Page 65 of Castle's Cards

“Yeah…I don’t know. Just one little incident, no big deal.”

Cassie frowns.

“If you’re not feeling well, maybe you should go home. There’s no reason for you to be hosting games when you’re fighting off a stomach bug.”

“No, seriously, I’m fine.” I wave off her concerns and stand, smoothing out my skirt. “I don’t want to miss out on any work just because of…”

Another wave of nausea rolls through me, and before I can stop myself, I turn and throw up again in the toilet. I guess I shouldn’t have flushed the first time. After all of it is gone, I push down on the lever but don’t turn around.

“I’m so sorry, Cass. That was embarrassing.”

She touches my shoulder, but I still don’t look up at her.

“Seriously, it’s okay. You’re always here and I know you’re sick. It’s not like you’re going to go out partying if you leave now. If you’re throwing up, you need to go home and stay home.”

I take a breath before turning to look at her. Her face is full of nothing but sympathy. How did I get so lucky to work with an amazing friend? I smile and tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.

“Thank you. I promise I’ll make it up the time.”

She squeezes my arm affectionately before we file out of the restroom. Cassie goes through the door into the club room, but I turn and find the employee exit. I don’t want to go back out there and see everyone.

The sun is bright as I get outside, and I take a breath of fresh air as I go to my car. When I pull down the mirror and look at myself, my reflection is disheveled, my hair mussed and my face pale. Guess throwing up didn’t do much for my looks.

Sighing, I pull out of the parking lot and start the drive home. I go slower than I normally would in hopes that the fresh air will mitigate another vomiting episode. When my phone rings, I cringe.

Of course someone would call me now. I pull up to a stoplight and grab my phone. The number jumps out. I have to answer it.

“Hello?”

“This is Jon Sawyer of the Illinois Department of Corrections. I am looking for Addison Hughes.”

“Speaking.”

“Miss Hughes, normally I would start with pleasantries but I’m afraid it’s best if I get straight to the point. During a routine doctor’s appointment at the prison, it was discovered that your father has advanced lung cancer.”

“Oh, my God. How will you be treating him?”

The line is so quiet that for a moment I wonder if I’ve lost service.

“Normally there would likely be some treatment options. But in this case, it’s extremely advanced. He probably only has about six months left.”

The rest of his words fall on deaf ears as I zone out. My father only has six months to live?

Someone behind me honks, and when I look up, the light has turned green. Then a wave of nausea hits me. I look at the phone, where the warden is still talking, then at the green light, then at the person behind me honking.

Then I open the door and throw up all of my feelings onto the pavement.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Carter

Theparkinglotissurprisingly full when I pull up to the club this evening. Monday’s aren’t usually this packed, but if memory serves, there’s some sort of bottle service special on Mondays now.

It’s smart marketing. If there’s one thing my brother knows how to do, it’s run a business. I find a spot near the back; I don’t want any of these drunk assholes to hit my Porsche.

Once inside the main room, I scan the various tables for Addy. She’s not among the hostesses on the floor, maybe she’s in the VIP room. That’s usually reserved for the most senior of the wait staff, but perhaps they asked Addy to fill in for someone.

“Carter! Need a drink? I’ve got a fresh bottle of Maker's Mark for an old fashioned,” the bartender calls out, winking at me as she gestures to the signature bottle with dripping red wax. I smile and wave but continue to the VIP room, not wanting to waste any time. I’ve barely seen Addy all day except for this morning when she came back from dropping off Izzy, and I’m itching to get a glimpse of the beautiful woman who holds my heart.

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