Maddie’s stomach was still turning over and over, but she wasn’t wanting to bring it all back up. The stomach acid burned in her throat.
Vomiting was a bitch. Especially when it had been going on for so long. Whatever stomach bug she had caught two months earlier it just wouldn’t shift.
Beth was waiting at their usual lunch table, finishing off her steak. She raised her eyebrows at Maddie as her friend slid into her seat.
“Feeling better?”
Maddie grimaced.
“Not really. It fucking kills.”
She gave her steak a glare. She wanted to eat and the restaurant they were in had delicious food. But Maddie couldn’t stomach any of it. Anything she had eaten lately seemed to come back up if she wasn’t careful.
If she was still like this at the end of the week, Maddie would speak to her own doctor. Throwing up for this long wasn’t good for her and she had already lost five pounds because of it.
“I know. Being ill blows.”
Beth was sympathetic, but her expression was saying something else. Maddie had no idea what she was trying to say. She sipped at her water.
“Not so much as it does right now. Everything seems to set me off and it’s driving me mad.”
“I bet.” Beth paused. “Is there something you need to tell me?”
“I don’t think so. Why?”
“There’s something going on with you.”
“Apart from the throwing up, you mean?” Maddie looked down at her food. Just looking at it made her feel nauseous. “I guess it’s just stress. And the heat. I don’t do well with the heat.”
It was the middle of summer and it had been unbearable. Maddie was amazed she had coped as well as she had. Heat and her did not go well together.
“And you live in a hot climate,” Beth smirked as she munched on her steak. “Not a smart move, Maddie.”
“I didn’t ask to be born here.”
“I know.”
They ate in silence for a moment, Maddie thinking she could finally keep some of her food down. Her stomach was beginning to settle. Maybe she could get through the rest of this lunch without…
“By the way, Doctor Roberts seems to be getting more and more interested in you.” She winked with a sly smile. “I think he’s going to ask you out soon.”
“What?” Maddie sat up. “Martin Roberts?”
“He fancies you, didn’t you know?”
Maddie faltered. She hadn’t given the man a thought. Martin Roberts had joined the practice earlier that year. He was in his thirties and very handsome in the blond-haired Californian surfer way. He wasn’t Maddie’s type, but she didn’t mind the eye-candy. He had talked a lot to her and shown some interest but Maddie hadn’t realized it was more than harmless flirting.
“No. No, I didn’t.” Maddie frowned. “But it can’t be ethical, surely?”
“You’re his receptionist, not his patient.” Beth sipped at her wine. “So, would you go for it if he asked?”
Maddie didn’t think she would. Martin was nice to her and he was nice to look at, but Maddie couldn’t bring herself to find any attraction for him. He was just…boring. A good man. A nice man.
Boring.
Beth’s smiled faded a little. She lowered her glass with a sigh.
“It’s been three months now, Maddie. I’ve never seen you this hung up on a guy. Not even Drake got you into this funk.”
“What are you talking about, Beth?”
“Jace Howard. You haven’t dated or even had a one-night stand since that night. Surely you’re going to be able to move on.”
Maddie could feel her face going red. Jace seemed to have become a somewhat permanent guest at the clubhouse. She had expected him to leave months ago, as he was prone to do with everywhere he had been. But three months later, three months after that night with him, and he was still here. Maddie couldn’t get rid of him. Her life seemed to be on hold, as if it was holding its breath until he left.
She couldn’t forget about that night with Jace, no matter how hard she tried. It was easier said than done. At least he respected her by not being in the same room and keeping out of her way. But Maddie couldn’t stop thinking about him.
The fact that Beth had hit the nail on the hit made her uncomfortable.
“I’m not hung up on Jace.”
“Really?” Beth looked skeptical.
“Really. I’m just…” Maddie bit her lip. “It’s a little uncomfortable when he is staying in a place my brother has his offices. It’s not the easiest of environments to work in.”
At least Jeremy had been accommodating, allowing her to work from home on the books. Even he was surprised Jace was still around. Nobody questioned him, though; it was like the elephant in the room.
“I’m amazed he’s still in Tucson.” Beth sat back, toying her fork in her salad. “Dave Schuman says he’s been going around all over the country, that he’s never stopped in one place for more than a couple of weeks. This is probably the longest he’s been in one place since college.” She gave Maddie a meaningful look. “Something has to be keeping him here.”
“And you think it’s me.”
“Who else? You’re hot for him, he’s hot for you.” Beth winked. “Maybe he’s thinking there’s still a chance.”
Maddie rolled her eyes. That sounded outlandish even for her.
“Beth, Jace was my bully. He gave me a lot of the bad memories I had up here.” She tapped her head. “I don’t want to be dealing with that while dating him. If he has ever done dating, which I highly doubt.”
“Probably not, then.” Beth raised an eyebrow. “But if he’s stuck around this long, he must be thinking you’re worth it and he’s waiting for you to make the move.”
Maddie snorted. She very much doubted it. Her stomach rolled, giving her the cue that she needed to find the bathroom again. She staggered from her chair.
“I gotta go again.”
She barely made it into the cubicle before she was doubling over the toilet bowl and throwing her guts up. For a moment she couldn’t breathe with it all coming up and her head was spinning. She felt like she was going to pass out.
Maddie didn’t hear Beth in the doorway behind her. She was only aware of her friend when Beth pulled Maddie’s hair away from her face as she threw up. They didn’t say anything, not that Maddie was able to speak.
Finally, she had emptied her stomach and Maddie sank back onto the floor. She could feel the sweat beading on her forehead. Beth sat down beside her.
“How many times have you thrown up today?” she asked quietly.
“This is the fifth time.”
“Have you taken a pregnancy test?”
“What?” Maddie blinked. “Why would I do that?”
Beth rolled her eyes.
“You work in a doctor’s office, Maddie. You’re not stupid. You had unprotected sex with Jace and it’s been three months. It all fits.”
Maddie was reeling. She couldn’t be pregnant, surely?
“I didn’t have unprotected sex with him,” she protested.
“Didn’t you tell me you were switching from the IUD to the monthly injection?”
“Yes.”
Beth raised her eyebrows.
“When did you take the IUD out?”
Maddie faltered. A realization burned in her stomach.
“The day before. I haven’t been to have the injection yet, what with being sick and all that…” She saw the expression on Beth’s face. “I thought, if I wasn’t dating anyone, there would be no point.”
“You can get pregnant immediately after having the IUD out. You know that.”
“Don’t be daft, Beth.”
“You can.” Beth sighed. “Take the test. I’ll come with you to get it now.”
Maddie knew she wouldn’t be able to get out of this. Not if Beth was being this insistent. And she really wanted to prove Beth wrong. She was known to be sick a lot when stressed.
“Fine, I will. If it’ll keep you quiet.”