Megan was up and holding her phone in one hand and a steaming cup of coffee in the other when I walked in.

“Is there any more of that?” I asked, hoping to stave off any of her questions.

“Sure, and don’t bother denying you and Tade got busy. The bow-legged walk is a telltale sign.”

I stopped in my tracks.

“So was he as good as they say he is?”

I didn’t like the idea that he’d been with girls at my school. I couldn’t blame him, as his past was his as mine was mine. That didn’t mean I liked it.

“I’ll tell you once you dish on what happened between you and Gavin.”

It was a dare I thought she’d back down on. I was wrong.

“Fine, he and I got pretty close to, you know…” She circled her finger in the air. I wasn’t sure what she was doing, but I got what she meant. “Then he stops and says he’s not good enough for me and leaves me hanging. Then he doesn’t call or anything for two days after.”

I was a bit mystified by her declaration. “Two days?”

“Exactly, like he didn’t call or text. Two days later, I walk in the café and he’s like chatting up some girl. Apparently he’s good enough for her.” She was on a roll, waving her hands around while telling her story. “And when I stormed over there and gave him a piece of my mind, he had the nerve to call me crazy.”

“Did you give him a chance to explain?”

That set her off. She glared at me like I’d given up my sisterhood card.

“Explain? What was there to explain? He didn’t call. Has Tade contacted you?”

Though she was deflecting, as there had to be more to her story, I answered her anyway.

“I just left,” I explained. She folded her arms across her chest and waited for me to spill it. “Okay, he just texted me.”

“Uh, huh. So give up the goods. Did you bump uglies or what?”

I flopped down on a chair. “Yes, but you don’t have to make an announcement about it.”

“I’m your best friend. Who would I tell?”

I started counting off the names of people she hung out with.

“I would never betray you like that.”

I’d never told her a secret before. Though in my heart, I trusted her. And I had a bigger worry I couldn’t ignore any longer.

“The condom broke.”

“What? Wait? How?”

I gave her a stare that said, really?

“Okay, I know how, not specifically.” She waited, but I didn’t fill her in. Some things were sacred. “Did you get the morning after pill?”

“Morning after pill?”

I’d never been on the pill, and hadn’t been with anyone, so I’d never had a need to know about such things.

Sadly, the on-campus pharmacy was closed.

“We could go to the store,” Megan suggested.

“Did you magically get a car?”

That shut her up.

“How about an Uber?”

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t have a credit card to set up an account.” Or any kind of card for that matter. “You know how my parents are.”

Mom didn’t think it was necessary for me to have a bank account. It was another way to shackle me. She didn’t even give me much cash in order to keep me from doing anything away from campus. The money Dad had given me I’d blown on stupid stuff like drinking with Megan on her birthday that day long ago.

“My card is maxed, otherwise I’d spot you. I can’t even order it for you off Amazon, I’m so broke. So go tomorrow.”

“Can’t. My parents are picking me up for spring break.”

“Ooo.”

“Yeah, I’d already put them off from getting me on Friday.”

“Do it before they come?”

“Are you kidding? Mom will be here at the crack of dawn. She’s been itching for me to come home.”

“What does Tade think?”

“He’s got a meet coming up. He’s not going anywhere. Are you still going home?”

“No.” She looked a little sad. “Mom’s got a new boyfriend who’s living in the house. I’ll pass and hang out here.”

“You can come with me.”

Though I wanted to spare her from my mother, it would be great not to be alone.

“Are you sure?”

“Why not? Maybe Mom will calm down some. Though you have to mind your language, young lady.” I mocked a fake parental voice. “And your manners.”

She laughed. “This could be fun.”

“It could be or Mom will drive you insane and you’ll hitchhike your way back here.”

“I don’t know. Living the life of Reagan Winters might be fun.”

We giggled and it felt good. More than I had in a long time, I felt like a normal human being until Megan spoke again.

“You know it’s unlikely you’ll get pregnant. They say it’s like one day a month that it could possibly happen. When was the last time you had your period?”

I didn’t keep a record. “Not too long ago.”

I’d remembered that much because things had gotten hot and heavy with Tade and me. I had to stop him, not because I wasn’t ready, that time. I’d been on my cycle.

“Then you’re cool. But I can make an excuse to your parents about needing to pick up a prescription and get it for you.”

Relief washed over me. “You’d do that?”

“Hell, yeah.”

I didn’t have time to talk to Tade before I left. Megan had to help me dye my hair back to get rid of the pink highlights so Mom wouldn’t freak out.

We were driving down to the main road when I spotted a guy taking pictures.

“Hey, isn’t he taking pictures of—” I pinched Megan’s leg before she mentioned Tade’s name. I didn’t want Mom asking twenty questions. Luckily, she got it. “—the rowing team. They must be really popular.”

“The water is the devil,” Mom began.

And I had to wonder if it had been such a good idea to bring a friend home.