“What’s wrong?” Rose asked, her expression far too insightful.

“Nothing,” Sammy said vaguely.

Except now she felt nauseated combined with the fact that she didn’t like the vinegar smell. The vinegar, which smelled weird. Which was definitely a symptom of something she didn’t much want to think about. But one that connected very much to a missed period.

“What’s wrong?” Rose asked again.

“I just... I think that I... I...”

“You look like you’re going to be sick.”

“Oh, my gosh,” Iris said, crossing the kitchen. “You’re white as a sheet. Sit down.”

And suddenly, Sammy did feel light-headed, and she swayed. She found herself being propelled by Rose and Iris, out into the living room, where they sat her down on the couch. Pansy reemerged only moments later, her expression filled with concern.

“What’s going on?”

“Sammy isn’t feeling well,” Iris said.

“No,” Rose said. “She’s not.”

And she didn’t want to talk about it. She really didn’t. And she didn’t want to do this on her own, either. And didn’t want to talk to Ryder unless she was absolutely certain.

No. She couldn’t let Ryder know. Not unless she knew for a fact. Thank God he wasn’t home.

“I think I need a pregnancy test,” Sammy blurted out.

“You what?” Pansy and Iris asked in unison.

Rose, however, was still.

“I’m late. When Pansy asked for tampons it reminded me. I should have started my period like four days ago.”

“Oh,” Iris said. “Are you usually regular?”

“Pretty regular. I mean, it could be nothing. But on the other hand...it definitely could be something.”

It was just all very suspicious that she would suddenly be late when she had also had unprotected sex just the right amount of time ago.

“One of us can get it for you,” Rose said.

“That’s going to cause serious issues,” Iris said.

“Pansy can do it,” Rose said. “Pansy is engaged.”

“Pansy is on her period,” Pansy said. “It’s ridiculous.”

“No one else will know that,” Rose said. “Anyway, it’s the most reasonable. If I go buy one, Ryder is going to start roaming the town looking for someone to beat up. And if Iris does...well, people will start wondering about virgin births.”

“Excuse me,” Iris said. “And wouldn’t they wonder the same thing about you?”

Rose shrugged. “I’m a wild card.”

Iris’s brown eyes went narrow. “Not as much as you think.”

“I can get my own pregnancy test.”

“You don’t need to,” Pansy said. “I’ll be back in fifteen minutes. None of you move. And I’m going to have to call my fiancé on the way and make sure he knows that whatever rumors he hears...aren’t true.”

“Pansy...”

“It’s fine,” Pansy grumbled. “Exactly what I want. Rumors about the chief of police being knocked up.”

She was gone for thirteen and a half minutes, and when she returned she also had a box of pads and a box of tampons. And a bottle of wine.

“I thought I would throw them off my scent.”