AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I stiffened at the name. But I nodded, biting my lip.
Trask poured me another glass. “Baby, I’m not mad, quit looking like I kicked your favorite dog.”
I laughed. “I’m allergic to dogs.”
“Same!” he said a little loudly.
He was a ship in my ocean, and I clung to him.
20
TRASK
Dinner went relatively smoothly all things considered. Soon enough the awkward conversations came to an end when the live auction started. I worked hard to avoid staring daggers in Karina’s direction. And her parents. And my parents. In reality, I was wound fucking tight and all I could do was focus on the gorgeous woman next to me, making sure she didn’t feel an ounce of anxiety. I failed. Of course she was nervous, but I couldn’t help but notice how her eyes softened when they landed on mine.Idid that to her. I made her feel safe, and I wasn’t going to let anyone take that away.
It was a relief when we finally got to the intermission. We’d walk around, do the final bids on the silent auction, and then head back in for dessert and the biggest items for the live auction. I was able to lead Eliza past my parents to the bar, where we waited to get fancy cocktails. God, she looked like a dream in that dress.
She smiled, leaning into me. “When are you going to be honest with me?”
I scoffed. “Me? I am an open book.”
She rolled her eyes, “Oh please, when’s the last time you read one of those.”
I shrugged. “Tell me, what am I in trouble for?”
“I know you bought this dress. I’m not an idiot. Neither is Rosalie. She’d neveraccidentallybuy a black dress. That’s not her at all. And I’ve rifled through her closet enough to know this is new. How much do I owe you? Because I really do love it.”
“A kiss.” There was no use denying it. “But I didn’t buy it for you. It was a gift for me. I want nothing more than to hear you read a story, standing in front of me in that goddamn beautiful dress.”
She rolled her eyes but blushed to her roots, leaning against the bar. “Thank you,” she mumbled. “I don’t think you understand how hard it is to simply accept a gift, but—” she swallowed. “Thank you.”
I kissed her cheek. “Anything for you.” And it was easy to say because it was true. “Odd with all these fruity things.” I picked up our glasses, handing one to her. “Cheers to a mango habanero sour. What happened to a simple lemon peel?”
“Give it here, Scrooge.” She laughed, taking a sip. “Honestly, I thought it would be spicier. I can’t even taste the habanero.” She lifted the glass, inspecting it. “I thought there would be seeds or something.” Realization struck her first. “Trask.”
I figured it out a moment later. Her hand went to her throat, her lips and neck grew red and splotchy.
Tears sprang to her eyes. “Trask, oh my god.” It was barely a whisper.
“Fucking pineapple,” I said, dragging her through the crowd, bellowing “Move!” when people stood like statues. I pulled her with me, but she stumbled in her heels. Her breathing was getting shallower, from the allergic reaction or just panic, I couldn’t tell. Fuck it, I pulled her into my arms, lifting her and doubling my pace, racing from the ballroom and out into the parking lot.
“I—” she cleared her throat. “Hospital.”
“Shhh baby I know. I’ll get you there.”
I fumbled for my keys, beyond relieved to find they were in my trousers and not in my coat back inside. I set her down outside my truck, cursing my earlier idea of parking so far away. Her neck and cheeks were red and splotchy, spreading down her chest.
I got the car unlocked, fumbling with the glove compartment. “Here.” I lifted her like a child, grasping her waist and setting her on the seat. “Lift up your dress.” I fumbled with the packaging. I didn’t bother looking at the directions. It was simple, point and stab, right? I’d never used an EpiPen before.
Her eyes grew wide. Was it fear or relief? She lifted the hem of her dress, exposing her creamy thigh. She was shaking but nodded.
I reached up and cupped her face with one hand. “Baby, it’s going to be—” I stabbed her right thigh with the EpiPen “—just fine, okay. See? It’s already working.” It wasn’t. Not yet, but she didn’t need to know that. I heard the telltaleclickof the pen and I knew it worked. Only a little bead of red marked her thigh when I pulled it away.
She nodded, obviously trying to slow her breathing. I ran around to the driver’s side and peeled out of the parking lot. There was an urgent care nearby, and I fumbled with my phone but Eliza grabbed it from my hands and pulled up the directions. We were there and sitting in a room in less than twelve minutes.
Her tears had left a few streak marks of makeup. She sat on the table, looking like a beautiful, disheveled mess. I probably looked worse. They’d given her another shot of epinephrine and were planning on monitoring her for an hour or two. She was busy trying to fill out paperwork. I was busy pacing because my heart rate would not slow down.
“Eliza, I’m so sorry.”
