AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Okay, okay, I know, an upset in the crowd. Let’s see how they do with this one.Who–” Caroline smiles devilishly, “is better at keeping secrets?”
I laugh. And Chase laughs. We both laugh ourselves to tears. And then we both hold up both shoes.
After the shoe game, Gram is declared the winner although my mother is adamant Gram cheated. Apparently, my mother doesn’t care if she lives or dies because Gram doesnotlike to be accused of anything. Even if it might be true.
Everything seems to fall apart at once. Caroline throws a fit that no one knows how to have fun, Chase’s father starts complaining that the champagne isn’t flowing fast enough, and my mom and Gram are bickering.
I pay no mind to any of it. Because my body is on fire.
The dull ache quickly progressed to terrible cramping. I couldn’t even pay attention to Caroline’s last few questions. I answered them randomly, without effort. Maybe I’m the reason the game got screwed up.
I manage to slip away to the dessert table, not bothering with putting my shoes back on. Food doesn’t make me feel better, but maybe a little chocolate éclair will give me a burst of dopamine. Keep me from total collapse.
However, once I have the tiny éclair in hand, I can only stare at it. I have to concentrate on breathing through the pain.
Not here, please not here.
“Are you in a staring contest with that éclair?”
I turn to find Chase at the end of the dessert table, having also escaped the mayhem that is our wedding shower. “Oh, no, I –” It even hurts to string words together. “I thought I wanted it, but I can’t seem to eat it.”
Chase takes a few tentative steps toward me. “Are you okay?”
I’m of two minds. I can tell him that I’m fine. And muscle the rest of my way through this event, just like I muscled my way through breakfast with Gram. Or I could tell him the truth and… risk him telling me I just have to muscle through it.
Ah, screw it. I’m going to have to muscle through it no matter what.
“I’m…” I put the éclair down and put a hand to my lower belly. “I’m in a lot of – a lot of pain right now.”
Chase’s eyes drop to my hand and then return to my face. “Because of your –”
“Yeah, it was dull at first, but it’s just gotten worse really fast.”
“Can I do anything?”
I try to smile. That’s sweet of him. But fruitless. “No, it’s fine. I just need a minute.”
Chase looks back at the party. “We’ve ditched our own party before. We can do it again.”
Even through the haze of pain, I get a swell of excitement inside me. The last time we ditched our own party, we slept together. And that was a much better situation than having to walk away because I’m in pain. “Chase, it’s fine. I’ll be out there in a minute. You go… deal with them.”
He comes a bit closer, close enough that I could reach out and pull myself into his chest and live there the rest of my life. “Hey, Jude, I’m telling you honestly that if you want to step away and take care of this, that’s okay. No one’s going to be upset.” He touches my shoulder. Despite the comfort of his touch, it feels like he’s a sports coach giving me a pep talk. “Especially not me.”
Earnest. Chase has always been earnest. I don’t know if it translates in a courtroom, but it’s gotten him far enough. “Are you sure?” I ask, my voice growing small and tears piling up in the corners of my eyes.
“Of course, I’m sure. You don’t need to sit here and suffer through this. Not more than we already are.”
I laugh, but that fit of energy causes a shooting pain deep inside me. I gasp and clutch my stomach again.
“Yeah, it’s obvious you need to rest. Come on –” He starts to guide me further away from the party.
“No, no, it’s okay. I’ll drive myself home. It will be –”
“I’m not letting you drive home like this. You can lay down in the house.”
“I couldn’t.”
“Why not? It’s partly yours, in a way.” Again, the earnestness. I swear for a second I actually believe there might be an actual relationship between us.
