"Gemma zhis naw…" I wanted to say something, but words were failing me. I wanted to ask what was going on, but Carey was now shouting at me even as his voice trailed off. My eyelids felt heavy, too heavy to keep open. The last thing I saw before was Carey's concerned face, before everything went black.
Chapter 22
Thalia
I WOKE UPin a plush cream bed. The room was bright and unfamiliar.Where am I?I felt a prickling sensation on my wrist. My gaze went to the clear cable that went from my wrist to an IV drip. Three faces were staring down at me. A middle-aged blond woman with a tight ponytail wearing a white coat over pants and a silk blouse and a stethoscope around her neck. Darcy, who was biting her fingernails, looking anxious, in contrast to the shimmering gold and black dress she wore, and Carey who sat beside me, his face drained of color. He was the first to speak.
"Hi." He cracked a smile that faltered almost immediately.
"Wha—" my voice was groggy. I cleared my throat. "What happened?"
"You had an adverse reaction to some… substances," the woman in the white coat said, her gaze going to Darcy when she said substances.
"I'm so sorry," Darcy winced. "He must have put too muchboltorol in your drink. I should have told him to only put a drop."
"Boltorol? What's that?" My gaze darted from Darcy to Carey, who had gone dark, and the woman.
Carey took my hand in his, "It's a…" he glanced at Darcy and then back to me, "It's a fairly new drug—"
"Ingredient!" Darcy shout out.
"Ingredient, that makes alcoholic drinks taste less bitter, butobviouslyhas some dangerous side effects."
"I wanted this party to go great. Now I have multiple medical emergencies," she slapped her forehead, "Stupid Darcy!"
"Multiple?" I turned to Carey.
"You're not the only one lying on a bed with an IV drip. A couple of people who drankDarcy's 29thhave had reactions. One threw up and four other people, including you, passed out. All after taking one drink."
I straightened so I could get into a sitting position. "You roofied people?"
"No. No. I didn't roofie people. At least not intentionally. I didn't think boltorol would make people pass out. I had the same drink."
Carey glared at her.
"You know what, you're right. Please forgive me." she clasped her hands together. She looked so worried and apologetic that I simply nodded.
"You could have killed her," Carey said. His eyes were on me. His face harsh with anger.
"I know. You told me multiple times."
"You put my wife's life in danger."
"I didn't mea— I'm sorry. But at least she's fine. You know what you're right. So sorry. I'm going to go check on the other guests." Darcy waved weakly at me. "Sorry." And promptly left the room soon after. I took a better look at my surroundings and realized that I was in quite a large bedroom with a three-sixty view of the city. It was feminine and styled with a peach plush carpet, white floors, and peach walls. I didn't need anyone to tell me that this was Darcy and Hugh's bedroom. I watched as the woman in the white coat come to the side of my bed, her face bright with a disarming smile.
"I'm doctor Miller. I need to check your vitals one more time, before I attend to other patients."
I nodded as Carey gave her space to sit beside me. She brought her stethoscope to my chest and began her checks. After a few minutes of being probed and answering a few questions, she was satisfied and said, "boltorol, has been shown to be that harmful, at least not yet, but we can never be too careful. If you're adamant about not going to a hospital…"
My gaze went to Carey who was now standing behind Dr. Miller. I didn't want to go to a hospital? He nodded as though he heard my question.
"I don't want to go to a hospital."
She looked like she expected the answer. "Then all you need to do is let me make some calls at your place to monitor your progress." She took out a card and handed it to me. It had her name on it as well the name of her private practice. "You need at least three days' rest. Drink lots of water and stay off alcohol during that time. Can you do that for me?"
I nodded.
She flashed a smile. "Great." She got up, shook Carey's hand, and left the room. I turned my gaze to Carey now that we were alone. His brow was furrowed. "Every time something bad happens to you, Darcy is at the scene of the crime. Quite literally."
