Page 88 of Wedding Season
She fully faced Heather, blocking the girl from Amber’s view. “What did you do?”
Heather’s eyes went wide before she dropped her gaze to the ground. “Nothing. I can’t believe you would think—”
“Tell me. I don’t know if it’s an allergic reaction or she’s at risk for going into anaphylactic shock, but we can’t have this. The story of the Fit Collective’s first fashion show isn’t going to be a Hollywood star being hospitalized after wearing the clothes. Do you understand?”
Heather’s expression turned mulish. “It’s called Tickle Terror.”
“Excuse me?”
“Itching powder. Next-day delivery.”
“Oh, no.”
Heather looked around Mariella with a frown. “I wanted to make sure it affected her, so I used a lot.”
“Why?” Mariella whispered.
“Because she’s awful and was mean to you and...” Tears filled the girl’s eyes. “You’re my mom. One of my moms. I didn’t want her to do anything during the fashion show that made you feel bad or caused you and Alex to fight. I just...”
“It’s okay.” Mariella hugged the girl. Her stomach was rolling and pitching as she scrambled for a way to handle the situation without incurring Amber’s wrath.
The starlet was practically sobbing now.
“Somebody find an EMT or a doctor,” the assistant shouted.
“Ryan’s in the audience,” Meredith announced. “I’ll bring him back.”
“What the hell is going on?” a familiar voice demanded, and Mariella forced herself to take in rhythmic gulps of air so she wouldn’t throw up. She released Heather as Alex stalked toward them.
“I’m dying,” Amber wailed as the crowd parted to let Alex through. “Your clothes are killing me.”
“Calm down,” he said, his confused gaze switching between Amber and Mariella like she could give some insight into this complete nightmare scenario.
“I’ve done such a bad thing,” Heather whispered.
“Don’t say a word,” Mariella told the girl.
“Amber.” Alex’s voice was lethally sharp. All conversation stopped at his commanding tone. “Is this real or are you faking it for attention?”
“Faking it?” Amber continued to fidget and scratch up and down her body. At least her face hadn’t gotten any more mottled. It seemed like she could breathe okay, so whatever reaction she was having to the powder didn’t seem life-threatening.
Mariella’s heart sank even considering that as a possibility.
“My skin is burning and it feels like I just dove into a swimming pool filled with poison ivy.” Amber’s face crumpled. “This is real, Alex, and it’s bad.”
“We’ll take care of you,” he said, his voice gentler. He spun in a quick circle. “We need everyone out of the tent to start. Amber should have privacy while we figure this out.”
The crowd began to slowly disperse.
“What about the fashion show?” someone asked.
“Canceled,” Alex immediately answered.
“No,” Heather said. “You can’t do that.”
“Of course he can,” Amber countered. “No stupid line of clothes is more important than me.”
Now Mariella felt the urge to puke for an entirely different reason.
