Page 74 of Beautiful Storm

Isomehow smile through my media commitments and even project the fun and carefree Luke I usually am. But the second I get back to my locker, I have my phone in hand ready to text Amelia. The sad expression on her face when she walked away hasn’t left my mind for the past forty minutes. I have no idea if Keeley put a ban on discussing the incident, but thankfully no one asked me about it because I’m not sure I could have kept my cool.

Who the fuck does that man think he is? And in what day and age is it okay to call a woman out for being pregnant?I can’t fathom what he thought was going to happen. Did he think Tom was going to fire her on the spot and hand the reins over to him? And that we’d just accept that?

I squeeze my phone in my hand and will myself to calm down. He’s gone and I need to focus on what’s important. Amelia. Amelia is what’s important. She never came back after walking off the field and I’m worried.

I’m worried.

It’s like I’ve come full circle.

I went from wanting to protect her when we were kids, to being pissed off by the very sight of her, to caring about my unborn child, to caring about her, to suddenly wanting to protect her with all that I am. Whatever it takes. And as hard as I try to pretend that has everything to do with Jelly Bean, I know that’s not true. Deep down I’ve always cared—there’s no denying it—and I need to know she’s alright.

Luke: Are you okay?

I stare down at the screen for a solid minute before accepting that she’s probably not going to respond straight away, and instead, collect my things to leave. Reed nods when he catches my stare, but when I lock eyes with Easton, he turns away, just like he’d do in any other situation. As though nothing happened, and it pisses me off. I’d call him out on it, but I’m smart enough to know that now’s not the time. I need everyone to move on from what happened with Amelia, not draw attention to it.

I’m on my way home when my phone finally buzzes, and I can’t wait until I arrive to check it, pulling over to the side of the road the second I get a chance.

Only to be disappointed.

Thomas: What the hell is going on?

Can’t say I didn’t know that was coming. I’m actually surprised it took this long; I expected him to chase me into the parking lot. It’s the kind of shit that we do. And he’d have every right to question me. I should have told him sooner. It’s been killingLainey to keep it a secret, and I shouldn’t have put her in that position to begin with.

Instead of texting him back, I drive straight to their house and prepare myself for the million questions. It’s time I told them both everything that’s going on. I could use my sister and my friend right now.

Lainey’s eyes widen when she opens the door, but when Thomas sees me, he calls out from behind her.

“Well, this saves me a call. I appreciate that.”

Lainey’s brows furrow as she spins around. “What’s going on?”

“Ask your brother.”

I subtly shake my head when Lainey glances back before walking inside and closing the door behind me.

“There’s something I need to tell you both.”

Thomas raises an eyebrow as his lips pull into a suppressed smirk and he waves a hand in front of him. “Go on.”

“I’m getting married,” I blurt on purpose to wipe that smug expression off his face. “And she’s having my baby.” Thomas’s jaw drops while Lainey bursts out laughing, and when he hears her, he smiles, assuming I’m joking.

“Hilarious. What’s really—”

“He’s not kidding. It’s tomorrow. I’m the witness.”

“What?” He spins Lainey’s way and gapes. “I thought we weren’t supposed to keep things from each other?”

“We’re not. But this wasn’t my secret to tell. Kind of like the secret you had that Luke kept quiet about?”

“Fuck, okay. I love you; you’re forgiven. But you—” He turns and points at my chest. “You need to start talking.”

“I will. Geez, can I at least sit down?”

Thomas shakes his head but follows me into the living room, and when I’m sitting, I tell him everything I told Lainey, letting him know we’re keeping it quiet but that her dickwad of a colleague tried to announce it today.

“Thank God Reed and I overheard that asshole, because otherwise he would have announced it to the world.”

“You don’t think they’d actually fire her, do you?” Lainey asks, her voice full of concern.

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