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I nodded. “That is…that’s great.” I smiled the best I could, my ghost lurking at my back.
“How have you been doing?” She placed the clipboard down.
“Good, yeah, I have been great,” I said, my tone not nearly as convincing as it needed to be.
“Audry, I know we don’t know each other well. And our meeting isn’t under the best circumstances, but I hope you know you can talk to me.”
“I uh, I know. I just…there isn’t much to talk about.” I shrugged.
“How have you been coping?”
Alcohol and sex, I went to answer. But that felt wrong. I struggled to come up with some societal acceptable excuse.Knitting?I thought. I didn’t look like someone who could knit.
Joy tapped my knee gently, taking my silence as an answer. “Do you mind if I do an exam? Our blood panel doesn’t check for everything, and I need to get a swab to be sure.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
“Are you sexually active?” she asked as she gathered supplies.
“Um, yes,” I said.
“What form of protection are you using?” she asked without skipping a beat.
“Condoms, mainly.”
“Make sure you and your partner or partners are getting tested regularly. Our rapid tests don’t show everything.” She turned to me, tugging on a single glove. She paused on the second one, observing me.
I glanced at her, cowering like a silly young deer. Why was I afraid of her?
“I see many women come in here, unfortunately, in the same situation as you. Let me get you some information about a support group. You don’t have to go, but I think it would really help.” She grabbed a brochure from the side, passing it to me. Then, she pulled her other glove on.
“Go ahead and lie back. If you want me to stop, or if anything is uncomfortable, you let me know,” she instructed.
I lay back, the paper sticking uncomfortably to me.Breathe, I reminded myself.You are safe.
Carson and I walked down the main road, coffee in hand. She didn’t ask about the visit, and honestly, I didn’t care to tell. I wanted all of it behind me, never mentioned or brought up again.
“I think there is a boutique I always wanted to try up ahead,” Carson said. She was like a kid in the candy shop as we buzzed like bees inside each shop. Her eyes would go wide as she perused the jewelry and clothing. She only bought one small item: a single scarf.
“Have you been here before?” I asked, motioning to the area.
“On this side of town?” Her eyes went wide. “I can’t say I have spent a whole lot of time over here.”
I nodded, unsure of what to say.
“Logan and I didn’t grow up with a lot of money, to be honest. Our parents weren’t around. We had uncles and aunts and the cr—” She shook her head. “I just mean that, uh…we didn’t grow up with much.”
I didn’t want to pry, set on earning Carson’s trust as quickly and efficiently as I could. She almost finished that sentence, which means it would happen one day. Maybe I would get all the answers I wanted.
“So, how well do you know Kai?” I asked.
“We grew up together, like an older brother to me. A second one I didn’t really ask for.” She shrugged.
“And Liam?”
She crinkled her nose. “He’s changed since we were younger, but I guess pressure and all the stuff that went down with his ex would do that to anyone.”
“So you know Kai and Liam well?” I asked as we rounded the corner.
