Page 84 of A Change of Heart

“No.” She was certain she’d be fine if she got her antihistamines. “I just need my medicine.”

“Do you have it with you?” Felix asked.

“No. I’m going to go home.”

“I can drive you,” Felix said.

Seren took a long steady breath. “Are you sober enough to drive?”

“Not really.” He shrugged. “It’d be fine though. Or I can see if anyone else can drive you.”

She shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll be fine. It’s not as though it’s far.”

“I’ll come with you at least.” Felix moved to her side.

“Don’t start trying to play the hero now,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I think we’ve established that you and I aren’t meant to be.”

“I’m not trying to be a hero. I’m just worried about you. Let me walk you home.”

Seren paused. The evening wasn’t going her way and she just wanted to be alone to wallow in self-pity. But this perhaps wasn’t the best time to be stubborn. She was about to tell him he could come when Rebecca shouted to him from the kitchen. Something about more beers.

“Stay here,” Seren said. “I’m okay. I’ll walk home and get my meds. It’s not a big deal.”

“I can come with you,” Cadan offered.

“I’m fine. Honestly. I’ll message you when I get home.”

“Call if you have any problems,” Felix said, slightly drowned out by Rebecca calling for him again.

“Are you going to come back?” Cadan asked.

“No. I’ll take my meds and go to bed to sleep it off.” She started walking away, not wanting to linger too long. It didn’t feel as though it was going to be a strong reaction, but the sooner she got her meds the better.

As she wandered along the lane in the last of the daylight, her breathing became steadily laboured and she put all her attention into breathing evenly. She hoped the tactic might also have the benefit of keeping her from thinking about Kit and Holly on the beach. It didn’t quite work, and her jealousy made it even more difficult to breathe.

She was five minutes from home when the last of her energy deserted her. Trying not to panic, she glanced down the narrow lane that was bordered by high hedges. The houses a little farther along were close enough that she should be able to shout for help. Or she could, if she were capable of shouting. Which she absolutely wasn’t.

She just needed a rest, that was all. Sitting at the side of the road she told herself she just needed a minute to catch her breath … then she could make it home.

After a couple of minutes had gone by with her only getting worse, she pulled out her phone. Calling Noah would guarantee a lecture about her not having her meds or EpiPen with her, but it would also guarantee that someone came to help her.

She swore quietly when she saw she had no phone signal.

It really wasn’t her lucky night.

CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE

The sun had just set when Kit walked back up from the beach with a very giggly Holly. She’d finished her beer and then helped him with his before declaring she was perfectly fine to face her ex.

Cadan and Felix were blocking the door into the kitchen but stepped aside for them.

“She’s not answering,” Felix said to Cadan, holding his phone to his ear.

“Maybe she got home and fell asleep,” Cadan replied.

Rebecca stepped towards them, shaking her head. “If she’s not answering the phone, one of you needs to go and check on her. I don’t want to be responsible for anyone dying of an allergic reaction thanks to my baking.”

“What are you talking about?” Kit asked, panic fluttering in his chest.