Page 72 of Vegas with my Brother’s Best Friends

Luckily, I was in my room alone so I didn’t have to explain anything to anyone. I was in the elevator in under thirty seconds, but this ride is taking too damn long.

The moment the elevator doors slide open enough for me to slip out, I dart out and rush down the hallway to the suite where the door is open and there’s quiet murmuring inside.

“Where is she?” I ask the first person I see when I enter, my pulse throbbing in my neck.

The bridesmaid points toward the center of the suite where a small group has formed around the couch.

I stride over there and pass through the opening they give me. “Cass?”

Cassidy lifts her glassy eyes as I crouch down in front of her.

I can see why the girl on the phone was so worried. Cassidy is eerily pale, and her breathing is slow but heavy. She barely looks like she’s present right now.

“Hey, I heard you’re not feeling well,” I say, my voice shifting to a gentler tone. One that I often use when dealing with hurt or scared people while I’m on the job.

Cassidy shakes her head before closing her eyes and grimacing. “I’m fine. I just…I’m tired.”

I take her wrist and place my thumb over her pulse point, concentrating on the thumps I feel through her skin. Her heart rate is elevated, but that doesn’t surprise me.

“Get her some water,” I tell Sarah as she stands to the right of me with fear written on her face. All of them look scared. “Have you been drinking any, Cass?”

“No…I…can’t,” she murmurs, her head lowering like it’s too heavy to keep up.

I press the back of my hand against her forehead. She’s sweating at this point, and her skin is warm and clammy. “Do you feel sick again? Like you ate something bad?”

“No. I’m dizzy,” Cassidy tells me, placing her hands on her temples like that’ll stabilize her.

I take the bottle of water from Sarah when she hurries back over. I twist the cap off and wrap Cassidy’s fingers around the bottle, coaxing her to drink a few sips.

“What do you think is wrong?” Becca asks me. “She seemed fine earlier. She was talking and stuff. Then, she started moving a lot and ended up like this.”

I’ve done my fair share of medical training for my job, but I’m not a doctor. I wish I wasn’t the only first responder in the bridal party.

That doesn’t mean I’m going to give up, though.

“I know she’s been overworking herself,” I reply before gently taking Cassidy’s chin and tilting her head up so that I can meet her gaze. “Have you eaten anything today?”

Cassidy swallows hard. “I was eating a slider.”

“You had like two bites, Cass,” Sarah says. “She hasn’t eaten anything else for the entire party.”

“Did you eat anything earlier today? Lunch? Breakfast?” I ask Cassidy, realization creeping in.

Cassidy shakes her head with a wince. “I wasn’t hungry.”

I’ve barely seen her take more than a few bites of whatever she’s eating when we’re out at brunch or dinner together. I didn’t think much of it because I thought she was eating more during other meals.

“Why aren’t you eating enough?” I question her, concern slicing into my heart like a glass shard. How did I miss this?

“I want to lay down,” she says.

“You need to eat something. No wonder you almost fainted,” I tell her before looking over at Sarah and the other bridesmaids. “Grab her something to eat. Something light.”

“I don’t want to eat anything,” Cassidy protests.

“You have to,” I say firmly as I cup the frame of her face. “You can’t just not eat. You’re hurting yourself!”

Cassidy’s eyes start to water, her bottom lip trembling slightly.