Page 6 of Violent Little Thing

I’d do anything for her, even break my diet.

I waved off the next forkful and said, “I can’t eat anything more, baby.”

Lauri pouted, but took another bite of the cake herself, her eyes rolling back in her head in bliss.

I smiled.

I loved watching my wife enjoy her food, even if I didn’t like the food myself.

“Everything okay?” the waiter asked as he came back with a white towel draped over his wrist.

“Everything was perfect!” Lauri declared. “Thank you so much.”

The waiter smiled. “Would you like the check, sir?”

“I would.” I nodded.

He left, coming back a few minutes later with a check for the food we’d consumed.

I winced inwardly at the price.

A thousand bucks for two people.

That was insane.

I gave him my Amex card anyway and he hurried away.

Fifteen minutes later, our car was being pulled around by the valet.

He handed me my keys, and I took a step toward the car and felt my feet trip on the sidewalk.

“You okay?” Lauri asked.

I nodded, my hand going to the hood of the car. “I’m fine.”

Except I felt sort of weird.

Kind of like the last time that I’d had carbs for a celebration at the end of a season.

I’d felt so off then that I’d gotten a ride home from the bar instead of driving home. I’d fallen into bed and woken up the next morning feeling like utter dog shit.

She got inside, thanks to the valet opening her door for her, and I dropped into my seat.

When I started to pull forward, I got the feeling that something was wrong.

I stopped for a long moment at the entrance of the restaurant and said, “Lauri, I think you might need to drive.”

She’d never driven when she was in my company. I’d always preferred to drive, and she was content to allow me to drive.

But today…

“Absolutely not.” Lauri laughed. “You’re the man. You drive.”

“No, really,” I said as my head started to pound. “Something’s wrong.”

“Emory, you’re completely fine.” She blew me off.

“Then we should call a cab…”