Page 103 of Beautiful Storm

I stare at the windows in front of me, but rather than see through them, it’s like they’re projecting images back to me. Amelia telling me she’s pregnant, Amelia and me getting married, Amelia screaming my name. The events of the pastfew months keep rotating through my mind until I’m completely spiraling.

I increase the speed again and turn up my music, hoping to distract myself, but it doesn’t work. I can still visualize her. Still feel her and it’s driving me crazy.

I run faster, pushing myself to the limits as a song I don’t recognize blasts my eardrums, finally drowning out the nerves.

My legs shake, but I keep going until Easton appears in my line of sight, making me jump as he holds his hands up in front of me.

He mouths something, but I don’t hear him until I slow my machine and hit stop on the music.

“Jesus, Luke,” he barks when I reach a comfortable jog. “You’re going to hurt yourself.”

A sharp pain radiates through my calf, but I shake my head, pretending I’m fine.

“What do you think you’re doing? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I lie, slowing the machine again until I’m at a fast walk, easing the cramp in my leg.

Easton scoffs. “My bad. Great. I’ll be on my way then.” He turns around, and I huff out a laugh. Easton usually keeps to himself, but I’ve seen his protective side a couple of times now, more so since he became a dad. But something he never does is fuck around and joke. The sarcasm is dripping from his words. But I pretend not to notice.

“Good. AndI’llget back to it.”

Easton’s nose flares as he spins back around, his fists clenched at his sides. “Do you think I’m stupid? You are not fine. Do a proper cooldown, get showered, then meet me at the door. We’re going out.”

“I’m fine.”That’s the last thing I need right now.

“We’regoing. Pretend you’re doing it for me if it helps. I’ve had a bad couple of days and I need a friend.”

“Shit. You do?”

“No, fucker. Just hurry up.” He folds his arms over his chest and waits for me to respond. I want to tell him no, because I can’t imagine anything worse than spending time with a guy that’s always grumpy, when I’m already in a mood, but I could use his help. Since he knows a little about what I’m going through.

“Fine,” I toss out like a child, while Easton doesn’t bat an eyelid. “Give me fifteen minutes.’

It pains me to do as he asked, but I take my time to cool down properly, stopping when my leg is back to normal. And when it comes time to shower, I slow my pace further, something I’m sure he didn’t want, because I’m petty like that.

But when I finally walk out, a smirk on my face, I get no reaction.

Easton’s waiting exactly where he said he’d be, talking on his phone, not at all put out by my tardiness.

“You ready?” he says when I reach him, his gaze averted as he pockets his phone.

“As I’ll ever be. Where are we going?”

“That new bar at the Westerly Hotel?” Great, the same place I shared my night with Amelia.

“So, East wants to go West.” I laugh, instead of letting myself spiral again.

Easton finally meets my stare, making sure I note the lack of amusement in his eyes. “Are you going to be a fucker all your life?”

“Probably,” I say honestly, because this version of me comes out when I don’t want to be myself. And right now, I don’t know who the fuck I am.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Luke

It’s only midday and I’ve already downed three shots aptly named “Panty Droppers” plus two whiskeys and… I’ve got to admit, I feel better.

“I can’t believe I skipped practice.” I fake a gasp or maybe it’s real; I can’t tell. Either way… “I can’t believe you skipped practice. For me.”

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