Page 78 of Big Stick Energy
“An episode of atrial fibrillation—an irregular heartbeat—which caused the chest pain and light-headedness. His EKG shows the rhythm has already normalized, and his blood work looks good. No signs of heart damage.”
I watch the tension drain from Darcy’s shoulders. She reaches for Kandi’s hand reflexively, and her stepmother grips it tightly.
“So what happens now?” I ask.
Dr. Abadi glances at me, then back to Kandi. “We’d like to adjust his medication. The current dosage doesn’t seem to be managing his condition as effectively as we’d like. But there’s no need to keep him overnight. He can go home with a prescription and follow up with his cardiologist next week.”
“Can we see him?” Darcy asks.
“Absolutely. In fact, you can take him home in a few minutes. He’s getting dressed now, and a nurse is reviewing his new medication schedule.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Kandi says, her voice wobbling slightly.
As the doctor leaves, Darcy turns to me. “That’s so much less horrible than I’d been thinking.”
“See? It’s going to be okay,” I say, placing a gentle hand on her lower back.
“It is. For now.” She gives me a sad smile. “Thanks for driving us here. I owe you one.”
“I’ll collect later,” I tell her with a wink that makes her cheeks flush.
She calls Theo with the update. And twenty minutes later, Harvey himself walks out. His color has improved dramatically, though he still looks exhausted and slightly embarrassed. He hugs his wife and daughter.
“Eric,” he says gruffly. “Thanks for the chauffeur service.”
“Anytime, sir.” I stand and offer my hand, which he shakes firmly.
“They’re putting me on a leash,” he grumbles, patting his shirt pocket where I assume his new prescription is stashed. “No alcohol at my own son’s wedding.”
“Dad,” Darcy says with a warning tone, “it’s a small price to pay.”
He grumbles his agreement, but it seems halfhearted. And I feel a spike of unhelpful rage.Just do what you’re supposed to, for fuck’s sake.
Maybe I’m used to feeling helpless while the people around me make bad decisions. But you don’t get to do that shit to Darcy. If I see this man with a glass of champagne tonight, we’re going to have words.
Chapter 28
More Flips than a Pancake Breakfast
Darcy
We make it back to the hotel in the early afternoon, and my father promises not to do a thing before the rehearsal dinner apart from taking a nap. “Don’t worry about me, pumpkin,” he says. “Go have fun.”
“Will do, Dad,” I say.
Eric gives me the side-eye, which probably means that it came out sounding snarkier than I intended. But I’m physically and emotionally exhausted, and I need a moment to collect myself.
“How about this,” Eric says, eyeing me from head to toe and looking strangely concerned. “I need to take a quick five-mile run, and then we’ll hang out on the beach. Maybe you’d feel better if you found a snack. Breakfast was a while ago.”
“I’ll grab something for both of us,” I announce as the elevator doors part. “And E-Train?” I stop in the middle of the carpeted hallway and put a hand on his sturdy chest. Normally, I wouldn’ttouch him there. I wouldn’t have the right. But after a night of raucous sex, all the rules have changed. “Thank you for everything. Today’s drama wasn’t supposed to be part of the itinerary.”
He doesn’t crack a joke or laugh it off the way that I expect him to. Instead, he leans forward and kisses me right in the center of the forehead. “You’re welcome, Kendrick. Anytime.”
Oh, Eric.If we keep treating each other like arealpartner, I’m going to get awfully confused. I pull out my hotel key card and swipe into our suite.
He reaches up and ruffles my hair as the lock clicks open. “You know, it’s cute the way your father calls youpumpkin. As redhead jokes go, I suppose it could be worse.”
“I don’t think it’s a redhead joke,” I say, kicking off my shoes the minute I get inside this suite.
