Sketchmates {Emerson Barrett AU}

Chapter Eight

*Slight smut warning*

LACEY

I lay curled up next to Emerson in my bed. We're a mess of ragged breaths and entangled limbs. His heartbeat lulls in my ear and his hand rubs calming patterns on my thigh. Saarah is at the doctor's office with Remington, so I've just been lying here, talking with Emerson for the past two hours.

"I can't believe I found you." Emerson's voice is quiet as he plants his lips to my forehead, lingering there a few extra seconds before quickly pecking my lips. "I'm the luckiest man in Cardiff."

Almost on cue, the door swings open and Saarah and Remington enter, sloppily making out. He kicks the door shut and pins Saarah to the closet door, hands hard on her hips. Remington moves from her lips to her neck, sucking and biting at the skin there.

"Get a room!" Emerson yells, pulling me closer to him. Saarah opens her eyes and Remington pulls up from her neck.

"We did. Now either you can stay and watch me fuck her into the mattress, or you can leave." That's all he says before dipping back down and continuing the attack on Saarah's neck. Her eyes flutter shut and her fingers latch behind Remington's neck, a small moan leaving her lips. 

Remington moves the two of them past us to Saarah's bed, straddling her hips. His hands grab the buttons of her flannel and he looks up at me, grinning. "Last chance."

"Let's go," Emerson says, jumping up and grabbing me. "I'm not interested in live porn; especially when it involves my brother."

EMERSON

"I am so sorry about them." Lacey says on the way down in the elevator.

"Hey, it's my brother." I laugh, leaning down to kiss her. I'm tempted to never come back up for air, I love kissing her, but Lacey breaks it off with a laugh. "Do you wanna go see Sebastian and Wynn? They're out to eat at a Shake Shack about ten minutes away." 

"Yeah, that sounds good." Lacey smiles up at me, getting on her tiptoes to plant a kiss to my jaw. 

We decide to walk there. It takes a good 25 minutes, but it's spent with my arm around Lacey and her pressed into my side, having a discussion about the existence of the Universe. She's very philosophical, and the way her brain works is very similar to mine. We're a good match and I'm so grateful to have her in my life.

We stop just outside the restaurant so I can give Lacey her pain shot. She holds still and barely moves. "You're getting better." I smile before lovingly kissing her. Her good hand finds the back of my neck and pulls me closer, deepening the act. I have to force myself to pull away. "Wait until we have a bed at least." I joke. Lacey scoffs and playfully rolls her eyes. "C'mon, let's head inside, baby." I see the way she reacts to the name. Her cheeks heat up and a giant grin spreads across her face. Inside, Sebastian and Wynn motion us over. 

Lacey sits on my lap since there's not enough seats. Her legs are dangling on either side of my right thigh, and my arm is tightly around her waist, keeping her grounded. "Whatcha gonna get?" I ask, moving her hair aside and kissing just below her ear. 

"Cheese fries," She draws out her words, almost whine-like. 

"Sounds yummy." Lacey nods. I decide to get a Raspberry Cheesecake milkshake. Normally, I'd be up Lacey and the waitress' ass about Lace's allergies, but they're just cheese fries; there's no harm there. 

"Don't you think it's a bit early to hit the gin and tonic Seb?" I ask, resting my chin on Lacey's good shoulder. He shakes his head.

"Never too early for the gin and tonic, Emerson." I roll my eyes, turning my head and kissing Lacey's cheek. I watch with contentment as a smile forms across her beautiful face. Lacey leans back into me, head rolling on my shoulder. She only leans forward to occasionally sip her Lemonade. 

"It's good," She says, leaning back into me. The waitress, I think her name was Ana or some shit, brings our food, and my milkshake.

"It's good." I mimic, pointing to the cup filled with a shake in front of me that's a bit too large. I have no idea how I'll finish all of this. Maybe I'll give Lacey some. She seems like she likes milkshakes. 

Lacey is deep in discussion with Wynn. Wynn is from Manchester, so they're both deep in discussion about American culture and British culture. I go to share a glance with Sebastian, but he's already a bit too drunk to comprehend. 

Lacey starts eating and I take another sip of my milkshake. I watch her take another fry, smothered in thick cheddar cheese. I rub her stomach as I continue to indulge in my delicious drink. 

All of the sudden on my lap, Lacey starts to shake. She lurches forward, body heaving against the table as she starts to cough. "Fuck," I mutter under my breath, turning her around to face me. She grabs at her throat, unable to breathe. "She's having an allergic reaction!" I can't stop my screams as I lift her limp body up into my arms, flying to my feet. "Lacey, Lacey, come on!" She continues to lurch in my arms, couching uncontrollably. Her breaths are weak wheezes. 

"I need an ambulance!" I holler, cradling Lacey close to my body as her breaths become more ragged and frequent. "Somebody call an ambulance! She's having an allergic reaction!" Lacey's shakes, coughs, wheezes, convulsions, and sweats don't let up. I can hear the sirens, but I'm not convinced they'll be here soon enough. I hold her close and cry over her body. I curse myself for not checking. Every time I check but I figure cheese fries wouldn't have had contamination with shellfish of all things. "I'm never gonna make the same mistake again." I cry onto her.

The paramedics rush in and take her from my arms. I can't stop crying. This is all my fault. I watch as they lay her on a gurney, and as her back arches off the stretcher in a convulsion. "She's allergic to shellfish." My voice breaks and shakes as I say the words. I see a paramedic nod as he pulls an oxygen mask over my love's face. Another slips an IV into the side of her hand and places a IV bag at her feet. 

"Sir, come with us. She's being taken to St. David's. She's in anaphylactic shock." I watch another paramedic lift her oxygen mask off and shine a light down her throat. 

"We gotta move!" Suddenly, Lacey is being whisked away and I'm following close behind. "Her throat's almost all the way closed!" Her coughs and wheezes don't let up.

How did I let this happen to her?