Cupcake Explosion (Cupcakes 4)

Everyone laughed and we threw back our drinks, then found our seats so that we could put in a food order. I was sandwiched between Amy May and Bea, who was sitting next to Shannon, and across from Carmen, Bran, Cynthia, and Clarice. It was a small enough group that I didn’t feel like I was leaving anyone out, which was perfect.

Amy May stayed through the apps and long enough to get a couple orders of enchiladas to go for her and Jason, then she left us and Cynthia came over to sit next to me.

We enjoyed apps, the main meal, and dessert, plus plenty of drinks.

It was a great night with lots of laughter and great people, and as I watched Shannon and Bea together, and the budding relationship between Bran and Carmen, I couldn’t wait until next weekend when I would marry Cade and get to claim him as mine for the rest of my days.

Sure, I’d been married before and knew first hand that marriage didn’t always last, but I knew marriage to Cade would be different.

I felt it in my bones.

“OH GOD,” I groaned as my eyes fluttered open, then back shut. “Too bright.”

I tried to cover my face with a pillow, then the blanket, but neither would budge and each movement hurt my head.

I cracked one eye open and saw that both Rufus and CB had taken over my bed.

Rufus was sprawled out on his back, sideways across the bed, and CB was laying up by my head, using the pillows as his perch.

“Tequila is no bueno,” I told them as I pulled back the covers on my side and exposed my nearly naked form to the morning.

Where are my clothes?

I searched my memory, but all I came up with was the ride back in Bea’s car, and bitching at her for making me go home and not taking me out to another club.

I padded to the bathroom, hand on my head, and found last night’s outfit in a pile on the floor by the sink. The sink looked to have remnants of a late-night puking session, gross, so I turned on the water and did my best to clean it out without puking all over again. Then I turned on the water for the shower and peered at myself in the mirror.

Damn, I looked pitiful.

After I went to the bathroom and brushed my teeth, I took off my bra and underwear and stepped under the steaming hot spray.

Ten minutes later, I felt marginally better, but still pretty shitty. I got dressed, left my hair to air dry, and went to make myself some much-needed coffee.

I was downstairs, pouring coffee down my throat, when there was a knock on my front door.

I walked as fast as I could, which was pretty damn slow since every step hurt my head, then unlocked and opened the door to see Bea standing on my doorstep. She was in uniform, holding two cups of coffee.

“You’re an angel,” I said, taking a cup from her and stepping aside so she could come in.

“How are you feeling this morning?” she asked and I grimaced.

“Been better.”

“I hate to do this, but are you busy right now?”

The tone of her voice had me looking up.

“What’s going on?”

“I don’t want to freak you out,” she said, and I immediately started freaking out. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”

“What’s nothing?” I asked, watching my friend closely.

Of course, she gave nothing away.

“I got called out early this morning. There was an explosion outside of town.”

“An explosion?”