Page 91 of Lemon Pound Cake Club

"I figured they would."

"It doesn't change anything, but at least it's over." Camille reached for the nearest dessert tray. She grabbed a lemon bar, then took another, and then one more.

"Easy on the lemon bars, Camille," Nia teased.

Camille smiled, took another bite, and lifted her wineglass. She caught my eye and smiled again.

"Mari..."

I blinked. The room grew quiet. Camille blinked too.

"Maci." She let out a nervous laugh. "I'm so sorry."

I smiled politely.

"It's okay."

Simone frowned.

"Who's Mari?"

Camille's fingers tightened around her wineglass.

"Oh no, I was trying to say Maci. This wine got me mixing my c’s and r’s."

She forced a laugh. No one asked anything else, just like they always did with her.

Jade quickly changed the subject instead.

"Has anybody thought about the girls' trip yet?"

The conversation picked up again, but Camille kept watching me. She took another bite of her lemon bar. She stopped chewing halfway through. Her hand went to her throat. She swallowed hard, then did it again. Her breathing changed.

"Camille?"

Danielle noticed.

Camille pushed herself halfway out of her chair.

"I..."

She scratched at her neck, frantic. Her face lost all its color.

"My..."

The room erupted.

"Something's wrong!"

"Camille!"

"I can't..." Her voice came out strained. "My EpiPen..." She pointed weakly toward the kitchen. "Drawer."

I was already moving. I ran into the kitchen and then stopped.

I looked slowly around the kitchen. The sounds behind me faded. In the back of my mind, the Jeopardy theme song started playing.

Da... da... da... da... da... da...