Page 40 of Forced Knocked-Up Mate

Not all of us are heroes, kid. Some of us are just complete and total fuck-ups and just aren’t worthy of redemption.

Caleb grins and goes back to showing me his toys. The sharp pain in my chest changes from an ache to a deep, gnawing emptiness.

I look over at Lucy, and I see that she’s watching me. Her big, bright blue eyes are full of concern, as if she can sense my distress. I clear my throat, wishing I could make a cutting remark to deflect her attention the way I usually do, but I can’t bring myself to be a jerk in front of Caleb.

I feel as distanced from the family scene as I did when I was out in the cold, watching through the back window. Caleb’s words, my brother’s presence—none of these things really make me feel included here.

But Lucy’s concern does.

Seeing her watching me with compassion fills the emptiness inside me in a way nothing else can. For the briefest of moments, I give in to the feeling and let it wash through me.A warm glow ignites in my chest, and my eyes sting with tears of an entirely different kind.

For the first time in my life, I feel safe.

It feels like I’ve come home.

Chapter 13 - Lucy

When I saw Fiona and Rider arrive, I was so relieved I could have cried. The time alone in the house while Peter is outside has reminded me how peaceful my life was before any of this happened, and how much I want it back.

I can’t spend another night in here stuck with him, I just can’t!

Peter returns while I’m talking to Rider and Fiona. I do my best to ignore him. When Rider joins in playing with Caleb, I grab Fiona’s arm and usher her into the living room.

“Fi, I can’t do this,” I groan. “I can’t spend another night here with him.”

Fiona goes over to the book cabinet and pulls out the bottle of tequila that we kept hidden behind a stack of cookbooks. She gives me a little wink, reminding me how we’d stay up late sometimes doing shots and laughing about our problems until they seemed unimportant.

“I see you still keep it in the same place,” she says, grinning.

“I never bothered to move it.”

“Well, I think you could use a shot right now.”

Fiona reaches up to pull out the two glasses and pours us both a nip. I take it gratefully, slamming it down in one gulp. She pours us another, and we sit down on the couch together, just like the old days.

“It’s okay, Lucy,” she says, putting an arm around me.

“But how?” I ask, my voice cracking as I try not to cry. “He’s been an absolute beast—all day. He can’t say a single nicething to me. I want to just go and lock myself in my room so I don’t have to talk to him, but I’ll never be able to relax knowing he’s out here, potentially trashing my house and waiting to make fun of me first thing in the morning.”

Fiona sighs, handing me the glass. I try to drink this one a little slower, but it disappears in a couple of gulps.

It’s not even helping. I feel worse, if anything.

“Lucy, I really don’t have any advice. My early days with Rider were nothing short of hell, but I knew, the whole time, that I loved him.”

“Well, it’s not like that for me,” I counter. “I can’t stand Peter! I’ve had enough. I just want my peaceful life back.”

“Then why did you do the spell?” Fiona asks, watching me with a serious expression. “You did the spell because you were desperate to make a change to your life. You got what you wanted.”

A sick sense of horror slowly creeps into my guts.

She’s right!

“Lucy, are you sure you’re being honest about your feelings? Maybe the spell worked perfectly, and you just need to accept that.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! The spell went wrong—it was just a stupid mistake. There’s no way Peter is my true love.”

Fiona shrugs, taking a sip from her drink. “There seems to be a lot of chemistry between you.”

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