“Well, it wasn't all my idea,” I replied, smoothing down my shirt. “It was Kai's.”
We spent the next fifteen minutes talking and laughing. The aromas of grilled meat and garlic wafted through the open room, and I was positive we were all ready to pounce the moment Joanne and another server appeared with our entrées.
“Enjoy,” she told us with a smile, after ensuring we didn't need anything else.
“This looks freaking awesome,” Kai said cheerfully as he inspected his ribeye. The guys had warned me he could be a bit of a food snob when dining out, which he’d been happy to admit.
I stared down at my plate. I'd ordered a ribeye as well, with a baked potato and grilled asparagus. A whiff of something terrible hit me like a smack to the face, and I felt myself pale. “What's that smell?” I gritted out, trying to breathe through my mouth.
“I ordered the loaded broccoli—maybe it's that?” Cam asked, pointing with his fork at the pile of green covered liberally in melted cheese. I grabbed my glass of Diet Dr. Pepper, and took a healthy drink.
“You okay, sweetheart? You've been... a little off tonight,” Guppy asked carefully, like he was dealing with a ticking time bomb. I guess in a way, he kind of was.
“Yes,” I sighed. “I'm sorry. There's just been a lot happening. I need to just enjoy my night out with my men.”
“I agree with that statement, Goldie. Let us take care of you and show you a good night.” Bram cut into his steak just as I looked over, and I caught a glimpse of the rare meat.
“Oh gods, excuse me a moment.” I stood abruptly, nearly toppling the chair in my haste to make it to a bathroom. I didn't look back to see if anyone was following; I knew at least one of them would. I used both hands to push through the door to the ladies' room, making my way to the largest stall just in time.
Violent. That was the best word to describe what happened in that stall. I'd never been so violently ill in my entire life.
“Sprout?”
“Mmm? In here. One second,” I panted, grabbing some toilet paper and wiping my mouth. After flushing everything down, I stepped out of the stall to find Kai leaning against the wall by the sink.
“What's going on, Cub? And don't tell me nothing, because I know it's something,” he said firmly. I didn't answer, focusing on washing my hands. He handed me a paper towel when I finished, and raised his eyebrows, an expectant look on his face.
“Let's go back to the table,” I said softly.
He narrowed his eyes, assessing me. His gaze began to trail down my body, and I needed to put a stop to that before he guessed what was really going on. I wanted to tell them as a group.
“You were just in here puking your head off. You're not going back to the table—I'm taking you home,” Kai informed me, taking my hand and opening the door.
“What? No. I'm fine. I feel a lot better now,” I blurted out, the words coming out fast.
“We can try this again soon. You're obviously getting sick, and the Alpha in me is insistent that I get you home, put you in bed, and take care of everything you could possibly need. So please, Cub. Let's go home,” he said, taking my hand and placing it over his heart.
I didn't want to hurt him. Or any of them, ever. Each of us had different desires, wishes, and urges—the things that made us who we were. For Kai, taking care of his mate when she didn't feel well was something at the very top of his list of needs.
“What about the food? The others?” I queried, already resigned that I would be leaving.
“They're boxing everything up at the moment. We'll have a picnic at home in the living room. How's that sound?” Kai asked, a little smile on his lips.
“That actually sounds really nice.” I sighed, giving him a watery smile in return.
* * *
The guys wereall on edge. I could sense each one of them watching me intently as we gathered our belongings from the restaurant and headed outside. Kai had driven me home in the car, and Cam drove Kai's bike back. Sloane had been glued to my side from the moment I’d exited the bathroom at the restaurant, and then once we got home, he was the one opening my car door and guiding me into the house. After making sure I was properly installed in the corner of the sectional with a blanket, he’d disappeared into the kitchen. I'd protested when he'd herded me in here, saying I needed to get my food, but Sloane wouldn't hear it.
Faris had come in straight away and was now snuggled up beside me.
“Did you end up trying Bram's steak?” I asked him, lacing our fingers together.
He shook his head, sighing. “No. We were all pretty concerned, Firefly.”
“I'm sorry,” I muttered. “We get one date as a group in the midst of all this bullshit and—”
“Hey now, none of that,” Guppy scolded as he joined us on the couch. He handed me a glass of water, which I promptly lifted to my mouth as he set his plate on the coffee table. “Sloane's just cutting up your steak so it's gonna be a second.”
