Page 57 of Pretty Little Disaster

The door knocks and I quickly flip the bird before I open it and let the gang in.

“Brrr, it’s starting to get cold out there.” Cass hands Nic her coat, while Wes and Jonah set the beers and pizza on the table.

“It’s so great to have you all here.” I hug each one of them, being mindful of my bump. You’d think after all this time I’d be better at maneuvering it, but I’m always misjudging.

“They only wanted to come and watch the game on Nic’s big screen,” Cass calls the boys out as she screws the cap off a beer and picks up a slice.

“That's not true.” Jonah laughs awkwardly as he hands Nic a beer and grabs one for himself.

“You’re so full of shit, all you spoke about on the way over here was seeing the cheerleaders look life-size.” Wes cracks himself a beer and takes a whole box over to the couch.

“Make yourself at home, Wes,” Nic growls as he heads for the refrigerator to grab me some water.

“So, are we gonna get this thing started? Kickoff’ is in ten.” Wes searches around for the remote and I shrug at Nic as I pick it up from the side cabinet and hand it to our guest.

“Just remember, I’m going to be giving birth to your baby,” I remind Nic, heading back to the table where he’s standing and stretch up on my toes to kiss his cheek. Grabbing a slice of pizza for myself, I settle down with my friends to watch the game.

“So, have you set a date for the wedding yet?” Cass asks during half-time. Nic’s doing well at tolerating Wes, and I’m starting to feel much more relaxed.

“We’re waiting till the baby gets here. I’ve got a dress in mind and this isn’t going to work with it.” I pat my stomach before getting up to grab everyone another drink.

“I got it.” Nic stands up when he sees I’m struggling, playing his part as host when he gets everyone another drink.

“Did you ever find out who shot your dad?” Wes asks casually, and the atmosphere in the room instantly plummets. Lorna looks at Jonah, Jonah looks at Nic, then everyone looks at me.

“Wes!” Cass shakes her head at him.

“It’s fine.” I put on a brave face.

“No, it’s not.” Nic looks as if he’s going to lose his temper so I quickly intervene.

“Nic, these guys were there that night, they helped. The least we can do is acknowledge that,” I explain. There has to be a time when we start to discuss my father again and I, myself, have been wondering if Nic knows any more about what happened. I know he’s been looking into it.

“We know nothing.” Nic stares back at Wes, letting him know he’s crossed a line, and I sense the frustration he’s getting from the answer he has to give.

“You said it might have been a professional?” Jonah sits forward on his seat and scratches the stubble on his jaw. “Why would someone hire a man to kill Lorna’s dad?” He’s always been the smart one, the ones who stay quiet usually are, they’re the ones who take everything in.

“Because my dad was an investigator for the ATF, I imagine that he pissed off a lot of people during his career.” I pull up my big girl pants and prove to Nic that I really am ready to talk about this.

“That would make sense.” I see all the clogs in Cass’s brain moving as she accepts my reasoning.

“But why was your dad at the beach house? Cass says you barely ever saw him.” Wes rolls up the sleeves of his jumper while Cass looks embarrassed.

“He came there to warn her about me,” Nic answers his question, and when I turn my head to look at him in shock, I notice how his jaw tightens, and that hurt is back on his face. “He came to Malibu to warn Lorna that I’m dangerous, he wanted to get her away from me.” Nic looks between my friends, waiting for them to comment. Nothing comes but silence, and I breathe a sigh of relief when the second half starts and everyone diverts their attention back to the game.

“Wes is a prick.” Nic takes his frustration out on his teeth as we brush them together before bed.

“He’s inquisitive,” I tell him, spitting into the basin and rinsing my mouth out with the bottle of water he dutifully hands me.

“He had no fucking business bringing up your father like that, it was insensitive and–”

“We should talk about it, Nic, we can’t pretend it didn’t happen. I want to know who killed him. I even think I want you to make them pay…That’s what you do, right?” I seize the opportunity and wait for his response.

Nic spits into the basin himself and after drying his mouth with a towel, storms out the room.

“Babe, I’m not an idiot, stop treating me like one.” I follow him into the bedroom and start turning down the covers.

“I know you're not an idiot but you need to drop this, now.” I can see how angry he is, I can also see how hard he’s trying to keep calm.

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