Page 45 of Beautiful Storm

“Can you quit it?” I say, my eyes locked on the soft wool as she destroys it with her shoes. “Just tell me. So they found out about the fire. Big deal. You said you wouldn’t use it, so I don’t know why we need to talk about it. You’re not using it, right?” A trace of panic hits me but I ignore it when Amelia’s eyes flash my way.

“What?” She stops pacing, staring at me as though I have two heads, her expression confused.

“Did you hear anything I said?”

“Honestly, no. But I can say with absolute certainty your whining is misguided.”

“Oh, yeah?” I cross my arms over my chest as I sit back. “Then if it’s not the fire, what is it?”

“The fire? Ugh.” She rolls her eyes. “You’re so far off base—”

“Spit. It. Out.”

“I’m pregnant,” she blurts…or maybe she spits just like I asked; I’m not close enough to tell. Either way I laugh somewhat inappropriately.

“Congratulations. Do you want me to force the team to cut you some slack or—”

“It’s yours.”

What? At that I laugh harder. Though I have no fucking clue why.

“Are you serious, Luke? You’re laughing.”

My phone lights up with a text but I ignore it. “Are you serious?” I counter with a scoff. “Or is this some kind of fucked-up joke or gold-digging situation?”

“Excuse me?” Amelia laughs this time but it’s a little sadistic. “Do you honestly think I’d lie about that? I’d rather choose literallyanyoneelse to be my baby’s father. No matter how rich or poor they were.”

She’s offended but since it couldn’t possibly cause more of a rift between us, I shrug. That ship sailed right under a bridge. May as well burn that fucker to the ground too. “What about your husband? Or do you sleep around because you’re not fucking him?”

“What the hell, Luke?” Her fists clench at her sides and her gaze hardens. If I thought her glare was solid in the past, this one is five stars. But she lied to me. How do I know she’s not lying now?

“Are you or are you not married?”

“I’m not…” She trails off as her shoulders drop and she lets out a long sigh. “I’m married.”Ding ding ding, correct answer.“Technically,” she adds. “But I’ve filed the paperwork for our divorce. We’ve been separated for over a year.”

“Yeah, okay.” I roll my eyes. “Then why is he still referring to you as his wife?” My teeth clench as I say the word “wife” and I curse myself for showing her that this is getting to me when it shouldn’t be. I shouldn’t care.

Amelia sighs again. “Until last week, Preston refused to sign the papers. He’s all about the publicity these days, and maybehe thinks a divorce will be bad for his music. Especially since his latest hit is an upbeat love song. Either way, his decisions are his decisions, and he stopped caring about how that would affect me years ago.”

Shit. My trusty Internet is not so trusty. I’m a dick. No wonder she hates me. And what the fuck, Preston?

“I’m sorry. I’m an asshole.” I shrug. It’s not an excuse, but we both know it’s true.

“You really are,” she seethes before throwing her head back and silently cursing the heavens. “But honestly, you being an asshole was never in question.” My eyes flash to hers to catch her raising a brow in challenge, making me huff out a laugh.

“Nope. And since you already know that about me, I have to ask… Are you sure the baby is mine?”

Amelia closes her eyes before taking a deep breath and opening them again, pinning me with an expression that says, “you’re a dick.” And maybe I am, but I had to ask.

“Yes. I’m one hundred percent sure. Happy now?”

“Not exactly.” This is not how I expected the rest of my day to go.

“I know it’s a lot.”

“You think?”

“Jesus, Luke. Would you shut up for a second? God, I was prepared for all kinds of negative responses but this is so hard.”

---