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“You sure? Because if you did, I’m marching back to the cafeteria and kicking someone’s ass.”

Despite myself, I laugh, or at least try to. It comes out as more of a pained whimper.

Mia’s expression softens. “Okay, talk to me. What the hell is going on?”

I exhale shakily. “It’s just bad nausea. It’s been happening for a couple of days.”

“A couple of days?” She pulls back to look at me. “Nicole, you’re a nurse—you know full well that’s not normal.”

I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, forcing myself to sit back on my heels. The nausea is fading, but I still feel off.

“It’s probably a stomach bug,” I mutter.

Mia gives me a look. “But you don’t feel sick otherwise?”

I shake my head. “If I did, I wouldn’t be at work risking the health of our patients,” I mutter, almost annoyed. She knows me better than that.

She hums, gears clearly turning, then goes utterly still.

I frown. “What’s wrong?”

She meets my gaze, dead serious. “You aren’t pregnant, are you?”

The word rattles around my head like a curse. My body locks up, short-circuiting. Pregnant? No.There’s no way. Right? I swallow hard, my mind racing.

“No,” I answer immediately, more out of shock than anything. “There’s no way.”

I do the math, counting back the weeks in my head. Then I realize that I don’t remember when my last period was. My cycle’s always been a little inconsistent, so being late rarely fazes me. Of course, I don’t usually have hot, wild sex with a stranger.

Mia must see the panic in my face because she gently grips my arm, keeping me anchored. “Hey. Deep breaths.”

I take one. Then another. But my heart is racing.

Pregnant? No.There’s no way.

I feel dizzy. Mia steadies me, helping me stand. She leads me to the sink, her firm touch the only thing keeping me upright. I grip the edge of the counter, staring at my reflection under the unflattering fluorescents. I look shaken. My skin is pale, my lips parted slightly, my eyes wide with something between fear and disbelief.

Mia grabs a paper towel, wets it, and presses it to my forehead.

“Are you okay?” she asks softly.

I shake my head.

She nods, like she expected that answer.

“Okay. Listen to me.” She tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “We don’t know anything yet, so there’s no reason to panic.”

I nod weakly.

“So let’s just get you a test.”

I freeze, the mere suggestion making this all feel far too real. “What?”

Mia nods, all business, and grabs her purse.

“I’m getting you a pregnancy test.”

My chest tightens. “Mia, I?—”