Page 31 of The Light to My Darkness (The Light to My Darkness 1)

"Jen," Bee said defensively.

"Well that's not true." Hailey reached out and grabbed the shot in front of Bee. "She's been writing. Right, Penny?" She downed the shot.

Yup, Hailey's definitely mad at me.

"Yes, her great romance," Bee's friend Marie said and lifted her shot glass. "I still can't wait to read it. I've been waiting to buy that for forever. When are you going to get it out into the world? I need my signed copy."

"I'm trying to get a deal with a publisher," I said, thankful that someone wasn't insulting me.

I glanced at Hailey. She was staring down at the table like she was in some sort of trance with the wood finish. Why did every bachelorette party I attended end up with arguments about Tyler? Unfortunately, I didn't have enough energy to discuss this with her right now. It would have to wait for another day. Maybe a few days to vent would be for the best.

It suddenly felt hard to breathe. The bar and it's blaring music was stifling. "Okay, I'm going to get going." I slid off my stool. Another sharp pain seemed to sear through my chest. Fuck that hurts.

"Actually, I'm going to head out with Penny," Daphne said. "Us pregnant girls need to stick together."

There were more protests, but Daphne had looped her arm through mine and was directing me toward the door. She was like my savior.

"Thank you," I said as we exited into the summer heat.

"Are you okay?"

"What?"

"Penny, you looked like you were going to throw up. And your face got really pale. And you kept putting your hand on your chest. Should I call your doctor? Is your chest hurting? You don't look well."

Why did everyone keep telling me how awful I looked? I grabbed my stomach as my son decided to kick me as hard as he could. Maybe I did feel a little nauseous. I tried to swallow down the lump in my throat.

"What's going on?" James' voice instantly calmed me down. He had materialized from out of nowhere. He looped his arm behind my back. "Baby, tell me what's hurting."

Yes his presence calmed me, but Daphne was right. "I don't feel good," I said as I melted into his side.

I heard him snap his fingers and the sound of rubber squeaking against the asphalt. "Call Dr. Nelson and tell him we're going to the ER," he said to someone. I wasn't even sure who he was talking to.

He lifted me into his arms and the smell of fresh leather soon washed away the scent of his strong cologne. I turned my head into his chest so that I could be engulfed in his familiar smell. The car door slammed and the tires squealed on the street.

"Baby, don't close your eyes." James gently tapped the side of my face.

I opened my eyes and looked up at James, a line of worry etched across his forehead. "I'm sorry," I said.

He lowered his eyebrows as he looked down at me. "You always have had a habit of apologizing when you've done nothing wrong."

I tried to smile but the pain made me wince. Hadn't I done something wrong? I wasn't supposed to be out. I should have been in bed today. "Is the baby going to be okay?" Tears were starting to well in my eyes. He has to be okay.

"The baby is fine," James said very matter-of-factly. He cupped my face in his hand and glanced at the front of the car. "Put your fucking foot on the gas, William!"

The car lurched forward.

The baby is fine. So that meant I wasn't fine, right? But if I wasn't okay, the baby wasn't either. I squeezed my eyes shut as it felt like someone was stabbing my heart.

"Penny, please open your eyes."

I looked back up at him. There was fear in his gaze. "It hurts." My voice came out as a whimper.

"What hurts, Penny?" He pushed my hair off my forehead.

"My heart." I knew what heartache felt like. I knew how painful that could be. But it wasn't like this. It felt as though my heart was literally breaking, cracking in two.

He clutched me a little tighter. "Okay, baby. We'll be there any second. Please just keep looking at me."

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