Five weeks later …

“So he was a no-show?” Meredith asked as she turned on the coffee machine. They’d both arrived early for work. Alice arrived early every day so that she could open up and get things ready. Meredith on the other hand hardly ever arrived at this time. Fishing for information. Well, Alice was about to disappoint her.

“I wouldn’t call it a no-show. He said he would text and he hasn’t. Ash never made any promises about anything.”

“So it was a no show then?” She raised her brows, turned and opened the cupboard. Meredith took out two mugs.

“Last weekend was one month since his last time here … he didn’t text. I told you it was over. It had become a bit weird between us after what happened.”

Meredith made a face. “You mean his mating behavior.” She huffed out a breath. “It’s a pity. A real shame. I was so sure he had the hots for you.”

“He did have the hots for me. That was the sum total of his interest though.” Alice spooned a sugar into her cup. The scent of brewing coffee permeated the air. “Forget Ash. I have.” It wasn’t entirely true, but hey. “I’ve decided to start dating again though. For real this time.”

Meredith’s face became animated. “Shut up. You have? I thought you were never going to give another guy a chance ever.”

“That was just the hurt talking.” She shrugged. “I guess being with Ash showed me that I’m lonely. I enjoyed his company and … the sex, I enjoyed that too. Problem is, the whole one-night-stand thing isn’t really for me and that means putting myself out there and dating again. I’m not talking one or two half-assed dates just to go through the motions, I'm talking about meeting a guy and giving things a go. For real!”

“Wow! That’s a big step.” Meredith smiled. “I’m proud of you and I’m happy for you. There’s a guy out there who’s going to make you very happy,” she gushed. “Have you met anyone yet?”

“No. I’ve only just made the decision. I’ve joined one of those online dating sites though.” Alice forced a smile. If she had the choice and was really honest with herself, she’d choose to date Ash, to get to know him better, but that was never going to happen. He had made that abundantly clear.

“Dating sites …” She shook her head. “I’m not so sure about that.”

“Why not?”

“Lots of weirdos and guys looking for a hook-up.” She waved a hand. “I wouldn’t recommend it.”

“What should I do then?”

“Come out with us on Saturday night. Bella and I are …”

Alice shook her head. “No way! There’s no way I’m going anywhere near the Dark Horse ever again.”

“Bella and I’ve decided to give the Dark Horse a skip for a change. We’re going to that cocktail lounge in town, are you game?”

Alice poured some coffee into a cup and stirred. “You know what? Yes, that would be great.” She smiled, feeling both nervous and excited for the first time since … since him … in other words, it had been a while.

“Wonderful!” She was sure that if Meredith hadn’t been holding a cup of coffee she would have clapped. “I’m so glad. And you’ll see, once you start to put yourself out there, you’ll meet guys. Good guys.”

Alice wasn’t so sure, but she had made the decision and was going to stick with it. She was only thirty dammit, far too young to stay single for the rest of her life. It would probably take time for her to get used to this new mindset. Once that happened though, it would be full steam ahead. She was sure of it. Unfortunately, she still thought of Ash often but it had only been a couple of weeks since they were last together. To be honest, she had been hoping to hear from him again. Even though deep down she knew it wasn’t going to happen. Oh well, give her just a couple more weeks and she’d forget all about him.

“You must be so relieved about that little scare.” Meredith took a sip of coffee. “I know I would be. I’m normally seriously depressed whenever PMS hits, I’m even more depressed when the cramping starts.” She made a face and laughed. “I won’t even mention when it actually starts. The floods,” she whispered the words, “if you know what I mean, but you on the other hand, must have danced a jig.”

At first Alice wasn’t too sure what Meredith was on about but then she realized that she was talking about that time of the month, her menstruation. She frowned. “You’re right, I will be. I’ll be totally stoked.”

“What do you mean you will be?” Meredith put down her cup of coffee with a clunk, some of the brown liquid spilled over the side.

Alice shrugged, she looked at Meredith in such a way that conveyed to her that she had lost her ever-loving mind. At least she hoped that was the message she conveyed because Alice sure as hell felt that way. “I will be when I actually have my period again. I’m sure it’s going to happen any day now.”

Meredith bit down on her bottom lip, she looked worried. She shook her head, looking deep in thought. “I’m sure you’re supposed to have had it by now. It’s been a good couple of weeks since …” She widened her eyes. “The accident.”

“I’ve never been all that regular. When it happens it will happen. No biggie.” Alice shrugged. A sliver of unease moved through her and not for the first time since that day. “Ash was very sure that I was nowhere near my ovulation and,” she emphasized the word, “I took the morning after pill and well within the window period. There is just no way.” She laughed, sounding nervous, even to her own ears.

Especially since Meredith was still looking at her with very wide eyes, moreover, her face was very pale. “Still, I’m sure it should have happened by now.” She reached for her phone on the countertop and began typing. Her focus on the small screen. “It says here that the menstrual cycle lasts somewhere between 23 and 35 days. That includes your period. Thirty-five days at the most.” She looked Alice in the eyes. “That means that you should have had your period by now.”

“I told you I’m not all that regular. I don’t really pay attention to my cycle.”

“Aren’t you the least bit worried?” Meredith pulled in a deep breath. “I know I would be shitting bricks by now.”

“I wasn’t worried. Not at all.” It had crossed her mind a couple of times, but she refused to stress over something that was highly unlikely. The insert of the morning after pill she’d used said that it was Ninety-five percent effective; that coupled with the fact that Ash had said she was nowhere near her ovulation cycle, meant that she was safe. Wasn’t she? Shit! Now she was panicking. “At least, I wasn’t worried until now. Now I’m petrified.” She held a hand out horizontally and true enough it was shaking. “I can’t be though Meredith. I’m not, am I?”

Meredith shrugged. “I’m sure you’re not. I’m sure this is all just one big scare, but I think we need to find out one way or the other and ASAP.”

Suddenly Alice was desperate to know, but only because she was sure she wasn’t pregnant. Alice forced herself to smile. “We are going to laugh so hard about this when it’s over.”

“We so will.” Meredith smiled but it quickly turned into a frown. A determined look appeared on her friend’s face. “You wait right here,” Meredith instructed. “I’m headed for the pharmacy, I’ll be back in no time.”

Alice swallowed hard, she nodded once. She’d never been more afraid in her whole life.