Chapter 17
Seventeen
Harper
This night from hell will not end.
Well, okay I know it will end.
I’m just…living in a world of hyperbole right now.
Sighing, I snag the pack of candles, start shoving them into the cake as I run through my mental checklist.
I’m in the home stretch.
The food is all served.
Cleanup is mostly done since I’ve spent the better part of the evening hiding out in the kitchen instead of socializing with the girls.
Plus, I have a convenient excuse to not hang around when the party winds down—what with me growing a baby and all.
Not that this dinner is going to run long.
I think the guys (and girls) are counting down the minutes as much as I am.
Shannon certainly is.
Which is why I’m getting on candle duty when I would normally give the party some time between courses, let the conversation—and drinks (alcoholic and otherwise)—flow. Why I’m busting out the cake as soon as possible.
And with that thought, I finish placing the final candle.
“Go time,” I murmur as I snag the lighter, hit the candles with it, then carry the cake out into the front room.
Luna catches my eye and I don’t miss the relief in her eyes.
Nor her silent, The end is nigh.
That’s real.
She normally loves hosting these events, but I can feel her patience fraying by the moment…and her need to have Shannon out of her house growing with every minute—and snarky comment—that passes.
“Oh, thank God,” Shannon says completely interrupting Faye in the middle of her mentioning that one of her author friends is moving to town.
I want to hear more about Faye’s friend, Lainey.
But the candles are burning…and all the other things.
I set the cake down in front of Shannon.
“Happy birthday,” Smitty begins and we all join in with, albeit unenthusiastic, singing, rocking our way through the song with much more speed than normal.
“…happy birthday to you,” we finish.
And wait.
She’s looking at her phone.
Legit. Looking at her phone.
“Shan,” Leo prompts.
She glances up. “Oh, right.” Her halfhearted attempt at blowing the candles out is over almost before she’s on her feet. “I should head out.”
Leo’s brows drag together. “You don’t want cake? I thought you said red velvet was your favorite.”
“It is.” She moves toward the door, Leo finding his feet and following after her, but I’m already heading for the kitchen.
Clean up. Get out.
Find my bed.
It’s when I’m starting in on the final dishes that I hear voices.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Luna says as she and Shannon come into the kitchen. “Your jacket is hanging in the mudroom. I’ll grab it for you.”
Luna touches my shoulder as she moves by me, a sympathetic smile on her face. “Be right back,” she whispers.
Shannon huffs impatiently, the scent of her perfume spreading out like a noxious cloud.
She must have reapplied it in the hall because it’s strong.
And that’s when I feel it—the nausea rising.
I tilt my head back, breathe through my mouth as I dry my hands and scramble in my pocket for one of the ginger candies.
Not right now.
Please, just, not right now.
“What are you doing?” Shannon sneers.
I pop the candy in my mouth, sucking like it’s going to save my life.
And maybe if it prevents me from puking right now, it will.
“Dishes,” I say when I can risk opening my mouth enough to form the word.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t make her go away.
Instead, she comes closer…and brings her cloud of perfume with her.
I retch, wrench off the water, and sprint out the back door, my only thought to get away from the perfume, the kitchen, the woman.
Unfortunately, a commotion follows me as I stop in the center of the lawn and plunk my hands on my knees, focusing on breathing.
And not puking.
God, I really don’t want to puke in front of that woman.
“Harper!” Luna calls, her footsteps pounding on the deck.
“What did you do?” Leo snaps.
“I didn’t do anything,” Shannon snaps back. “The psycho was washing dishes and just ran out of the room. I don’t even know why I followed. I just want to get the hell out of here already.”
I don’t hear his reply, and a second later, I realize it’s because he’s no longer with Shannon.
He’s standing beside me. “Harp,” he murmurs, gently settling his palm on my back. “Are you okay?”
His spicy scent surrounds me, but instead of making me queasy, it helps settle my stomach.
“Leo!” Shannon calls sharply.
I close my eyes.
He’s here with another woman, Harp, I remind myself. Hell, we’re all here because of that other woman.
“Go back inside,” I say miserably. “I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine.” He crouches down, touches my cheek. “Has the baby still been making you sick, even with the ginger?”
“Sometimes,” I admit before adding, “But it’s been a lot better. Seriously, I’m fine. I’m already feeling better. See?” I straighten.
Then waver slightly.
Dammit.
He catches my arm. “You’re not fine.”
I yank it free of his grip. “I am.”
His eyes flash. “I thought we went over this.”
“Excuse me?” I ask icily.
“Anyone can look at you and see you’re dragging ass. Are you getting enough rest?”
I haven’t been sleeping well.
But only because I’m pregnant unexpectedly.
And worried about my and my baby’s future.
That would make it hard for anyone to sleep properly.
“No, of course you’re not getting enough rest,” he mutters. “I knew I should have canceled. This entire night has been a fucking nightmare.”
My temper flares. “My food—”
“Was incredible as always,” he says, taking the wind right out of my sails. “It’s the rest of it.” A shake of his head. “You’re already exhausted. And I’m adding to it when the fatigue in the first trimester is supposed to be intense.”
“How could you possibly know that?”
“Know that you’re not getting enough rest?” He rolls his eyes. “Astronauts on the International Space Station could see those dark circles beneath your eyes, that’s how I know.”
“No.” I shake my head. “How do you know about exhaustion in the first trimester?”
“I read the books.”
I freeze. He’d mentioned the pregnancy books at my appointment. But I just thought…I guess I just thought it was lip service.
“You read them?”
“You’re carrying my baby,” he says softly. “I need to know these things.”
My heart squeezes and I open my mouth—
“What the actual fuck?”