Fuck.
“You think he’s allergic to something in the dinner?” Aunt Brenda says. “Who’s allergic to bread crumbs and fish?”
“It’s macadamia nuts,” Addison says at the next table. “The fish has crushed macadamia nuts.”
My fingers go cold. My head gets light. And I feel like someone punched me in the stomach.
“You think he’s allergic to macadamia nuts?” Uncle Owen asks her. He’s standing on a chair. “Might be right. Look. See? Already starting to breathe again with that EpiPen injection.”
Gail drops to the ground next to Charles and cries.
Laney’s holding the back of the chair with a death grip.
Everything’s happening in slow motion and at warp speed all at once.
The kitchen staff has come running.
The resort staff has not.
The guests are all on edge, fidgeting and staying still andthis is not okay.
“Back to eating, people.” Jack and Decker move as one, clearing a space. “All’s well.”
“Still going to the hospital,” I hear Lucky reply. “But they’re right. All’s well. And you’re not gonna forget that little allergy the rest of the time here on the island. Right, Mr. K?”
“Didn’t the kitchen staff get the allergy list?” Chandler says to Emma. “What the fuck’s wrong with them?”
All’s not well.
All is not well.
I look at Laney again.
She’s not looking at me.
She’s whispering furiously with her mom.
I want to hug her. I want to take her from here and never see that horrified, shell-shocked, grief-filled look on her face ever again.
But I did this.
I picked the menu.
I didn’t see an allergy list.
And I almost killed someone who matters to the woman of my dreams.
So here the world goes again, reminding me that some dreams aren’t meant to be.
30
Laney
I am goingto throttle the crap out of Theo Monroe when I find him.
If I don’t hug him to death first.
My father’s fine. We get him to the hospital, where they treat him for an allergic reaction, and I help my mom hold it all together while he’s admitted for observation overnight.
