Page 207 of The Night Shift
The officiant closes his book with a soft, satisfied smile. “By the power vested in me by the state of New York and wedfast.org, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride.”
Parker leans forward but pulls away right before kissing her.
April frowns. “What’s wrong?”
“Can I?”
She sniffs, eyes wide and glassy. “Can you what?”
Parker swallows. His ears are pink. “Can I kiss you, Chère?”
I smack my forehead.
April’s face cracks open into a big, fat radiant smile. She grabs him by the collar and kisses him.
He kisses her back deeply. Dips her a little like they do in the movies. The crowd bursts into cheers and applause. A tiny tear slides down my cheek before I can stop it. I glance at Theo. He’s already staring at me, making a dramaticOh-my-GOD-is-that-a-TEAR?face. I flip him off less discreetly this time. He laughs.
April and Parker pull apart, still holding onto each other.
A weight lifts off my shoulders. Everything went exactly how it was supposed to. No disasters. No surprises. My clutch beeps. A second later, so does Theo’s pocket.
We reach in, almost in sync. He pulls out Parker’s phone. I have April’s.
I glance at the locked screen. There’s a message notification. Preview hidden.
Uneasiness lurks in my gut. It’s probably nothing. Except then it happens again. My phone. Theo’s. And now from the guests. One by one, a wave of alerts ripples across the room. Beeps, buzzes, gasps and confused looks.
April frowns. “What’s going on?” She sees her phone in my hand. “Is that mine?”
I hand it to her.
The second she unlocks her phone and looks at the screen, her face drains of color. “Oh…oh, my god.”
“What is it?” I ask.
She doesn’t answer.
I snatch the phone back. Two messages from the same unknown contact card.
UNKNOWN: i spy with my little eye…a liar in best friend’s clothing…
Attached below is a picture of Parker’s cat. Bleeding and gutted in Theo’s arms.
Chapter 39
Theo
One hour later
12 p.m.
In hindsight, replacing the cat was a poor decision.
April led Parker inside almost immediately after it happened. Not that I blame her for it. He could barely stand. I knew he’d be upset. That part wasn’t a surprise. What I didn’t expect was how small he’d look. The way his knees gave out. Like someone had taken the structure out of him. Not just devastated but unmoored. Which is fair. Understandable, even. But it doesn’t make any of this easier to stomach.
The reception, against all odds, is still happening.
It’s noon. I’m standing at the edge of the dance floor, whiskey glass sweating in my hand, watching Holly dance with her dad.
