Page 168 of Beautiful Storm

CHAPTER FIFTY

Luke

I’m bouncing Juliet in my arms the next day, trying to get her to sleep when Thomas and Lainey arrive for a visit, and the second my eyes lock with Thomas, I know I’m in trouble.

“I’m guessing you didn’t come justto meet your niece?” I whisper so I don’t wake Amelia, my eyes flashing to Lainey for her reaction. To which she cringes.

“Of course I came to meet my niece,” he says until I raise an eyebrow and he chuckles. “Andto talk about practice tomorrow.”

“What about it?”

“Nope.” He holds up his hand. “More important things first. She’s beautiful, Luke. All her genes must come from her mother or her aunt.” He winks at Lainey as I roll my eyes.

“You’re funny. No cuddles for you then.”

“Ooh. Can I have one?” Lainey whispers excitedly. “I’ve been so patient.”

I’ll give her that. She’s seen Juliet three times without a cuddle. “Yes, you can hold her, but if you wake her, you die.”

“Brutal but fair.”

I gently pass Juliet into Lainey’s arms and smile as both her and Thomas’s eyes light up with him settling in behind her. Giving them a second to themselves, I make myself busy getting a drink, before Lainey walks over. “How’s Amelia doing?”

“She’s good. Great. The doctors are happy. The swelling hasn’t reduced today, but it’s no worse and other than a shocking headache, she hasn’t had any other symptoms.”

“That's a relief. Except the headache.” A tension leaves Lainey’s shoulders, and I realize she’s been carrying around my worry, just like I used to do for her when we were younger.

“Thank you for being here yesterday. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

“You would have been fine. You know how to step up when you’re needed. But I’m always here. You know that.”

“I do. And likewise.”

“Is it my turn now?” Thomas asks, almost bouncing on his toes, making me suspicious.

“Are you two…” I trail off when Lainey’s eyes widen as she reads my thoughts.

“No. At this stage, we’re just happy to be proud aunt and uncle.”

“Okay.”

Thomas takes over from Lainey and bounces her like I was as the conversation drifts back to football.

“I wish I didn’t have to bring this up now,” Thomas says with an apologetic expression. “But I strongly advise that you talk to Coach before practice tomorrow. If you show up as though nothing happened, he’s not going to be happy.”

“Oooh, and do you think Coach expects me to give him an apology gift basket too?”

“Don’t be a dick. I get why you left, and I would have done that same thing in your position, but you missed a game. Youdisappeared minutes before we ran out onto the field without telling him yourself. Or anyone. I’m just saying that if you want to guarantee your position for the first game of the playoffs, you need to talk to Coach.”

“He already fined me. I’ve been punished.”

“Luke.” His voice raises before he softens it again. “What is going on with you? We’re so close to the end. To what we’ve been working for. We have a shot of making it to the Super Bowl. A shot to win.”

“I know.” Jake’s words play through my mind again, and while I hate that he got to me, which was most likely his plan, I still can’t stop thinking about it. “Jefferson is selling the team,” I admit, refusing to carry this burden alone. Thomas laughs, thinking I’m joking, and I wish I was. “I’m not kidding and Coach knows. It’s why he’s been so stressed out this season.”

“Fu—” His eyes flash to Juliet’s before he continues. “I meanJesus.”

“I can’t talk to Coach without asking him about it. That’s why I’m hesitant.”

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