Page 95 of Fit for Love

Ashton’s jaw flexes.“Later.Right now, I’m going to see my sister.”

Grabbing my hand again, he strides over to the reception desk, where we learn where to find Jordan and provide our IDs to get visitors’ passes.

A short walk later, we stop next to a bed with a swollen-looking Jordan—who beams a megawatt smile at her brother and then at me.

“You’re here,” she says, her words slightly slurred.

He puts his hand over hers.“Of course.”

“You really didn’t have to come all this way,” she says.“This is just allergies.”

He gives her a glare.“You know anaphylaxis can kill you, right?”

She sighs.“So the doctor just said.”

“What else did he say?”Ashton demands.

“He thinks I reacted to my morning bacon.”

“Bacon?”he asks incredulously.

She nods.“Said this might happen if I eat any meat from a mammal.But obviously, more tests are needed to be sure.”

“All… mammals?”Ashton looks dubious.

“I know,” she says.“If I were a cannibal, I’d be screwed.”

Ashton frowns.“This is serious.”

“I know,” Jordan says.“The next time I get tuna, I’ll have to make sure it’s dolphin free for the sake of self-preservation.”

“How could you just become allergic to meat all of a sudden?”he asks.“You’ve always eaten it without any problems.”

“It’s that stupid tick,” Jordan says.“That’s what clued the doctor in.He thinks I developed something called alpha-gal syndrome—and no, that doesn’t mean I’m the type of gal who can lead a pack of werewolves.”

Ashton runs a hand through his hair.“I’ve never heard of that.”

“Me neither,” Jordan says.

“I’m so sorry,” I chime in.“That sounds horrible.”

Jordan waves that away.“I can still eat fowl and seafood.Or maybe I’ll become vegan—and finally prove that I’m better than everyone else.”

“Whatever diet you decide on, I know a good nutritionist who can help you make a meal plan,” Ashton says.

Jordan wrinkles her nose.“Speaking of unpleasant things, did you run into our parental units and Gwyneth on your way here?”

“Yes.”He grimaces.“I can’t believe Dad called her.”

“I can,” Jordan says.Turning my way, she adds, “Not sure if Ashton filled you in, but Gwyneth is the woman our parents wanted him to marry.They started pushing for it almost as soon as Ashton started dating her back in college, and they kept pushing for it even after Ashton broke up with her.They just couldn’t accept that Ashton wasn’t ready for such a serious commitment, and especially not with a stage-five clinger like Gwyneth.”

Seeing my shocked expression, she nods.“I’m not kidding.And telling us whom to marry is just the tip of the iceberg.They wanted us to go to the school they chose, get jobs they approved of, and?—”

“And your life would only be the better for it,” says their father, who’s clearly part ninja.

I turn and see both of his parents here, but thankfully, Gwyneth is not with them.

Which is good, because, for no reason that I can explain, I want to locate a scalpel and stab a bitch.

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