonna snap."

She took the bottle, our fingers brushing, and I felt this stupid spark, annoying, the kind that makes you pull back too fast. She noticed, her eyes flicking up to mine, but she just sipped the water and set it down. "Thanks. You don't have to stay, you know. I can handle it."

"Yeah, right. Last time you said that, you ended up in the bathroom over heartburn. Sit back." I knelt down in front of her without thinking, my hands going to her belly like I'd seen in those dumb videos Ava made us watch. "Where's it hurt? Here?"