Three to five days? It must be serious.
“Is it the flu? I’ve already had my flu shot, so—”
“Oh, my God. It’s not the flu.” She groans again. “I’m on the first day of my period and I’m leaking like a faucet and the cramps are killing me. And in case it’s not obvious, I feel awful and I don’t want company because I’m a cranky hot mess and I’m all out of Reese’s.”
“Oh.”
She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, oh.”
My cheeks heat and I take a step back, trying to unpack everything she’s just thrown at my feet. This isn’t how I imagined my visit, and I don’t want to take it from bad to worse by saying or doing the wrong thing. Fortunately, I think I know how to make it better.
“I… You’re right. I shouldn’t have just shown up at your door without calling first. Get some rest and we can talk later.”
15
PIPER
If men had periods,the world would cease to function for seven days every month.
Facts. I flop down on the couch and snuggle into my blanket fort, curling up on my side just as my uterus launches another vicious assault, reminding me I’m out of Tylenol.
I close my eyes and breathe through the pain as an old K-Drama plays out on the tv. Dae professes his love for Soo-jin and disappointment courses through my veins.
I’ll bet he wouldn’t leave his crush to fend for herself if she was in pain.
You’re the one who told him to go. You have no one to blame but yourself.
I know that, but I’m up in my feelings and spoiler alert: they aren’t logical.
That’s the whole freaking problem.
Yes, I told Brady to go, but deep down, I’d been hoping he’d stay. He’s the most determined man I’ve ever met, and after weeks of pole classes, I was actually starting to believe nothing could deter him.
Hell, I’d even been considering his request for a second date…against my better judgment.
But like most dudes walking the earth, talk of periods sent him running for the hills.
Just like you knew it would.
Ugh. Guys are so weird. How is it they can watch gory slasher flicks and play blood-soaked video games, but at the first mention of menstruation, they’re out?
It’s insulting.
No, it’s for the best.
I don’t have room in my life for a man, and even if I did, it’s too risky.
This is what happens when you think with your hormones instead of your head.
Whatever. It’s not like I can’t take care of myself. God knows I’ve been doing it for most of my life. Nora sure as shit didn’t comfort me when I was sobbing in pain during my first period. No, she’s always been the ‘Suck it up, buttercup’ type, which is ironic given she expects to be waited on hand and foot when she’s hungover.
That’s because she’s selfish.
I’ve always known it, even when I was little and didn’t know the right word to describe her behavior.
My phone vibrates on the coffee table and I pick it up to find a text from Jenna.
Jenna: I emailed you the notes from Barnes’ class.
