Thomas and the others agreed to hold a chair for her at O’Malley’s. Lacey’s skin prickled the minute she’d walked through the door. She looked around the old bar and grille and didn’t notice anything different except a sizzle in the air. Her skin tingled that way when she thought about Bryan. For a moment, she wondered if her rash was returning. She stood on her toes, looking for her friends, and tried to put Bryan out of her mind. After reading his email, she was almost determined to skip the actual party. But as head of the planning committee, she wouldn’t be able to play hooky tomorrow no matter how badly she wanted. It seemed safe joining everyone tonight, and she planned to set the stage for an early retreat tomorrow. There was no reason to stay once everything was underway. Maybe she’d have a convenient relapse of whatever it was she’d had these last few months. If she was lucky, she’d end up hospitalized again before the reunion party.
