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Grayson leaned forward to check, then nodded. I shifted, trying to move her to a more comfortable position without disturbing her. Dammit, I couldn’t seem to find the strength to do it, and I huffed out a breath of frustration.
Without a word, Grayson grabbed a cushion and laid it on his lap, then gently lifted Belle and lay her down so her head was on the cushion and her feet were on my legs. She sighed, wriggled a little until she was happy, then relaxed completely. Absolutely adorable, so of course I smiled. And looked up at Grayson, to find him smiling back at me. My heart did a little flippy thing that made me feel breathless, so I dragged my gaze away, back to the action on the dance floor.
I couldn’t say how long we sat there, but it was probably close to midnight when the MC took to the microphone. “Alright, folks. It’s time to call it a night. Wolfe, Esme and the kids have a plane to catch.”
Before he’d even finished the sentence, everyone crowded onto the dance floor, turning it into a sea of bodies and waving arms. The goodbyes took forever, and I got more and more impatient. Fuck, I needed to lie down.
Finally, they were done and Esme and Wolfe were with us. Wolfe gently lifted Belle into his arms, stroking her hair when her head lolled on his shoulder.
Grayson stood, almost dragging me to my feet with his hand under my elbow. Good thing, too, because I doubt I could have done it without him.
Ariel was the first to hug me, and I squeezed her tight. Florian was next. I ruffled his hair, figuring he was too old now for cuddles. Nope. He threw his arms around me. “I’ll miss you.”
The words were mumbled, but I caught them. “I’ll miss you too.”
Tiana was up last. “You wanna hear something cool?” I asked her quietly.
Leaning back, she nodded, her eyes serious.
“They don’t wear skirts in France.”
She burst out laughing. “Only pants?”
“You got it.” Now for Esme. I swallowed the lump in my throat when she stepped forward to hug me. “Alright, my little cherry tart. You have the most amazing honeymoon. France won’t know what hit it.”
“I sure will.”
She hugged me for so long I thought she wasn’t going to let me go, but when she eventually pulled back, her eyes did that worried friend thing, scanning my face. I braced for the mother-hen routine, but then Grayson’s arm was suddenly around me, all protective-like. Esme caught the gesture and gave a brief nod–like she got Grayson was on Stef-duty–and backed off.
“We’ll talk when I get back.”
“Of course.”
As they made their way through the crowd and out the big double doors, I leaned into Grayson, feeling the room spin a bit too much. I was on the edge, barely hanging on. All I had to do now was get upstairs to my room and sleep for a decade.
Like he could read my mind, Grayson’s voice was low in my ear. “I’ll help you upstairs.”
All I could do was nod in reply.
The ballroom was a blur of colors and sounds, a swirling chaos that made my head spin even more. Each step towards the exit felt like a mile. Grayson’s arm around my waist was the only thing keeping me upright.
“Almost there,” he murmured, but his words seemed to come from far away, down a long, dark, really shitty tunnel.
Rhett and Caitlyn were a step behind us, their voices a distant hum. “You okay there, Stef?” Rhett’s concern was clear, even through the fog in my brain.
“Just tired,” I croaked out, trying to put on a brave face. But everything inside me was screaming for rest, for escape from the noise and the lights. Holy fuck, every molecule in my body was on fire.
Caitlyn’s voice floated towards me, tinged with worry. “She doesn’t look just tired, Grayson.”
I wanted to reassure her, to tell them all I was fine, but the words wouldn’t come. My legs were giving out. My vision blurred, and my chest felt really tight.
Grayson’s, “Jesus fucking Christ,” rang in my ears as I crumpled to the ground.
Strong arms caught me before I hit the floor. I was vaguely aware of Grayson lifting me up, his voice a soothing rumble in my ear. “I’ve got you, Stef. Just hold on.”
I clung to consciousness, fighting the darkness that threatened to pull me under. Grayson’s scent enveloped me, a mix of cologne and something uniquely him. It was oddly comforting, a steady presence amid my chaos. Really fucking strange, I know.
“I think she needs to see a doctor.” Rhett’s voice was laced with urgency.