Page 77 of Ghost Of You

Tonight, however, is different; it's a celebration of us. Laelia and I have dressed up for the occasion—joggers and sweatshirts simply won't do. She looks radiant in her long, off-shoulder dress, her skin glowing with what I suspect is a pregnancy glow.

After a month of keeping our news to ourselves, we're finally ready to share it with our family and close friends. We've invited my mum, Lloyd, Ethan, Jasper, and Laelia's two friends, Ada and Maxine, who she doesn't see often due to their busy schedules.

Laelia had considered telling her dad but decided against it. Their relationship is already strained, and she's concerned about the potential impact on our baby. Her dad's lifestyle—marked by drugs, alcohol, and gambling—is something we want to keep far away from our child.

As our drinks arrive, Ethan glances at me with a knowing look. I down my drink quickly, trying to steady my nerves. Ethan's curiosity is palpable as he nudges me under the table. I shoot him a sideways glance, giving him a small smile in response. Despite my attempts to deflect, he kicks me again, prompting me to kick him back and for him to mutter something under his breath as he gives me a stern look.

A soft laugh escapes me as I take another sip of my drink, my attention drifting back to Laelia. She's gazing at us with a hint of amusement. I set my glass down, lean in closer, and am greeted by her sweet, fruity scent. She's like a taste of paradise.

"What have I missed?" I whisper.

She lets out a gentle laugh, rolling her eyes with a playful shake of her head. "I was asking if you were okay, but you ignored me and ended up kicking Ethan instead," she whispers back.

I chuckle, amused. "As if you saw that. He kicked me first."

"You're both children," she teases.

I smirk. "At least it keeps you on your toes." She shakes her head, still smiling. I offer her a more sincere smile. "Honestly, I'm a bit nervous telling them, and Ethan's giving me that look—I'm starting to feel like I'm slipping."

"Tell who what?" Ethan's voice comes from behind me, startling me. I turn to find him leaning in way too close.

Of course, Ethan's eavesdropping. It's one of his specialities. He has this knack for finding out everything, even when you'd rather he didn't. His curiosity knows no bounds.

I nudge him with my foot, making him sit back with a wince as he narrows his eyes. "You're a pain, Ethan. You're also intruding on private conversations…for now."

His eyes widen. "For now?"

I shake my head, grinning. "You'll know when I'm ready to share."

"What's all this commotion about?" My mum's voice cuts through, drawing the attention of everyone around us.

I give her my best innocent smile. "Nothing, Mum."

She turns her gaze to Ethan. "Are you causing trouble again?"

Ethan's eyes go wide, and his mouth drops open. "Why do you always assume it's me causing trouble? Your son kicked me under the table," he says, giving me a smirk that's pure mischief.

Two can play at this game.

I turn to my mum, smiling sweetly. "You always said if someone hits you, hit them back"

She nods approvingly and then looks at Ethan. "Ethan, don't start what you can't finish. You're a grown man now. I suggest you behave. I wouldn't want to get angry."

Ethan gulps, quickly focusing on his drink as he scans for the waiter to order another round.

Satisfied with my small victory, I look back at Laelia and see her grinning. "You're both acting like children, playing the blame game."

I place my hand over hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. Her smile softens into something truly beautiful—one I know I'll cherish forever. I get lost in her eyes, the rest of the world fading away, until Ethan's nudge brings me back. I glance up to see a waiter arriving with our poppadoms and chutney.

As soon as the waiter sets the trays down, I dive in eagerly. Just as I start enjoying my snack, another kick lands under the table. I choke on my poppadom, glaring at Laelia, who's trying to suppress her laughter. She grabs her own poppadom and chutney, pretending not to notice.

In the past week and a half, Laelia's eaten through half the fridge, mixing some truly odd combinations—pickles with chocolate, peanut butter and marshmallow sandwiches, sardines with tomato sauce, cheese with honey, and more. Theonly combination I've found surprisingly delightful is pretzels with ice cream, which I tried and actually enjoyed.

Life with Laelia is a delightful adventure, and every quirky moment with her makes me love her even more. Tonight is only the beginning of a truly wonderful life.

As I sit back, basking in the afterglow of a delicious three-course meal—dessert having vanished almost as soon as it arrived—I rest my hands on my comfortably full stomach and savour the last lingering sweetness on my lips. I take a deep breath and exclaim, "That was incredible. I'm so stuffed."

Hearing Laelia's light, melodic giggle, I glance over to find her already looking my way. Her giggles grow into full-blown laughter, a sound so infectious and joyful that I can't help but smile.

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