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The restaurant buzzed with laughter and clinking silverware, but I was barely paying attention. Josh and Laura were across from me, deep in conversation about something or other, but I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling in the back of my mind.
“Hey, Josh,” I said, interrupting whatever he was rambling about. “Where’s Luke?”
He blinked at me, confused. “What do you mean? He said he was picking up Italian and meeting you at home.”
My stomach dropped. “Shit. I forgot to text him and tell him I was feeling better and decided to join you guys.”
Laura winced sympathetically. “Oops.”
“It’s fine,” I said quickly, grabbing my purse. “I’ll just head back and meet him there.”
Josh gave me a look like he wanted to say something smart, but Laura nudged him under the table, and he wisely kept his mouth shut.
The drive home was short, thankfully, and I pulled into the driveway with a sigh of relief. My hands rested on my belly for a moment before I climbed out. “You’re lucky your dad is the forgiving type,” I murmured to the baby, knowing full well Luke was going to give me hell for leaving him in the dark,
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The moment l’opened the front door, the rich aroma of carbs hit me. My lips curved into a smile. Pasta. My heart melted a little at the thought of Luke going out of his way to grab my favorite. God, I loved that man.
But he wasn’t in the kitchen.
The containers were still sealed on the counter, the oven keeping everything warm.
I paused, listening.
From upstairs, I heard the faint creak of a door opening.
He was probably in the shower. That man loved to work himself to the bone and then take forever in the bathroom.
I headed up the stairs, my feet dragging a little because this baby had officially claimed my bladder as its personal trampoline. Seriously, did it have to be right there?
The hallway was dimly lit, and I was halfway to the bathroom when the bedroom door swung open.
Luke stepped out, “What the fuck was that!”
It was Luke, his voice low and sharp as he ran his hands through his hair.
“Hey, babe,” I said, offering him a smile as I stepped into the hallway.
He froze, his eyes wide and his shoulders snapping back like someone had jabbed a knife between them.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, frowning as I moved closer. “Sorry–l
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forgot to text you and tell you I decided to go to dinner after all.”
Luke blinked at me like he was trying to process my words, but the tension in his jaw didn’t ease
The sound of the bedroom door creaking open drew my attention immediately.
I froze, halfway through the hallway, as Sarah stepped out, her damp blond hair clinging to her shoulders and nothing but a towel wrapped snugly around her body.
Luke froze too, his hands dropping from his hair to his sides as he stared at her, his expression unreadable but rigid.
Sarah blinked, looking between the two of us before rolling her eyes dramatically. “Relax, sheesh,” she said, crossing her arms. “There wasn’t any water downstairs, that’s all. I wanted a hot shower and thought nobody was here. I’m sorry.”
I clenched my jaw, my gaze darting between Luke, who was half–dressed and still pale as a sheet, and Sarah, who seemed entirely too comfortable with the situation. For a fleeting second, I could have suspected the worst. But the stunned, deer–in–the–headlights look on Luke’s face told me he had no idea Sarah was in that shower.
She, however, was clearly enjoying how bad this looked, her smug expression giving her away.
I might be pregnant, but I’m not dumb.
“It’s fine,” I said, keeping my voice steady even as my pulse quickened. My lips stretched into a tight smile. “Luke Jooks like he’s just seen a ghost anyway. Just lock the door next time…
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unless you like having people walk in on you.”
Sarah paused, her brows lifting as if she were actually
considering my words. I could practically hear the cogwheels turning in her head.
“Of course,” she said after a moment, her tone dripping with faux sincerity. “I should’ve locked the door. But, I mean, to be fair, now we know everyone in this hallway likes a little show… even if I’m the entertainment, it seems.”
She punctuated the statement with a wink aimed directly at me.
I felt the heat rise up my neck, my hands twitching with the urge to launch something in her direction. A punch would’ve been satisfying. A good one too, right to that smirking face of hers. But no, I couldn’t give her the satisfaction of knowing she got under my skin.
Instead, I plastered on the politest smile I could muster, ignoring the fire burning in my chest. “Noted,” I said curtly, turning on my heel.
I grabbed Luke’s hand–partly to steady myself and partly to make a statement–and led him into the bedroom without
another word.
The moment the door clicked shut behind us, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. Luke, still rattled, ran a hand through his hair, looking like he’d just survived a near–death experience.
“What the hell was that?” he muttered, his voice low and incredulous.
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“Sarah,” I said ‘simply, leaning back against the door and crossing my arms.
Luke exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “I didn’t-”
“I know,” I cut him off, my voice softer now. “I know you didn’t. The look on your face said it all.”
He blinked at me, clearly relieved but still visibly annoyed. “She’s out of her fucking mind.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, my fingers flexing against my arms. “And she knows exactly what she’s doing.”
Luke’s jaw tightened, the frustration in his eyes matching my own. “If she pulls this crap again, I’m locking her out of the house.”
“Deal,” I said with a small smirk, finally feeling the anger dissipate.
Luke stepped closer, his hands settling on my hips as he leaned down to kiss my forehead. “You’re too good for this nonsense, you know that?”
“I know,” I said with a sigh, letting myself relax into his touch.
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