I open my eyes and stare at the ceiling.

Golden sunlight floods my bedroom. My phone vibrates on the nightstand beside me. I haven't slept enough and I'm not ready to face the day.

Regret.

That's the word I've been searching for. Now that I've found it, I can't get rid of it, no matter how hard I try.

Stupidity comes in a close second.

There are many names I'd like to call myself, idiot possibly being the nicest of them all. I pull the covers over my head in a feeble attempt to shut out reality.

My phone buzzes reproachfully with another call I choose to ignore.

If this is the guy from last night, then he's pretty insistent. What was his name? Haze Delasomething, insanely handsome and a voice to die for. It all comes crashing down on me now. The buttercups, the mojitos, and then his offer - no, my offer.

What the hell was I thinking? Why couldn't I just accept his gift and be happy with it?

I jerk away the covers and swing my legs over the edge of the bed. There's no way I'd be able to catch more sleep now, so I might as well get up.

I glare at my nightstand, where my phone's screen flickers like a sick lightbulb. I won't be able to ignore the buzzing and pinging for much longer.

Burying my head in my hands, I hope for my hangover to disappear but I know that's not going to happen. Now that I'm sitting up, it feels even worse, like as if I had slammed my head against a rock last night.

I need to call Haze and cancel the deal. No way I'm giving one week of my life to a complete stranger. My head fires up with all possible worst-case scenarios. How do I know that he isn't some crazy psychopath who's going to lock me in the basement of his fancy country house for six months? I know next to nothing about him.

But then I remind myself once more that he wasn't the one who had made the offer. I've only myself to blame for this dilemma. He just wanted to give me a gift while I insisted on offering something in return. So, it's my fault and mine alone.

Bzzzzzzzz

"Okay, okay." I fumble for my phone and hold it up in front of me, narrowing my eyes to focus on the too-bright display.

"Thirty-seven notifications? Are you kidding me?" I scroll through them quickly while I shuffle towards the bathroom. There are four text messages from my mum.

Just reminding you that Dick and I will be island hopping in Greece for two weeks. If you need anything while we're on our honeymoon, just ring Auntie Bernadette. I know you don't like her but she's a doll. Love you sweetie-pie, Mum

"Yeah, I don't think so," I mutter to myself. I'd rather cut off my tongue than ask her for anything. I swear Auntie Bernadette is somehow related to Medusa. She has the scariest hairdos ever. I don't even know why Mum calls her Auntie. To the best of my knowledge, we aren't related, but like with so many things, my mum was never clear about it.

I huff and scroll to the second message.

I saw that you had a nice time with Mr Delacroix last night. He's such a charming young man with good manners too. Might not be as wealthy as Dave but definitely worth keeping an eye on.

Come on, really? Even at her own wedding, she has her matchmaking eyes set on me? Well, at least I know his last name now. I raise my eyebrows at her next message.

Good luck with him and try not to mess it up. You're not getting any younger, hon.

Ugh. What the hell, Mum? There's one last message, sent an hour later.

You know I only mean you well! Mum

Yeah, of course, you do. I let out a long sigh and then I see Haze's name on the display. There's one single text message from him. My heart beats a crazy staccato when I click on it.

I'll pick you up at 4 p.m. Pack light but bring your wellies if you own a pair. Haze

My wellies? That's it? Nothing else? I scroll further, but there's nothing more from him. I don't know if I'm supposed to feel relieved or disappointed. Before I can make up my mind about my confused feelings, the phone rings again.

It's Lucy.

She has tried to call me about two dozen times and left me numerous voice messages, so I know that I'll have to take this call, even if my throat isn't ready for a normal human to human conversation.

"Hi," I croak into the speaker. I probably sound like a dying frog.

"Oh, thank god, Penny! Finally! Where have you been? I've tried calling you like a million times!"

"I got home late and just woke up." I'm skipping the main parts, but it's still close enough to the truth. "What is it? Did something happen?"

Searching for somewhere to sit, I decide that the edge of the tub is good enough. I can always hold on to the sink beside me in case I get dizzy again.

"Penny....I...." she stutters. Her voice sounds all choked up.

"What's going on?" Now I'm beginning to worry.

After a moment of silence Lucy blurts out, "I'm pregnant."

I stare at a lonesome stain of toothpaste inside the sink. Pregnant. A baby, my friend Lucy is going to have a baby?

"P-penny? Are you still there?"

I realise that I haven't said anything. "Yes, yes I'm still here." I rub a hand over my mouth, trying to process this new bit of information.

"Did you hear what I said? Why are you not saying anything?"

"Yes, I heard you. I-I think it's great, wonderful! I mean, if you are ready for it." I force my brain to get into gear. "You do want to have a baby, right?"

There's only a silent sob coming from Lucy.

"Lucy, what's the matter? Aren't you happy about it?" Then it dawns on me. "Is this about Dave?"

"Dave and I..." I hear her sniffing. "We broke up."

"What? You...you can't be serious! I just saw you last night kissing and you looked so happy together."

"Yeah, that was before I told him." I hear Lucy blow her nose.

Only now I remember seeing Dave alone at the bar, but I didn't think anything of it because I was all lost in my own world with Haze.

"But I still don't understand. Why did you break up? It makes no sense."

I scrape at the toothpaste stain until it comes off and flick it down the drain.

"It's complicated. Dave w-was always hesitant about kids. You know that."

"Yeah, I know, but I mean, this is different. This is his child, not just some random kid."

"He says he's too young and wants to enjoy his freedom."

"Well, that's complete bullshit. I mean first of all what kind of a dick doesn't want to have a child with the woman he's going to marry? And then it's not like he had nothing to do with it, right? He can't just walk out on you. It's his responsibility too."

"I know, I know, and you're right, but...he says the only way we can keep our engagement is if I have it, you know...taken care of. He says he's willing to pay for that."

"What?" I jump from the edge of the tub and nearly drop the phone inside the sink. "He's blackmailing you into an abortion? Don't let him do that."

"I-I don't know what to do, Penny. I don't have a choice. I've quit my job and I don't have any savings and my parents can't afford to help me either."

"Lucy, listen to me, please." I pace around the bathroom like a caged animal. There has to be a way out of this dilemma. "You do have a choice. It's your womb and not his. Don't let Dave pressure you into something that can't be undone."

"But what am I supposed to do? I can't just raise this child on my own. I-I have nothing."

I stare at myself in the bathroom mirror and then I know.

"Listen, Lucy. I have an idea. I can't tell you anything definite right now, but I want you to know that you don't have to worry about the money. There's a business deal I might be able to land, and if it works out, then I'll be able to help you."

"A business deal?" Lucy sniffles. "Since when are you into those things?"

"Well, that's kind of a recent development." No need to get into the details. "Do you have somewhere to stay for now?"

"Yeah, I could stay at my parents for a while. At least I still have my old room."

"Yes, that's a good idea." I nod at myself in the mirror before turning away. "And Lucy, everything will be all right, I promise. If you want to have that baby, then you should. You don't need Dave. We'll get this sorted out, okay?"

"Okay," she says and then, "thank you, Penny. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"That's what friends are for, right?" I sense that she's smiling on the other end of the line. "I'll be away for a week but I'll call you on Wednesday to see how you're doing, okay?"

We talk some more about her plans for the future and when she's beginning to throw possible baby names at me, I know that she's feeling a bit better already. After fifteen more minutes, I finally say good-bye to her.

Now that I've made up my mind, I better get ready. Haze will be here in less than two hours and I still need to take a shower, have some sort of breakfast, and pack my stuff.

When it's almost 4 p.m., I peek through my window and see a sporty black Jaguar pulling up in front. That can only be him. No one in this building drives such a fancy car.

My stomach roils and there's a wave of sweat crawling up my spine. This is it, the moment of no return.

When the car door opens, my breath hitches in my throat. He looks so very different from yesterday, but the snug jeans and fitted grey t-shirt only confirm that underneath that fancy suit he's been hiding a perfectly toned body. Haze runs his hand through his hair and types something into his phone.

There's a ping from the back pocket of my jeans. I jump in surprise and pull out my phone.

I just got here. Are you ready?

My hands are clammy while I stare at the letters on the display.

Am I ready?

I look at the packed bag on my bed and my old dirt-encrusted wellies by the door. What am I even doing? I still can tell him that I'm not coming, that I made a mistake and that I'm sorry for having wasted his time.

But then I think about Lucy and the baby. I can't just leave her in this mess. She's my best friend and if there's a way I can help her, I will. And Haze seems like a decent guy and I get a free week in the countryside.

How bad can it be? Don't be such a wuss, Penny, and live a little.

I throw another glance at Haze outside and when he looks up and notices me at the window, he gives me a smile.

I type a quick answer into my phone and before I can change my mind again, I hit send.

I'm ready