Page 41 of The First Best Man

“I don’t know,” he says. “She’s been sick all morning, but I couldn’t talk her out of skipping today. Maybe now, she’ll agree to go home and rest.”

The rest of us stare at each other after he rushes out, then Blaine blurts, “Is she pregnant, or something?”

“No,” Kate says quickly, then firmer, “No. There’s no way.”

I nod at Kate, accepting the statement as fact. She and Penny are incredibly close, so if anyone besides Logan would know if it’s possible, Kate would be the one. Plus, Penny was drinking yesterday––and has been all week––and if there wereanychance Penny were pregnant, she wouldn’t imbibe. At all.

“She texted me this morning to tell me she was sick all night,” Kate adds, then looks at me. “I wonder if she got food poisoning, or something.”

My own brow furrows at that. We all ate the same thing yesterday, and none of the rest of us got sick. I shake my head.

“We all ate the burgers and no one else is sick. Do you think she just drank too much?”

Kate shakes her head slightly. “She was pretty tipsy when they left last night, but I’ve seen her much worse, and she’s never been sick like this the next day.”

Logan re-enters the room, his face etched withconcern. “She should be back in a minute. She’s just washing up.”

“Did you guys go somewhere else after you left my place last night?” Kate asks, and Logan cocks his head.

“Yes, actually. Penny wanted ice cream, so we stopped by The Frozen Monkey for a couple of cones.”

I’m looking at Kate, so I don’t miss the tightening of her eyes as she says, “Kaylee Harper owns that place. Was she working when you guys went in?”

“Yeah,” Logan says, his own eyes narrowing. “She served us while making snide comments about how Penny should be watching what she eats this week. So she’ll fit into the dress.”

“Bitch,” Blaine murmurs, speaking for the first time since Logan got back.

Her vehemence throws me off-guard. Is she…defending Penny? I mean, I know she’s Logan’s sister and all, but this is the first time I’ve seen proof she cares about anyone other than herself. I don’t know. Maybe I’ve been harsh with the judgment while focusing only on how Blaine interacts with me. And Kate.

“Kaylee Harper? Why does that name sound familiar?” I ask, refocusing on the conversation.

Kate’s cheeks brighten with a slight blush as she looks at me and says, “She sent her cousin to the Grill to…ask me out…the night we met. Remember?”

Oh, yeah. Douchebag Alex.

“And you think Kaylee…what? Put Ipecac syrup in Penny’s ice cream, or something?” I ask, playing devil’s advocate despite my dislike for the woman in question. “She would’ve tasted it, I think. It’s supposed to be really bitter.”

“No,” Logan says. “I had some of hers, too, and I didn’t taste anything. Plus, I never got sick.”

“Is Penny allergic to anything?” I ask, throwing out darts and hoping one will stick.

“She’s allergic to soy,” Sam chimes in. “She had a bad reaction to a protein bar that contained soy nuts back in high school. She got really sick. Everyone on the island knows––one of the benefits of living in a small town––and all the business owners know not to give Penny anything with soy in it.”

“Is it possible Kaylee gave her soymilk-based ice cream? Accidentally?”

I throw that last bit on to give the woman the benefit of the doubt, but my suspicions run darker. If she would send her cousin to sexually harass Kate and insult Penny, a customer, to her face in her own place of business, whatisn’tshe capable of?

“No,” Kate says. “She wouldn’t.”

She says the words, but her tone tells me she’s not really all that sure.

Penny walks back into the room, then, looking like hell warmed over despite her attempt to smile at us. “I’m okay, guys. Really.”

“I’m taking you home to rest,” Logan says, but Penny balks.

“No, Logan,” she whines. “We already canceled yesterday’s game, and I don’t want to ruin today’s, too. I’ll be fine. Really.”

“Logan’s right,” Kate says. “Getting you healthy and feeling great for the wedding is more important than the games. Go home and rest up. We can entertain ourselves today, Pen. It’ll be fine. I promise.”

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