Page 194 of The Night Shift
Chapter 37
Holly
Sixteen hours later
Hotel room
“I need to call off the wedding.”
I crouch next to the small mirror on the desk, swiping a final coat of gloss over my lips. “Finally, some common sense. I’ll ask Theo to bring the car out front.”
April whirls away from the full-length mirror, the skirt of her red satin dress swishing dramatically around her legs. “Don’t joke, Holly! Look at this!” She jabs a finger at her cheek. “I have a fuckingzitthe night before my wedding!”
“I genuinely can’t see a thing.”
“It’s the under-the-skin type! I can feel my heartbeat in it.” She prods at her face like that’s somehow going to help. “Ugh, how I wish I was Sue Storm right now.”
“Sue who?”
“Sue Storm. The Invisible Woman?” Her tone implies that I’m the dumb one for not knowing who that is. Then, as if I’m no longer in the room, she keeps talking to herself. “Though I don’tknow if Reed Richards is my type. I’m more of a Peter Parker girl. Evidently.” She’s blushing as she mumbles the last part.
“Great. Can I be the person who kicks Peter Parker’s ass for being late to his own rehearsal dinner?”
She shoots me a look through her reflection.
“Fine, seriously injure, whatever.”
“He isn’t late,” she says, now fussing with her updo. “He’s gone to pick up Mom and Dad.”
Right. Because driving four miles from their house to the hotel issucha trek. My phone rings. It’s charging on the nightstand.
I chuck my lip gloss on the bed and walk over to answer it. The screen flashes:Cami. I glance at April quickly as I press answer. “Hey, what’s up?”
“I miss you,” she says immediately.
I huff a quiet laugh. “Are you drunk?”
“I wish. I’m still at work. Closing again. Honestly, I should just start paying rent here.”
There’s some background noise — muffled and distant. Sounds like faint elevator music.
“What about you?” she asks. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing, just getting dressed for the rehearsal dinner.”
“Oh, that’s right! April’s getting married tomorrow!” There’s some more noise — people chattering. “Is she nervous?”
“A little,” I say. “Hey, Cam, can I call you later? We’re actually kind of late.”
“Oh. Oh, yeah, sure. My face is fine, by the way, thanks for asking.”
Fuck.
I’d completely forgotten. Guilt cracks through me like a fault line. “You’re taking the painkillers as needed? And the antibiotics? It’s important to take them on time to prevent infection.”
“Yes, Mom. I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”
I breathe out. Good. “I really wish you were here,” I say softly, just for her.
