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Emmett balls a napkin and tosses it at his best friend. “Will you finally get it over with, Fernandez? I want to go and dance with my wife. Not that you’d know anything about that since your ass is still single.”
People burst into laughter, and I can’t help but join in.
“Oh, now you’ve done it. You know what’s the first thing your golden boy did the moment he saw Katherine here? He fell on his ass, quite literally, and not at all spectacularly. It was just a random August afternoon; we were out on the field practicing when he spotted her. Just as I threw the football at him, it knocked him right in the head, but I guess we’re all lucky he’s got a really thick skull on him, right?”
I giggle, my eyes meeting Emmett’s, who’s also laughing while shaking his head.
“Makes one wonder if he’d have fallen so hard so fast if it weren’t for me, so I guess I’m also part of the reason for their love story. Wouldn’t you say?”
Cheering erupts from the crowd, all people smiling widely. Emmett’s hand covers mine giving it a squeeze.
“I know, I know. I’m the best friend he could have asked for.”
“Oh, I got so lucky with you,” Emmett comments dryly.
“Of course you did. But joking aside, I’ve never seen two people more perfect for each other. Most people are kids when they’re seventeen, and hardly anybody thinks about life outside of high school, but even then, Emmett knew Kate was his future, his life, and he didn’t waver from his path, not once. He fought for his girl, and he got her in the end.” His glance shifts to Becky for a moment, and they just stare at one another. Miguel shakes his head and lifts his glass. “To Kate and Emmett. To many more years together, filled with love. I wish you all the best, guys.”
Our guests lift their glasses in a toast, and I do the same, pretending to take a sip of the champagne, but when the smell reaches my nostrils, I feel my stomach roll.
Shit, not now.
“I have to go to the bathroom,” I tell Emmett, pushing my chair back abruptly as I get to my feet. All heads turn toward me, so I force out a smile as I feel a cold sweat wash over me.
“You, okay? You look a little bit pale?”
I nod wordlessly as I turn around and try to walk as inconspicuously as possible toward the house. The moment I’m out of sight, I dash for the door.
“Kate?” I hear somebody call my name, but I don’t have a moment to lose as I open the door to the bathroom and slip inside. I barely have enough time to brace my hands against the toilet seat before I start throwing up.
Great, just great.
Whoever gave morning sickness its name was a fucking idiot. Probably a man too. Because there is nothing that ties the damn thing to the specific time of day.
“Kate.” Becky knocks on the door, her voice coming out muffled. “Are you okay?”
“F-fine,” I breathe as I let out a shaky exhale.
“Bullshit,” Becky chimes immediately. “What’s really going on? You’re clearly not fine.”
“Just had to use the bathroom, that’s all.”
Weighing my options, I push upright once I decide there is nothing else left for me to throw up and flush the toilet.
“That’s why you left in such a hurry? Because you had to pee?”
I don’t miss the note of skepticism in her voice, but I couldn’t tell her. Not yet.
“Yup.”
Turning on the faucet, I wash my hands as I look at my reflection in the mirror. My face is pale, a few beads of sweat clinging to my forehead. My hair is a mess, a few strands curling around my face from running.
I grab my toothbrush and then rinse my mouth with mouthwash for good measure, trying to be as quiet and quick as possible so Becky doesn’t overhear me.
“I don’t believe you.” There is a soft thud against the hardwood. “What’s really going on? This is the second time today you’ve run off like that.”
“I could say the same.”
Closing the faucet, I take the towel and dry my hands before I try to make myself look presentable.
