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“Are you alright with this?” Nate whispered, as I hugged him tightly.
“Don’t be ridiculous, this is wonderful news. I’m going to be an aunty,” I declared, genuinely happy about the idea.
Nate grinned, but a line remained between his brows. I moved aside to allow Luke to step forward and congratulate Amanda and his best friend.
* * *
I picked aimlessly at my meal for the rest of dinner, whilst everyone except Luke, chattered about babies. A sickly mixture of happiness, anger, guilt and despair spread through me and made me want to vomit.
Dinner was wrapping up and I offered to clear the table, leaving the parents to gush over the exciting news. Luke offered to help, and ignored me when I declined it.
“Blue,” Luke opened, as I preoccupied myself with stacking the dishwasher.
I glared up at him up. “Did you know about this?”
His eyebrows pulled together. “What? No.”
“Yeah, sure.” I laughed, non-believingly.
Luke shook his head. “I didn’t. I would have told you—”
I pursed my lips. “You know what? You can finish this. I need another drink.”
I dumped the dishes on the bench, and poured myself another glass of wine, followed by another, then another.
Our two families retreated into the living room and I continued to politely listen to their baby talk, whilst finishing off my second bottle of wine. Luke had re-joined us and was keeping close tabs on my behaviour. When I started to slur my words and make callous remarks at every opportunity, Luke lost his patience.
“Excuse Natalie, she’s obviously had enough for one night,” he declared. “I’ll take her to bed.”
“And that folks, is how we got into this whole mess!” I sniggered, as he pulled me off the couch.
I tried to push him away, but he effortlessly picked me up, threw me over his shoulder and marched up the stairs.
He dropped me on my bed, turned back to my bedroom door and closed it soundlessly. “What the fuck are you doing?” he yelled, glaring at me until our eyes were inches away.
“What the fuck are you doing, Luke?” I pushed him again, but he didn’t flinch.
“I can’t talk to you like this,” he growled, placing his hands on his hips.
“Then don’t. Just leave.” Tears started spilling down my face.
Luke pulled me into his embrace and held me close. “I’m not leaving you like this.”
I sobbed into his chest. “But you will and I won’t blame you.”
“What are you…” was all I heard before I passed out in his arms.
* * *
I woke to the sound of someone clearing their throat. My eyes fluttered open to find my father standing in my bedroom doorway with his arms crossed and eyebrows raised.
A sudden surge of panic shot through me and I jolted upright thinking I had slept through my alarm. Amanda was going to kill me. My body was weighed down and I glanced at my waist to discover a giant muscular arm draped over me, and Luke fast asleep by my side.
“Oh crap,” I exclaimed, jumping out of my bed.
The movement stirred Luke awake. “Blue, don’t go…” he moaned, peering up at me.
My eyes bulged at his, and I tipped my head to where Dad stood silently observing.
Luke’s gaze followed mine and when he collided with my father’s hard stare, he leapt from the bed.
“Gavin, this isn’t…we didn’t…I must have fallen sleep.” He ran his hand through his bed hair.
Instead of making a fuss, my dad simply smirked and exited the room without saying a word.
My astonished gaze floated back to Luke, and I burst into nervous laughter.
“Well, that was unexpected,” he uttered with shaky breath, still staring at the empty doorway. As his beautiful blue eyes turned back to me, my humour faded and my heart picked up. Luke stepped closer, and fear stole my breath. He was going to do it.
Before he opened his mouth to speak, I bolted out the door.
