Page 39 of Pretty Little Disaster

“This is super fucking cool.” Cass takes a glass of champagne from the hostess and sits herself in one of the armchair-style seats on Dario’s private jet.

“Not too shabby.” Wes follows her, holding out his fist for Nic, who gives me a judgy smirk before he bumps it. Jonah is a little quieter as he shakes Nic’s hand and takes his seat but I can tell from the way he’s taking in the surroundings that he’s overwhelmed.

“Isooooneed this.” Cass rests her head back against the seat and tips up her glass. “Guess it sucks to be you, right now?” Her eyes drop to the nowverynoticeable bump that Nic can’t seem to keep his hands off.

Five months ago, the man could barely stand to look at me, now it’s as if he can’t stand to be more than a few feet away.

“I don’t mind, at all, just means I get to laugh at all the stupid stuff you guys do.” I look toward Wes, who is always the first to do something stupid.

“The captain will be taking off soon, do you all mind fastening your seat belts?” The hostess passes me the orangejuice that Nic asked her to bring in a champagne flute, and she’s barely finished her sentence before he reaches over, takes my safety belt, and fixes it in place across my lap.

“Not too tight?” he checks, stroking his hand over my stomach affectionately and when I notice the way Cass lifts her eyebrows, I know she’ll be questioning me at the first opportunity she gets. Not that I have any answers for her. Me and Nic still haven’t spoken properly about what this thing between us is. I feel like we went to Mom’s pretending to be a couple and just never stopped. He’s been so tentative and caring. All the things I didn’t think he was capable of being, and I can’t help wondering if all that will change once the baby comes. I’ve had to put everything he’s said about us having more kids together to the back of my mind because, shockingly, it felt good to hear. Right now, I’m the vessel carrying his child, it’s in his best interest to take care of me. Nic’s intentions are good, but that doesn’t mean he won’t change his mind when the baby gets here, and things start to get tough. The thought of us going back to how we were once this is over is too sad to even imagine.

“It’s perfect.” I hold my hand over his, wondering what the rules are on joining the mile-high club on a private jet that belongs to your best friend's husband. I close my eyes and remind myself that this break isn’t about me and him. It’s about celebrating with my friends.

The cabin door closes and I quickly check my phone before we take off. I still haven’t had a text back from my father, and I’m starting to worry. Yesterday was his birthday and when I tried to call, he didn’t answer. I sent him a message, instead, and I still haven’t heard anything back. He didn’t accept the invitation I sent him to attend my graduation either, though that worked out well because Nic came in his place, and Mother, once again, fell for his charm.

Dad, not making contact for this long, is starting to worry me. I get that his job keeps him busy, but he’s never left it this long. I really should tell him that he’s going to be a grandad.

“You okay? You seem distant.” Nic looks concerned, while Wes and Jonah fool around with the controls on the armrests and Cass scolds them like she’s their mother.

“Me? I’m fine.” I slide my phone back into my pocket. “I’m really excited to get to Malibu.” I paste on a huge smile before I kiss him, then suddenly realize that I’ve never done that in front of my friends before. They all look stunned as Nic makes a really goofy smile and slides his hand over his mouth to try and hide it.

“I’m excited too.” He keeps his hand resting protectively over our baby as he rests back in his seat.

“Looks like these two took far too much advantage of the free bar.” Cass prods the two boys to life when Nic pulls our hire car up outside her aunty's beach house.

“This place looks awesome.” I get out of the front seat and look at the single-story home that’s mainly built from glass and looks very luxurious.

“I know, right? Wait till you see the view from the sun deck.” Cass takes my hand and goes to drag me inside, and when I attempt to lift my bag from the trunk, Nic gives me that familiar warning look and gestures his head for me to go after her.

I smile back before leaving him with the boys. Sure, they’re not his kind of people but at least he’s starting to make the effort with them. They had a good conversation about the NFL, and who gets overpaid, on the flight here.

“So, you and him.” Cass pulls a beer from the refrigerator and tosses me a bottle of water on her way out to the sun deck.

“What about me and him?” I question her, taking a deep, long breath of fresh, salty air as I step outside. The view really is spectacular. The sand is spotless and the ocean looks very tempting.

“Please…” Cass laughs at me. “The two of you are adorable. Lorna, he can’t stop touching you, and you...” She points at me. “You have that look.”

“What look?” I laugh and try not to look embarrassed.

“The dopey, head-over-heels-in-love look,” she explains, taking a seat on one of the loungers.

“Don’t worry, Cass, we’ve got your suitcase,” Jonah shouts through the door as he passes and we both choose to ignore him.

“I’m not in love with him.” I look out at the ocean to avoid her eyes, because I’m pretty sure that’s a lie. “But since we’re having a baby together, it's good for us to get along.” I shrug my shoulders and try not to think about it too hard. When I do that, things start to feel out of my control.

“Lorna, the two of you seem to be doing much more than getting along. He’s here, and you don’t seem mad about it. You're living in the same apartment. You kissed him on the plane. Will you just see it for what it is? It’s cute.”

“What’s cute?” We both spin our heads and see Nic standing in the doorframe.

“Eavesdropping?” I accuse him.

“Just wondering what room to put your bag in, baby.” He holds it up as evidence.

“You’re both in the master suite, the doors open right out onto the beach. I thought it would be romantic,baby.” Cass stares back at me cleverly after she points Nic to the glass double doors a few meters away.

“You don’t have to do that.” I make sure my smile is as sarcastic as my voice.

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