Page 312 of As the Rain Falls
I join in, chuckling quietly, “I hear that’s not part of her vocabulary, no.”
But when I look up, I find Angelina still staring at us.Her gaze has softened around the edges, almost like an artist appreciating her work on display. And if I think she’s trying to fight off what seems to be like the most radiant smile I’ve ever seen, nobody else needs to know.
It’ll just ruin her reputation as the biggest Ice Queen in the world, anyway.
***
The hot weather is slowly making me lose my mind.
The girls and Antony don’t seem to be sharing any of my desperation and are definitely having fun dancing. I watch as he spins Angelina around, making her laugh openly. Cassandra and Kayla are mimicking one of the dancers, acting as if they’re part of the parade.
Mateo gasps next to me.
“Fuck, I think I’m going to be sick.”
Still watching over the girls, I let out a little short laugh.
“Tell me about it.”
“No, dude. I’mactuallyabout to—” He bends over, making a throaty sound. My head snaps towards him, and I watch him start coughing compulsively until his face turns red.
“Okay, let it out, man.” I grimace when he spits a bit of saliva. “It’s the heat. Still not used to it, huh?”
My first instinct is to offer to drive him home, but he waves me off. “I think I’ll just have to sit this one out until we head to the beach.”
Checking one last time to see if Cassandra is okay, I find her looking at me already.Her eyebrows shoot up, forming a frown.
What’s up?She mouths.
I shake my head side to side, starting to drag our friend away from the crowd. Mateo and I walk back to my car, and I stay close, making sure he doesn’t throw up on himself.
“You can go back, man,” he says, bending forward still to keep his head between his knees. “I’m fine.”
“I’m not leaving you.” I roll my eyes, knowing he’s not. “Stomach pain?”
“It’s my everything, dude,” he groans and a sharp exhale follows. “I had a drink for the first time yesterday. Bad idea.”
I frown. “Alone?”
“No, I was out at Silvio’s.” Mateo shrugs, before he insists. “And it was justonedrink. It’s not like I was being stupid or anything.”
“Just a drink? That’s bullshit.” I snort, not entirely convinced by his bluff. “Mateo, a drink wouldn’t give you a hangover unless you were suddenly the biggest lightweight in the fucking universe. How much did you really drink?”
“I…” he trails off, side-eyeing me now. When I don’t budge, unimpressed by this strong act he’s trying to put off, his face falls, showing me just how bad he really feels. “I don’t fucking know, okay? I can’t fucking remember what happened.”
“Okay.” I pull his head back down, not wanting to see his pale face anymore.
“Okay?” he repeats after me, surprised that I’m not being pushy about it.
“What? Just don’t throw up on my feet, or I’ll have to punch you in the face.” I feel him shake under my grip. “You just went a little overboard.”
“No, Beckett,” Mateo cries, trying to cough, but nothing comes out of him but spit. “I was out with the wrong people.”
“Yeah, it happens to the best of us.”
I let him go, fumbling to find the car keys. There’s a water bottle inside Angelina’s picnic pack, and I want to give it to him. I don’t think Mateo had any breakfast, which would explain why he’s having trouble throwing up.
“Who were you out with?” I push, acting nonchalant about it. “Didn’t they know about you not drinking?”
