Page 86 of How Good It Was (Excess All Areas 3)

He picked up his clothes and walked back into the hotel room, where Willow was standing out on the balcony.

“Are you feeling better?” she asked as he joined her.

He wanted a cigarette. Wanted to be on his own.

No. He didn’t.

He needed someone to hold on to. “Much. Come here.”

Luke opened his arms and Willow stepped into them. The warmth of her heated his chilled bones. For a moment, he considered telling her, spilling his guts until she knew everything. But he wasn’t ready for that.

Yet.

Stars twinkled in the ink-blue sky, the shush of the waves the only sound. Peace wasn’t something he realised he missed until he experienced it. It left him with a sense of wonder, with space to actually create something without having to refer to the noise that always filled his head.

He stood holding on to Willow like she was driftwood in his swirling ocean. A way to keep his head above water while he was buffeted from all sides.

From within.

“I suppose I should keep my distance a little,” she said, pulling away from him. “If you are sick sick, not car sick, I might catch it, and I’m not sure how good for the baby that would be.”

Finally, he released her. “Let’s get some sleep, flower.”

Disappointed in himself, he led her to the bed he’d mentally made plans for all day. The two of them, a warm sea breeze, naked bodies.

But now, there was no way they could do that. She was right. If he was sick, she should keep her distance. Only he knew he wasn’t. But telling her what was wrong, was far more painful than spending a night without her in his arms.

At least, that’s what he tried to convince himself of as they drifted asleep on opposite sides of the bed.

Luke perched on a rocky outcrop and watched Willow take pictures of the bay and harbour. There was something quite captivating about her when she worked. She was truly happy with what she did. And now he understood just how much work was involved, he’d stopped thinking of content creation and being an influencer as an easy career. There were hours plotting out themes, stories, and content. Hour spent editing and posting and commenting.

She was building something real. Hell, with as many followers as she had, perhaps it was already built. And maybe joy came from reaping the rewards of that kind of effort.

The dress she wore kept whipping up with the breeze blowing in off the water. Her bump looked bigger, and she looked ... glowing.

Beautiful.

And right at this minute, he felt the same peace he’d felt on the balcony the previous night. Words would change that, but he’d decided at some point during the early hours of the morning that he needed to be honest with her. And by being honest, perhaps he’d give them a better foundation to build the two of them and their relationship on.

Because what kind of father would he be if simply thinking about the future led him to panic?

Luke grabbed a white pebble from the ground and rubbed it between his thumb and finger. It was smooth, perfect, and, hopefully, lucky.

Let her be okay with this.

Willow stood suddenly, pressed her hand to her stomach, then grinned before carefully stepping over the uneven rocks to get to him.

“I just felt Cletus.” She pressed her hand to her stomach again. “He’s moving, Luke. I can’t feel it outside, but I can feel it inside and it’s the weirdest yet most amazing thing.” Laughter laced her words, and her smile reached her eyes.

“You did?” Luke placed his hand over hers, even though she’d told him she couldn’t feel it outside. Yet. He’d been reading a book about when he’d be able to, and knew it would be a while before he could share the experience with her.

“Yeah. I can’t tell you what it was. Hand? Foot, maybe. Possibly hiccups because I know you can supposedly feel that at eighteen weeks.”

He gently tugged her down next to him. “He’s letting us know he’s there.”

“Which is a good thing, right?”

Luke faced her, took in the way wisps of her messy bun fluttered in the wind, the way her eyes shone brighter than they had in days, and the way her lips curved in a smile.

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