22. Lucy

I was bone tired and frustrated as fuck. I'd made an arrangement with Athan and Tarja. I was doing all of this with the spirits to save Mom because I thought I could pay a healer without going to my father. That was out, but instead of moving immediately to Plan C and violating Mom's trust, I skipped it and went to Plan D.

That was the plan where I used the extra money we were making to help fund Athan and Tarja's research. It was what Mom would have wanted. I could hear what was going on above me in the tavern. The Bloody Mary was doing great. The Whispering Raven was packed.

I wrapped things up and was about to go up and help Ollie and Ronan clean when Ollie, Ronan, and Beck came down to me. I was happy to see them and I knew that, but I was also in a terrible fucking mood. I was crampy, so I knew my period was about to start anyway. Mom taught me how to track it so I'd know, but mine had always had a mind of its own.

Even my mom couldn't figure out how to predict when this evil would arrive. Sometimes, it would skip a month and when it did show up, it wasn't with enough regularity for anyone to guess when. Mom and I could usually figure it out because I was a raging arsehole and my lower back would hurt. The cramps had started, too, so it would probably be within the next few days so I could prepare.

"Hey, I was about to come up and help you clean."

"I'll do that," Beck said. "How's Caitrin?"

I couldn't just sit there and bawl my eyes out with my friends. I was definitely feeling more female than male right now. How stupid was it that guys couldn't cry when they needed to and be comforted by their guy friends? Because I needed that right now.

"I've been busting my ass trying to make money with the tavern for a cure. That's what the Bloody Marys and the recipe I'm tweaking is for. I know Athan and Tarja don't have access to the same equipment the rest of Nestran does. I'm doing all of this to avoid asking my father. Mom doesn't want me to. She's all but forbade me.

"My father would be the only one with a sure thing to cure her, but he wouldn't take the money I'm making, even if it was enough to cover it. He would profit off me more if he refused to give me a sum and kept me working until I ended up like Aimes.

"So, I'm doing all of this to help Athan and Tarja work out something and hope they get it right and that in the process, their experiments don't kill her first. I'm a mess and I'm just trying to keep it together because I'm all Mom's got. I can't lose her."

"Hey," Beck said, squeezing my shoulder. "Caitrin gave birth to you, but she's practically our mom too. I'm helping with Theda because she's my mom, too. Let us help."

"Listen, first of all, fuck Neco Argent, but I love his mom. Don't tell him, but I'm doing this for Theda, too."

Yeah, fuck Neco, but I was doing this for him, too. Neco had always been a momma's boy, but not in a weird way. It was always more of this intense kid who recognized his father fucked over his mother and stepped up to protect her, though he couldn't even protect himself.

When I'd sneak into his room at night, he'd tell me all about how he was going to be rich one day and take care of his mom so she never had to work or worry again. All that was shattered when his father showed back up in their lives and ruined everything.

I might hate him, but it would destroy Neco to lose Theda and no Argent kid wanted another to have to deal with their father. It was the principle of the thing.

"Go upstairs and take care of Caitrin. We'll clean the tavern. We're going to have to make a better plan for the Bloody Marys because making the tomato juice takes time. Ronan and I made a ton while we were waiting for everyone to get off work and come and we still ran out in three hours. I'll also have to talk to my uncle about the tomato and potato supply to keep it going."

"Thanks, guys. Give me a night to catch up on sleep. I've got a lot of barrels made and my infusions just need time before I can test them. I'll be more help tomorrow."

I really needed a hug from my friends, but I had these stupid tits. They were smashed to my chest with bandages that had left me with permanent scars, but still. I couldn't get a proper hug from anyone but Mom.

I got up to leave and for some reason, Ollie jumped up and practically pressed himself to my back. It seemed like he was going to follow me home.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Just trust me. Get upstairs immediately."

Ollie had some pretty stupid ideas sometimes that ended up with us spending a night in the cells, but he always looked out for his friends. This wasn't silly Ollie. This was protective Ollie, so I just did what he asked.

He was so close to my back on the stairs that we were both in danger of falling, but when I got to the door, he shoved me through it and slammed it behind me. It was weird, but I was exhausted and I'd find out what that was all about in the morning.

When I got upstairs and went to change into my sleeping clothes, I figured it out. My stupid period had come when I was working. I'd bled through my trousers and Ollie saw.

And since he didn't rag me about shitting my pants and tried to protect me, one of my best friends had just figured out I was a girl.