Free Spring Unleashed (The Summer Unplugged Series) by Amy Sparling Page A

applies eyeliner in front of the mirror. “It’s a pool party. All that shit will just wash off.”
    “But what if I meet a hot motocross guy before I get in the water?” She stops talking to open her mouth as she carefully applies the eyeliner. “I’m sure the place will be packed with hot guys and I’m not missing out on that opportunity.”
    I laugh and for one tiny fraction of a second I’ve completely forgotten the stupid photo. Then it comes back to me full force, punching me in the face as if to say screw you, I’m not letting you forget about me!
    I hide behind the closet door as I slip into my bikini and pull a pair of jean shorts on over it. I chose the darkest pair of shorts I have just to provide period protection if my dreaded monthly curse decides to finally show up in the middle of the party.
    With my terrible luck, it probably will. It’ll be a perfect end to a perfectly horrible day.
    “Hey, I have to ask you something and you can’t tell anyone about this at all for the rest of your life.” I give Becca my Super Serious Face so she knows I’m not kidding.
    She cocks and eyebrow. “As if the entire last thirty minutes weren’t already a secret?” she asks.
    “Good point.” I sit on the bed and watch her finish applying her makeup. “Yeah so, I’m wearing a white bathing suit  because it’s the only one I have and I’m gonna need you to…okay I know this is gross, but I need you to be my official backup because I might be getting my period soon.”
    “You mean you want me to check out your ass occasionally to make sure you haven’t bled everywhere?”
    “You don’t have to be so damn blunt about it,” I say with an awkward laugh. “But yeah.”
    “If you’re about to be on the rag why the hell would you even go to a pool party? With a white bathing suit?”
    I shrug. “I’m not entirely sure I’m about to start. I was supposed to start a few days ago but I haven’t yet so I’m thinking maybe I miscalculated on my calendar.”
    Becca replaces the cap on her mascara and slowly puts the tube back into her makeup case. When she looks at me her face is completely blank.
    “What? Am I totally stupid for risking it tonight? I’m not cramping or anything so I don’t think it’ll happen at the party.”
    “Bayleigh, you might have a bigger problem than some skank’s naked photos.”
    “What does that mean?” I ask it even though I’m already putting together the puzzle in my mind. A sharp stab of terror pierces my heart.
    Becca sits next to me on the bed. “Don’t you see? You’ve been crying like a lunatic over finding a silly email from nine months ago. That is so not like you. You’re a hormonal freak right now. What if you’re pregnant? Oh my god what if you’re pregnant?”
    Her words hang in the air as silence envelopes us. I think about crying or screaming or jumping into denial mode. I could pace the room or crumple into a ball on the floor. But I don’t do anything. It’s as if my brain has reached maximum thinking capacity and locked up, unable to function anymore.
    Jace appears in the doorway. “How much longer until you girls are ready?”
    Becca puts her hand on my shoulder and gives me a look as if to tell me that all I need to do is give her a sign and she’ll take over from here. I shrug her off and stand up.
    “We’re done,” I say. “Let’s go.”

Chapter 14
    Becca tries to be a supportive friend by sticking to my side at the pool party when Jace is pulled away to talk motocross politics with his boss and other coworkers. But when Hana’s fiancé introduces us to a group of twenty year old muscular motocross racers, I put on a carefree smile and tell her she should follow them into the hot tub.
    “No way, I’m not leaving you,” she says, but the way her eyes follow the guy’s backsides as they walk away tells me she’s already mentally gone anyhow.
    “Please do,” I say, giving her a little shove in that direction. “I’m fine,