Page 154 of Beautiful Storm

“Yes, I promise that too.” I widen my smile to reassure him and I’m not lying. Weareokay. I just need to overcome these feelings that I have. It’s a me problem. “Have a great game today. I’ll be watching.”

“No you won’t,” Luke growls, making me laugh.

“Okay, I won’t be watching. I’ll be waiting.”

“Good.” He grins and I shake my head. “I’ll see you tonight.”

“You will.”

He throws me another uncertain look, but I blow him a kiss and call out as he steps into the hall. “We love you, Luke. Go and show them how it’s done.”

His smile returns as he shakes his head, chuckling, telling me he loves me before disappearing down the stairs. And I sink back onto the bed, covering my face in my hands, trying to control my thoughts to ease my rapid heart rate.

But it doesn’t work. And when Hayley calls a few hours later, I’m a mess.

“Hayley. Oh God, Hayley. There are photos of Luke with some girl and another article about him sleeping around and I—”

“Shit. I know,” she cuts me off. “But I didn’t know you did. Where’s Luke?”

“What?”

“I’ve seen them. Are you okay?”

“Jesus. When? Here I was thinking it was only Luke hiding things from me.”

“If he hid it, he was doing the right thing. It would have been better if you never saw them. Everyone knows they’re lying. He didn’t want to stress you, and neither did I. Please tell me you didn’t do anything rash.”

“Like what?”

“Like break up with him.”

“I didn’t. We’re good. It’s me that has issues.”

“No sweetie, it’s not. You need to work this out together. You need to talk.”

“We did. We were. And I realized he was just protecting me, so I stopped fighting him. I didn’t want him stressed before his game. But then I had a dream, and I can’t get rid of this tension in my chest.”

“Did you tell him about that?”

“No.”

“So you held something back to protect him?”

Goddammit. “Yes,” I whisper as tears prick my eyes. “What am I doing, Hayley? Why do I make things so hard for myself? And Luke.”

“Because of your dad, and I use that term lightly because he’s not your dad, not anymore. But that man did a number on you, and then Preston was a dick, and Luke even… You haven’t had a lot of opportunities to trust men. But Luke’s trying. And the two of you are as cute as hell together.”

“Is hell cute?” I giggle as I sniff back the tears.

“It is in my head.”

“Okay, good.” I stare at the mirror in front of me and my entire body calms. “Thank you.”

“Anytime. They’ve just called me for my script read-through so I have to go, but I can come over later if you want?”

“That’s okay. I’m feeling better.”

“Yeah?”

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