Page 67 of In His Skates
“Damn it. Yeah, I do. You’re on your period.”
He sits up suddenly. “What? You’re joking.”
I shake my head. “I’m sorry. Come on. I need to get you a tampon before you bleed all over my white couch.”
He grimaces. “Must I wear a tampon? Don’t you have pads?”
“What’s wrong with a tampon?”
“They seem very uncomfortable.”
Poor guy. He doesn’t know the half of it. “Yeah, I think I have pads. You should take some painkillers too.”
“I think I’m okay for now.”
“Trust me, the pain you’re feeling now is only going to get worse.”
His eyes widen. “Are you for real?”
“Sadly, yes.”
He rubs his face, a very Keanu thing to do. “And what about this gloomy feeling? It seems like I’ll never be happy again. I hate it.”
I want to say I’m sorry, but I refrain from it. “Yeah, it blows. But I’m kind of glad you get to experience it. Now you know how women truly feel.”
His expression is pitiful. “Trust me, I do. I think I’ll take those painkillers now.”
My phone rings in my hand. It’s Mia calling. “Shit!”
“What is it now?”
“It’s your sister. She wants to talk to me.”
Keanu reaches for the phone. “Give it to me. I’ll handle her.”
I truly have no choice now. I can’t simply blow Mia off if I hope to salvage my friendship with her.
“Fine. But don’t say anything bad.”
“She’s my sister. I think I know how to talk to her,” he grits out.
“But you need to talk like me.”
He doesn’t reply, but his droll stare says it all. He finally accepts the video call and croaks, “Hey, Mia. What’s up?”
“Hey, I was calling to check on you.”
“You heard the news, huh?”
“Yeah.”
She doesn’t sound hurt, so that’s a relief. But Keanu grimaces, and I’m torn now between getting the painkillers and staying to listen to the call.
“What’s wrong? You look awful.”
“I have my period. You know how bad it is for me.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Why didn’t you say so? I wouldn’t have called.”
