The Odd One Out at Halloween

Chapter 2

"Felicity, move a little closer to Conrad. That's it. Smile."

As I opened the door to the private dining room, one of our friends lifted an instant camera and snapped a picture of the two of them at the head of the table.

King crab and lobster covered the table. A large platter of freshly steamed scallops sat in the center, still giving off clouds of steam.

My hand was wrapped in gauze. I looked at Conrad.

"You know how severe my seafood allergy is. I can't even be around the smell."

My best friend, Marissa Keene, answered for him. "We're celebrating Felicity's birthday tonight. Can't you put up with it and find something to eat?"

Felicity lowered her head and smiled, making the necklace at her throat sway.

"They insisted on celebrating early. I told them they didn't have to."

Conrad jerked his chin toward the empty chair beside the steaming platter.

"Are you going to guard the doorway all night? Sit down. Stop making everyone wait for you."

It was the only seat left.

As I sat, Conrad rolled up his sleeves, exposing the faint scar on his wrist.

For my birthday during our first year together, he'd turned down dinner invitations from all his older relatives and hidden in the kitchen to learn how to make soup. The pot had tipped, spilling boiling water over the back of his hand.

That night, he'd raised his blistered hand and smiled at me.

"From now on, Nadine, I'll be the first person by your side on every birthday."

Now he was peeling shrimp, one after another, to celebrate Felicity's birthday.

"Conrad, do you remember what today is?"

I kept my voice low, but it still shook.

He paused, pulled out a napkin to wipe his hands, then fished a velvet box from his jacket pocket and tossed it across the table.

"Our third anniversary. I didn't forget."

One of our friends gave an appreciative whistle. "Conrad remembered, Nadine. Don't be ungrateful."

Inside the box lay a pearl brooch.

That afternoon, Felicity had posted a picture of it beside her necklace on her feed.

The sales associate threw in a brooch too. Too bad I have no use for it.

So that was my gift. It was something she didn't want.

I pushed the box back to the middle of the table. At last, my tears spilled over.

"This was the free gift that came with her necklace, wasn't it?"

The room went silent.

Felicity's eyes reddened. She reached behind her neck to undo the clasp.

"It's my fault, Nadine. Take the necklace. I don't deserve something this expensive anyway..."

Conrad slammed his fork onto the table.

"Enough, Nadine! It's the thought that counts. Do you have to take what belongs to Felicity to be happy?"

He lowered his head and picked up another shrimp.

My throat began to tighten. My neck itched, and when I touched it, I felt raised hives under my fingers.

"I'm going to get some allergy medicine."

Behind me, Felicity muttered, "She's always like this. Say one thing she doesn't like, and she runs away."

I'd barely reached the bend in the hallway when someone caught my wrist from behind.

Conrad's voice softened for once. "Stop sulking. Everyone was finally having a good time. Come back and apologize to Felicity. I'll take you to a movie next week, just the two of us. Okay?"

He'd been making that same empty promise from summer into winter.

"Conrad, my neck is covered in hives. Can't you see?"

He frowned and had just glanced at my neck when a scream came from the dining room.

"Ah!"

His hand released me instantly.

He ran back without another word.

I was left alone in the hallway, gasping for breath.

I couldn't remember how I reached the pharmacy afterward.

All I remembered was the clerk looking at my neck in alarm and making me take the medicine on the spot.

Then my phone chimed with a message.