The Light to My Darkness

21

Sunday

"I feel like this is a bad idea," Hailey said as I caught up to her on the sidewalk. "It's all fun and games when everyone is single, but we're all married or soon to be. What is Jen's goal here? Does she want Mason and Bee to break up?"

I laughed. "No way. She loves Bee. Jen just likes having fun. And getting her way. Maybe I should have consulted with her on the original party planning process and she wouldn't have felt excluded."

"The Hunters are all so high maintenance."

She did realize that I was technically a Hunter too, right? "I don't really think that's true," I said.

"I was just joking, geez." She squeezed my shoulder. "You don't have to act all defensive. I'm going to go see if I can shut this thing down." She ran ahead of me on the sidewalk to catch up to Jen and Bee.

That was rather snarky. Usually Hailey was always so nice. Was she mad at me? I had a sinking feeling in my stomach. What if Tyler told her about my books? I bit the inside of my lip. That couldn't be it. She knew Tyler and I had a history. We were all friends now. And honestly, it didn't seem like anyone was ever going to read my books anyway. James had been bugging me to read it for ages, but when I finally gave him permission he hadn't even touched my manuscript. Ow. Please stop kicking me, little dude.

I had fallen way behind everyone walking to the bar. Part of me just wanted to hail down a taxi. The only thing that kept me going was that I knew James was at the bar. He could take me home. I wasn't going to partake in anything like what they had made me do for my bachelorette party. Thinking about that awful weekend made me want to start crying. I didn't want Hailey to be mad at me. I just wanted that nap that Daphne and I had discussed. Today had been exhausting. Bed rest was starting to sound more and more appealing.

To my dismay, my friends crossed the street up ahead. Damn it. Why were they crossing the street when there was a perfectly good bar just a little farther on this side of the street? I sighed as I crossed the street to follow them. I wasn't supposed to be walking around in this heat. James was going to be so mad at me. I slowly opened the door to the bar. The blast of cold air felt refreshing, but the smell of stale beer instantly made me feel nauseous. I placed my hand on my stomach. Don't worry, I'm going to get you out of here. I spotted my friends in the corner. As I made my way toward them, I pulled out my phone and sent a text to James asking him to come get me.

"I'm really sorry, but I have to get going in a second," I said as I joined them at the table.

"Time for shots!" Jen yelled and slid one down the table at Bee.

Bee grabbed my arm. "You can't leave me here with them. You're my matron of honor."

A month ago I would have stayed. A month ago it didn't feel like my heart physically hurt. "I'm sorry, Bee. I'm just really tired. I'm gonna call it a day."

She got a worried look on her face.

"Oh come on," Jen said. "What else would you be doing? You just sit around all day."

I swallowed hard. Why was everyone taking jabs at me today? f**k. I put my hand on the center of my chest. The pain is in my head. It's just in my head.

"Jen," Bee said defensively.

"Well that's not true." Hailey reached out and grabbed the shot in front of Bee. "She's been writing. Right, Penny?" She downed the shot.

Yup, Hailey's definitely mad at me.

"Yes, her great romance," Bee's friend Marie said and lifted her shot glass. "I still can't wait to read it. I've been waiting to buy that for forever. When are you going to get it out into the world? I need my signed copy."

"I'm trying to get a deal with a publisher," I said, thankful that someone wasn't insulting me.

I glanced at Hailey. She was staring down at the table like she was in some sort of trance with the wood finish. Why did every bachelorette party I attended end up with arguments about Tyler? Unfortunately, I didn't have enough energy to discuss this with her right now. It would have to wait for another day. Maybe a few days to vent would be for the best.

It suddenly felt hard to breathe. The bar and it's blaring music was stifling. "Okay, I'm going to get going." I slid off my stool. Another sharp pain seemed to sear through my chest. f**k that hurts.

"Actually, I'm going to head out with Penny," Daphne said. "Us pregnant girls need to stick together."

There were more protests, but Daphne had looped her arm through mine and was directing me toward the door. She was like my savior.

"Thank you," I said as we exited into the summer heat.

"Are you okay?"

"What?"

"Penny, you looked like you were going to throw up. And your face got really pale. And you kept putting your hand on your chest. Should I call your doctor? Is your chest hurting? You don't look well."

Why did everyone keep telling me how awful I looked? I grabbed my stomach as my son decided to kick me as hard as he could. Maybe I did feel a little nauseous. I tried to swallow down the lump in my throat.

"What's going on?" James' voice instantly calmed me down. He had materialized from out of nowhere. He looped his arm behind my back. "Baby, tell me what's hurting."

Yes his presence calmed me, but Daphne was right. "I don't feel good," I said as I melted into his side.

I heard him snap his fingers and the sound of rubber squeaking against the asphalt. "Call Dr. Nelson and tell him we're going to the ER," he said to someone. I wasn't even sure who he was talking to.

He lifted me into his arms and the smell of fresh leather soon washed away the scent of his strong cologne. I turned my head into his chest so that I could be engulfed in his familiar smell. The car door slammed and the tires squealed on the street.

"Baby, don't close your eyes." James gently tapped the side of my face.

I opened my eyes and looked up at James, a line of worry etched across his forehead. "I'm sorry," I said.

He lowered his eyebrows as he looked down at me. "You always have had a habit of apologizing when you've done nothing wrong."

I tried to smile but the pain made me wince. Hadn't I done something wrong? I wasn't supposed to be out. I should have been in bed today. "Is the baby going to be okay?" Tears were starting to well in my eyes. He has to be okay.