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friends. Good to see you, Bernie.”
    “You, too, Susie. Give Mary Jane a call. She’d love to hear from you.”
    “Don’t go.” Ryan pulled his feet back to make room for her on the sofa. “Stay and have something to eat.
    You’ll hurt Darling’s feelings if you don’t.”
    “I’m not hungry, and I have some phone calls I need to make.”
    Ryan lifted an eyebrow and hoped it was enough to remind her of their deal. He held his breath while he waited for her to
     get the message. After an endless moment during which he had no idea what she was thinking, Susannah sat down on the sofa
     but took pains to stay as far from him as she could get. He smiled at her, and she looked away.
    They made small talk with Bernie until the rest of the guys began filtering into the den, carrying beers and bowls of chili.
     Darling handed one to Ryan and offered another to Susannah.
    “Thanks,” she said. “What’s in it?”
    “That’s a Darlington family secret.”
    “No peanut butter, right?” she asked.
    Darling scoffed. “You offend me. That’d be cheating.”
    The rest of the guys chuckled at the face Darling made as he left the room. He returned with a six-pack of beer and a bowl
     of chili for himself. “How is it?” he asked.
    “Hotter than hell,” Toad said in a choked voice.
    “No shit,” Ryan agreed, reaching for the beer Darling opened for him. That’s when he noticed Susannah holding her throat and
     gasping for air. He moved so fast he never felt the pain that must have radiated from his ribs as he dumped his bowl of chili
     on the coffee table and sprinted from the room.
    “Sandy?” one of the guys called after him. “What’s wrong?”
    “Call 911!” Ryan yelled as he ran for the kitchen cabinet where she had always kept it, praying she hadn’t moved it in the
     year since he had lived there. He was filled with relief when he found what he was looking for and returned to the den, pulling
     the cap off the EpiPen as he ran. When he reached her, his heart almost stopped when he saw her struggling to breathe as red
     welts exploded on her face. He plunged the needle through her pants into her thigh and held it tight against her leg until
     he felt her begin to relax.
    Tears streamed down her face as he brought her into his arms. “It’s okay, baby,” he whispered. “You’re okay.I’ve got you.”
    “The 911 lady wants to know what happened,” Bernie said, his face white with shock.
    The other guys stared at Ryan and Susannah.
    “Anaphylaxis,” Ryan said. “She’s allergic to peanuts.”
    “ Sweet Jesus, ” Darling gasped. “I thought she was kidding!”

    “She wasn’t.” Ryan held Susannah close to him. “Keep breathing, baby. I can hear the ambulance.” He brushed his lips over
     her damp forehead.
    “What can we do?” Bernie asked.
    “Nothing,” Ryan said as he struggled to swallow the hot ball of panic lodged in his throat. The whole thing lasted less than
     thirty seconds, but to him it had felt like a year. “She’s okay now.
    The siren grew closer, and Bernie went to get the door. He returned with two paramedics, who peppered Ryan with questions
     about Susannah’s medical history and what she had eaten.
    “Her blood pressure is elevated,” one of them said. “We’re going to take her in.” His eyes widened when he suddenly recognized
     Ryan and the other players.
    “I’m her husband. I’m going with her.”
    “Of course, Mr. Sanderson. No problem.” They loaded Susannah onto a stretcher and covered her with blankets.
    Ryan grabbed his coat from the rack in the foyer and tugged on the boots he had left there the night before. His ribs screamed
     in protest at the sharp movements, but he ignored the pain in his haste.
    “I’m so sorry, Sandy,” Darling said, his eyes bright with tears.
    “It’s okay.” Ryan squeezed Darling’s shoulder. “She’s going to be fine.” He wasn’t sure who he was trying to convince—himself
     or his distraught