“This is—” Warmth crept up from my torso to my forehead, and sweat began beading at the base of my skull. “This is—” My palms were itchy, and I suddenly felt nauseous. Before I could even clap a hand over my mouth, I’d thrown up what little there was in my stomach all over myself.
“Kipp!”
I didn’t have time to be mortified—I’d never vomited in public in all my life—I started to wheeze. And then there was a ringing in my ears, and my vision began to blur around the edges. My tongue felt like it was swelling up.
Help me!But nothing came out of my mouth. I tugged at my tie and tore at the collar of my dress shirt, hoping that would ease the constriction in my throat, but it did no good.
I tried to get to my feet, but my knees gave out from under me, and I pitched forward, clutching at the tablecloth and dragging everything down on top of me as I hit the floor.
Pain shot through my left palm. Oh God, what had I done to my hand?