Chapter 428

Taste it? How?
“Juniper, what’s wrong with you?” Shanley swallowed hard, his throat tight and his voice raspy. Did she have a fever? He reached out to feel her forehead, but she grabbed his hand.
“I’m a milkshake. You can only drink me, you can’t just touch me,” she said, practically climbing into his lap. She rubbed against him, completely oblivious to his struggle. “You’ll… spoil… me.”
Up front, Felton and Flint, who were driving, didn’t know where to look.
Damn it. They should have brought a car with a privacy divider. In this situation, were the two of them about to become part of the boss’s and Ms. Payne’s game? Maybe they should just… leave?
“Are you going to drink it or not?” Seeing that Shanley was just staring at her, Juniper’s patience wore thin. She draped herself over the back of the front seat and asked them earnestly, “Do you guys want some milkshake?”
“No, no, we’re good!” Felton and Flint shook their heads frantically. Drink the milkshake? Did they have a death wish?
“Juniper—” Shanley was now certain something was seriously wrong. He held her still and commanded in a strained voice, “Go straight to the hospital.”
“Yes, sir.” Felton didn’t hesitate, immediately changing direction.
The sudden turn made the car swerve sharply. The movement seemed to agitate Juniper. She clutched the top of her head anxiously and called out to the driver, “Slow down, I’m going to spill.”
Felton and Flint exchanged a look. They were genuinely concerned about Ms. Payne’s mental state.
“Hold it, quick, help me hold it,” Juniper urged as the car sped up.
“Okay.” Shanley quickly cupped her head with his hands, his own face pale as a sheet, his fingers trembling slightly.
He’d heard there had been an
accident at Aurora High after school. Could his little girl have hit her head? Seeing her act this way. he was
starting to really believe it.
“Felton, faster!” Shanley’s expression was grim. “Flint, get the hospital ready!”
“Yes, sir,” they replied in unison.
With Shanley holding her head,
Juniper gradually relaxed. Soon, the
car screeched to a halt at the
hospital entrance. Shanley wasted no time carrying her into the emergency room.
After a brief examination, the doctor asked, “What did she eat today? It looks like some kind of poisoning.”
“Poisoning?” Shanley thought back and remembered the address from the navigation. “She had a wild mushroom fondue earlier.”
“Wild mushrooms?”
The doctor paused for a second,
then glanced at the girl squatting by the door pretending to be a
“milkshake.” He suppressed a smile.
“Mushroom poisoning it’s caus
hallucinations. Well draw some
blood and then start an IV”
He turned back to Shanley respectfully. “Don’t worry, Mr. Schwartz, it’s not serious.”
Shanley nodded. He coaxed the girl into a private room. After the blood draw, he whispered gently, “The milkshake is too sweet for me. I’m just adding some water.” Okay.” Juniper, who had been glaring murderously at the doctor, obediently held out her arm. “Not too much,” she added seriously. “It’s better sweet.”
Better sweet? Shanley’s gaze fell on Juniper’s lips, his chest tightening. Too bad he hadn’t gotten a taste earlier. He really had no idea just how sweet it was.