“She hits on him in front of everyone,” Meg continues. “And if she wasn’t such a…hmm…” She scrunches up her nose trying to come up with the right word.
“Persistent?” Jules offers.
“Well, let me put it this way. I wouldn’t say she’s a slut, but her favorite shade of lipstick is penis.”
“Oh my God!” Brynna cries, busting up laughing with the rest of us.
These people are freaking hilarious!
“What’s her number?” Mark asks with a wide, charming grin. “I’ll take her off your hands, man.”
“Trust me”—Meg shakes her head while laughing—“she’s kind of psycho. Once she sinks her claws in, shaking her off is nearly impossible.”
“Oh, yeah, you can keep her.” Mark laughs and sips on a beer. “I don’t want anyone permanent.”
“You’re disgusting.” Sam scowls at her brother.
“Just honest.”
“So what are you going to do about her?” Caleb asks. His hand is planted on Brynna’s belly.
I glance up at Matt to find him watching his brother with happy eyes.
Could she be?
“Ignore her,” Will mumbles. “And take security with me every time I go to the hospital.”
“Are you okay?” Caleb asks Brynna.
“I’m fine, sailor. Stop worrying.”
“What’s going on with you two?” Dominic asks.
“Yeah, you’ve been doting on her all day,” Natalie agrees. Luke leans in and whispers in Nat’s ear then nibbles on her neck, and her eyes go wide. “No way.”
“Dude, is she pregnant or something?” Mark demands.
Brynna blushes bright red, and Caleb sighs deeply.
“She is!” Jules cries.
“You didn’t tell me!” Stacy accuses her with angry eyes. “Oh God, you’re going to have a baby!”
“We weren’t going to say anything,” Brynna begins, but her eyes fill with tears. “It’s super early. I haven’t even been to the doctor yet.”
“When did you find out?” Natalie asks.
“On our last day in Tuscany,” Caleb replies. “The stick says I knocked her up.”
“You’re so classy.” Jules rolls her eyes and looks over at Matt. “You knew!”
“I was sworn to secrecy,” he replies calmly.
I take a deep breath and realize that I’m a bit shaky. I didn’t eat much this morning and barely picked at the food at lunch because my nerves got the better of me, being around Matt’s family for the first time.
Stupid!
I know better. The conversation continues around me, but I no longer really hear what they’re saying.
How am I going to get through this without drawing attention to myself?
My breathing and heart rate have increased, and I’m starting to feel woozy.
This one has come on fast.
“Hey, are you okay, baby?” Matt asks and tilts my face back to meet his gaze. He frowns down at me. “You don’t look so good.”
“I think I just need to eat something,” I reply and pull myself out of his arms, but as soon as I stand, I have to grip the back of the chair so I don’t fall. My head is spinning.
My sugars have crashed.
Fuck.
“Hey, hey, hey, baby.” Matt stands and helps me down into a chair.
I push my head down between my knees and focus on my breathing.
“What’s wrong? You’re scaring me, Nic.”
“For fuck’s sake, is she preggo, too?” Mark demands. “What is it with this family?”
“I don’t think that’s it,” Meg replies and kneels next to me. “Nic, are you diabetic?”
“Yeah,” I whisper. “I don’t think I ate enough today.”
“Someone run inside and grab her a sandwich and a glass of orange juice,” Meg orders sternly.
“On it,” Dominic announces and breaks into a run to the house.
“When was the last time you checked your sugars?” Meg asks and caresses my back in long, slow strokes.
“This morning. Every morning,” I reply and focus on breathing. The shaking is worse now.
“Maybe we should take her to the hospital,” Matt announces. His voice is as hard as steel.
He’s angry.
“She’ll be okay in a few minutes,” Meg assures him as Dominic returns and passes me the juice. “Slow sips. We don’t want you to spike.”
I take a bite of the sandwich first and then sip the juice, feeling foolish.
“I’m okay,” I assure everyone. “Really.”
“You almost passed out, sweetheart,” Will responds. “We’ll feel better if you just sit here for a few and eat.”
“Why didn’t you eat earlier?” Jules asks, concerned as she looks between me and Matt.
“Nerves.” I shrug. “New people. I’m shy.”
“Jesus,” Matt whispers and paces away from me.
“Are you on meds?” Meg asks and checks my pulse.
“No.” I shake my head. “I manage it with diet and exercise.”
“That’s why you don’t eat your cupcakes,” Leo says, his eyes also worried.
I stop sipping the juice to look around. All of these beautiful people are gathered around me, worried, watching me as though they might have to save my life any second.
They care about me.
“Like I said, too much sugar,” I reply and take another bite of the turkey sandwich Dominic delivered. “I haven’t had an episode like this in years. Honest.” I look up at Matt, but his face is hard, and his eyes are angry. “I take very good care of myself.”
The shaking has stopped, and my heart rate has returned to normal as I finish the sandwich.
“I’m sorry I worried everyone.”
“Do you need to lie down?” Luke asks.
“No.” I shake my head again and smile at the handsome former actor. “I’m really fine.”
“You’re not fine,” Matt responds in a cold voice.
“Matt…” Isaac begins, but Matt cuts him off with a harsh look.
“You should have told me.”
I look around again and firm my chin, raising it and squaring my shoulders. He will not shame me in front of these people.
“You never asked,” I reply just as coldly. “I’m fine, Matt.”
“I think she could use another sandwich,” Meg suggests with a knowing look at Matt.