AllFreeNovel
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“I’m not having a reaction,” he told me, holding still and allowing me to look him over as long as I needed.
Finally, I released his face and stepped back. He remained leaning against the sink, watching me warily. Blowing out a breath, I bent to scoop up the towel and hand it to him so he could dry off his damp hands.
“Uhhh…” Jamie cut in. “What the hell just happened?”
I felt Max’s eyes. Actually, I felt all of their eyes, but I just couldn’t bring myself to speak.
“I’m allergic to nuts,” Lars answered for me. “It’s, ah, a pretty severe allergy. I go into anaphylactic shock if I come into contact with them.”
“All nuts?” Wes asked.
“Deez nuts!”
I whipped around to glare at Jamie. This wasso notfunny.
He held up his hands. “Bro, for once, it was not me.” He defended, pointing at Kruger, who shrugged.
“Someone had to say it.”
“Literally no one had to say it,” Max deadpanned.
“Rough crowd,” Kruger muttered.
Lars went on like he wasn’t surrounded by morons. “Back in Sweden, I had a severe reaction, and Win was there… It was pretty touch-and-go for a minute—”
“He almost died,” I said roughly.
“My bad,” Kruger told the room.
I spun, facing Wes. “You literally just flung something at him that could kill him,” I fumed. “You didn’t even think!”
“Whoa.” Max stepped between me and my brother. “I get you’re freaked, but no one talks to Wes like that. Not even you.”
“Fuck.”
Wes stepped around Max. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” He glanced at Lars, apology written all over his face. “I heard your stomach growling, and—”
“Nope,” Max said, cutting him off. “You don’t have to apologize for something you didn’t do.”
“It’s not your fault.” Lars spoke up. “I’m a grown man. I know about my allergy.”
“Then what the fuck were you touching that fucking bar for?” I yelled.
Lars recoiled, shock registering on his face. I never yelled. Never.
“Time out,” Max declared, bulldozing into me, pushing me from the kitchen into the dining room and toward the stairs. “Why don’t you shower and calm down?”
“I can’t go upstairs,” I told him, feeling the familiar rise of anxiety once more. Automatically, my eyes strayed back to Lars.
Max paused to follow my stare. “Would you have already had a reaction?”
Lars nodded. “I’m fine. I swear.”
Max pushed me toward the stairs. “Go.”
I went because if I didn’t, I might do even more shit I’d regret.
12
