Page 46 of Beautiful Storm

My eyes fall to her stomach as she steps closer to say more, but I cut her off despite her telling me not to.

“I’m…gonna be a dad?”

She pauses, an argument ready to launch, before she huffs out a breath. “Yeah,” she breathes out, the idea clearly not thrilling her. “Unlike you,” she continues, using the “you” as a little slap to the face, “I don’t fuck around, meaning I know with certainty that it’s yours.”

“Ouch.” I fake a cringe though her words don’t hurt me. I’m not ashamed of that part of my life.

“Don’t act like you didn’t deserve that,” Amelia snaps, misinterpreting my response.

“You’re right. I was an ass so you’re being a brat. I get it. But now that’s out of the way, apologies in advance for this.”

“For what?”

I jump up and stalk out of the room before screaming at the top of my lungs. “Fuck. Fuck. Motherfucking. Fuck. Fuck.”

I’m so loud, Shadow starts aggressively pawing at the back door, determined to break the glass so she can come to my rescue. I’d find it adorable if I wasn’t numb.I’m having a kid. I’m going to be a dad. To Amelia’s baby.

Holy shit.

I poke my head back into the room to find Amelia staring in my direction, a look of horror on her face. “I’m going to need a moment to process this.” I gesture between the two of us and put on a fake smile. “But please stay. I won’t be long.”

Amelia nods but I don’t wait for her to speak, turning away as she rushes out, “Okay.”

How the hell is this happening?

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Amelia

Itry to sit still while Luke’s gone, but it’s impossible with all the thoughts and feelings running through me. That could have gone better, but it also could have gone worse. I think. I’m a little confused. I was not expecting him to mention Preston, and I was not at all prepared when he did. Luke and I may not have been friends for years, but the hatred in his tone was something else entirely.

He was hurt.

He didn’t like the thought that I’d deceived him somehow, and God, if that isn’t hypocrisy.

Should I have told him to grow the fuck up and find me when he had calmed down?Probably. But I made a promise to put our child first and that’s what I’m doing. I’m staying so we can have an adult conversation. I learned my lesson after Preston.

And maybe Luke and I should have talked about all our issues way back when, but what’s done is done. Our baby is the only thing we need to discuss today, and I’m not leaving until he tells me to go.

Five minutes go past. Then ten and fifteen. And I’m just about to call out when Luke waltzes in, seemingly without a care in the world.

“Okay, I’m back,” he announces. “So what happens now?”

What?I stare at him, my brows dipped in confusion.That’s it?He disappears after screaming fuck multiple times and comes back all cool, calm, and collected.

“What happens now? What does that mean?”

Luke raises an eyebrow, suggesting I’m the one acting weird. “I thought that was obvious. You’re pregnant. It’s my baby. So, what’s next?”

Huh? I blink a few times. I was ready for a range of emotions and reactions, but this wasn’t on my bingo card. “I…ah…I have an appointment next week for an ultrasound. The first one. And that’s when we’ll know more specific details like size and due date.”

“Good, good,” Luke says calmly. “Text me the details and I’ll be there. Do you have a specific doctor you’ll be seeing? Do you know what hospital you’re going to? Some have private suites, right? We’ll definitely want one of those.”

“Luke—”

“I’ll chat with Dylan. I’ll bet he and Summer had a private suite—”

“Luke, stop. Please.” I stand and take a step toward him, but he moves around me and walks closer to the armchair in the corner of the room. Not that he sits. He just hovers. “My insurance doesn’t cover any of that,” I continue, wishing more than anything that wasn’t the case.

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