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Even through my cramping I feel the fire in my belly stirring, the flames of desire flickering. Times like this I wish he wasn’t so damn handsome, so damn in love with me. It would make hating him so much easier.
Desperately needing to change the conversation, I move my fingers through the bubbles and ask, “Why didn’t we just stay with your sister?”
“I didn’t want to intrude on her, Roman, and their children. I usually stay here when I’m in town. So, it’s not because I brought you, if that’s what you are thinking. Plus, I know you’re not feeling well. If you are up for it, we’ll visit tomorrow.”
“I would like that,” I admit wholeheartedly. I’m actually very much looking forward to seeing Sophie. She was my friend once upon a time, and she holds a few good memories from my past.
She is one of the kindest people I’ve ever met, and I often wondered what happened to her, even worried about her. Sophie sounded genuinely happy on the phone, and she deserves nothing less. I only hope that one day, I can find that kind of happiness for myself.
We pull up to the secluded modern looking mansion, twenty minutes outside of Vegas. Nervousness and excitement tingle through my abdomen as we walk up the front steps and to the huge wooden front door. I haven’t seen Sophie in over two years, and I’ve never met her husband. What if they don’t approve of me being here, or being with Luke?
“I wish you would have called them and told them we were coming,” I whisper.
“Family doesn’t call, plus I just show up… it’s my thing,” he chuckles, but I don’t feel like laughing with him. I feel like throwing up.
Luke reaches out and rings the doorbell, and almost immediately I can hear footfalls and the laughter of children on the other side of the door. Seconds later, the door swings open, and two children burst through the doorway.
“Uncle Luke!” A little girl squeals, a second before she lunges for Luke, who catches her midair.
“Hey Pumpkin,” he greets her, kissing her on the cheek. At the same time a boy, maybe eight years old, wraps his arms around Luke’s middle. With his free arm he wraps it around the boy, affectionately patting his head. “Hey, Buddy.”
With her head still on Luke’s shoulder, the girl glances over at me. “Who is that?” she whispers to Luke, a huge smile on her face.
“That’s Grace, she is really nice, you’re gonna like her,” Luke tells them while I stand next to them awkwardly unsure if I should turn around and run or stay. I don’t even get a chance to smile or speak before I hear my name being called.
“Grace?” Sophie’s high-pitched voice meets my ears, and when I look up, I find her standing in the foyer, her hands to her chest. Her eyes glistening, and I know she’s on the verge of crying. “Grace…” relief and happiness radiate from her and I open my mouth to say something right as she rushes forward and wraps her thin arms around my waist.
She always was a tiny thing, but when she squeezes me, I almost forget it. I hug her back with the same fierceness, and when she pulls away to look at me, I smile.
“I never thought I would see you again.” Her eyes dart to Luke narrowing with suspicion, and I already know there are a thousand and one questions perched on her tongue.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It’s a long story. What’s for dinner?” Luke changes the subject quickly.
“Since you guys are here it’s going to be takeout. I don’t want to waste a single moment cooking when we have so much catching up to do. Now, come on in and tell me about this long story, we have plenty of time.”
We follow Sophie into the house. Luke carries the little girl, and the boy holds onto his hand. Sophie walks over to the sectional in the living room, and I take a seat beside her. Luke takes a seat on the other end, the two children still attached to him like he might disappear.
“You know after what happened at the compound Xander helped me find Grace. I know I told you I just wanted to make sure she was alright, which was true, but I also may have kept tabs on her for the last two years…” Luke’s voice trails off, and Sophie frowns.
“Luna, Ren, why don’t you let your uncle Luke catch up with us for a little bit. You guys go and play outside for a few minutes,” Sophie tells her kids, who both give her an annoyed face but reluctantly listen to her in the end. With the kids out of earshot, she turns her attention back to Luke.
