Lies Beneath the Surface (Buried Secrets #2)

by Silla Webb

  “Eh, it’s been brutal to be honest.”

  “It’s common in the first trimester, and every woman has a different experience with morning sickness. Be sure to stay hydrated with water, eat small snacks throughout the day to curb hunger and to keep your stomach satisfied. If the nausea is too overwhelming, try to add some fresh ginger to hot tea, or maybe even some fresh fruit smoothies.”

  “Thanks Kaylee, I’ll try that.” She sees me out to the front desk, where I make a follow up appointment. Overall, the appointment wasn’t as treacherous as I expected, but it was anything but pleasant.

  Savannah and I stop for a quick lunch at a small café just down the block from the Medical Center. I slowly sip the broth of the chicken noodle soup from the spoon, letting the warmth spread through me. Good chicken noodle soup can warm you like a thick blanket, making everything feel right in the world, if only for a few minutes.

  “So, I take it you haven’t told Colton about Luke yet, right?” She prods, wiping the corner of her mouth with the napkin. I cast my eyes down, stirring the noodles around and around in the bowl, letting the spoon clink against the side.

  “I will. Just been trying to keep him at a distance like you suggested.”

  “Has that been hard, seeing that you work with him?”

  “Easier than I imagined since he found the bouquet of flowers Luke had sent to the office last week. I think he suspects something, but he’s staying quiet. We talk when we have to, work related only and leave it at that.” I shrug.

  “You can’t bury this secret forever, Sis. I can see the burden you’re carrying from this. Your shoulders are slumped from the weight, and angst fills your eyes. You have to let the truth out.”

  “I know, Savannah, but it’s easier said than done.”

  “Ya know, Daddy raised us to always be honest. Regardless how bad the truth hurt.”

  “Yeah, but you didn’t know a damn thing about the bastard either.” I bite back, not thinking about the words that fly out of my mouth.

  “Carly, what the hell? Why would you say something like that?”

  “Nothing Savannah, I’m just tense. I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that.”

  “You know you can talk to me when you need too, right?”

  “I do, but I think I’ve burdened you enough. Come on, let’s get you home so you can get the kids from school.”

  The drive home is quiet, as I let Savannah’s advice soak in. She’s right. So I find my resolve to surface the truth.

  Chapter 5

  I let a week pass by before the gnawing tension of this secret weighs on me until I’m wore thin. I promised Savannah I would be honest with Luke and Colton about my pregnancy. As bad as I want to procrastinate in shattering their worlds, I know it’s best to get it done and over with.

  I called Luke this morning and asked him to meet me at the Village Diner for lunch. Of course he was thrilled to hear from me and agreed to meet. Escaping the office without Colton questioning me won’t be easy, but I’ve told enough lies over the last few weeks one more ain’t gonna hurt anything.

  When I get to the Village Diner I see Luke’s truck in the parking lot. A bit anxious to see me no doubt. I walk into the small brick restaurant and greet Mitzi who is wiping down the counter. She smiles, nodding to the back where I turn to see Luke. As I approach the table, he stands and pulls me into a strong hug. Mmm, his smell envelops my senses and carries me away. Electrifying jolts course through me with the slightest graze of his finger-tips, causing goose flesh to blanket my ivory skin.

  Every single thing about Luke Ashton is intoxicating and mesmerizing. From his piercing baby blue eyes, his gleaming white smile, and his strong, broad shoulders. He has a sensual heart, and thinks of everyone else first, himself always last. Yes, Luke Ashton is the perfect package, except for one, tiny flaw. He ain’t Colton. He may be able to cause my heart to race, but Colton stops my damn heart. When Luke can merely bring me to my knees, Colton paralyzes me.

  When Luke releases me from his embrace, we take a seat at the table, and begin to browse the menu. Reading from soups to sandwiches, the descriptions of each has my stomach doing somersaults. I close the menu laying it at the edge of the table, and look up to see Luke’s eyes peering through me.

  “Let me guess? It’s a snowy day, so you’re gonna have chicken and dumplings, right?” His lip tugs up in the corner.

  “Actually, I’m not hungry after all.” I whisper looking past him around the room, trying to find anything else to focus on besides him. He notices my anxiety immediately, and cups his palm over my hand.

  “Talk to me. What’s botherin’ you?” He asks, his eyebrows scrunching together.

  “That obvious, huh?” I laugh, trying to shake off the boulder that sits atop my shoulders. Luke smiles, but I know I ain’t getting off that easy.

  “Yeah, just a bit. We haven’t talked much since before Christmas. You avoid me, which is hurtful, by the way,” he pouts, “I know something’s on your mind, or we wouldn’t be here. So talk.”

  Yep…he had me at hurtful. God bless it, why do I have to hurt him, or Colton. Hell, I don’t know who I’m hurting but I know pain will be inflicted, hearts will break, and I will lose one of the two. I pull my lip between my teeth, nibbling away with little bites, trying to inflict the pain I’m so deserving of.

  “I really don’t know where to start. How to say it.” I shrug, tears already filling the brim of my eyes. Damn it, why do my emotions have to defy me? I said stay stong, Carly Jo!

  “It’s easy. You have a thought, you open your mouth and the words come out. And your mouth sure as hell is big enough, so open it up and let it go, angel.” He smirks. Cute, smartass attempt at easing my anxiety. Okay jackass, open my big mouth and let it out. You asked for it.

  “I’m pregnant.” I say quickly in a rushed breath. I want so badly to pinch my eye lids shut, to hold the tears back, but the shocked expression on Luke’s face pulls me in, and the tears fall harder. I half expected him to pull away from me, shoot up from the booth like his ass was on fire, but he doesn’t. He grips my hand tighter as he leans across the table and presses a feather light kiss to my cheek.

  “Congratulations Carly, you’re gonna be an amazin’ momma. Have you told Colton yet?” He says as a gleaming smile stretches from ear to ear across his tan face. Shit, he doesn’t understand. Does he know basic math? Hell, we went to school together, I’m sure he should.

  “Yeah, he was with me when I took the pregnancy test.”

  “I’m really happy for y’all. You deserve the happiness and a family.” He chuckles, rubbing small circles across the back of my hand.

  “Luke?” I ask, terrified to explain the heaviness of the situation. Why the hell don’t he get it? Shit, I know he was drunk when we happened, but he didn’t have any problem remembering it the next morning. “I don’t know that Colton is the daddy. I’m so sorry for springing this on you.” He stills at my confession, his eyes growing as big as saucers, and his lips drop open to thick luscious “O”. He stares off past me to at the wall in shock. An uncomfortable silence forms between us as Luke drifts farther into his thoughts. I snap my fingers in front of him, pulling him back down to Earth. When our eyes lock, his baby blues are tense, terror filling them. He pulls away from me, resting his elbow on the table and pinching the bridge of his nose with a deep sigh.

  “Does Colton know about us?” He asks me, cracking his knuckles.

  “You’re still breathin’ ain’t ya?” I laugh. He rolls his eyes, shaking his head at me.

  “You’re real cute, ya know that? I ain’t scared of that dick.” He states simply, shrugging his shoulders.

  “Luke, I really am sorry. I don’t want to hurt you or Colton, but obviously someone will be hurt, regardless of how this all turns out.”

  “Do you know how far along you are? Can they determine paternity by your period, or something? I just need to know what to expect here.” He urges.

  “I went to t
he doctor last week, and according to my last cycle I’m eight weeks pregnant. But it’s nearly impossible to determine paternity by my pregnancy term considering I had slept with Colton and you within the same week.” I wince, as the words leave my tongue. “Damn, I just realized I am such a slut.” I say, shaking my head at the thought. Luke reaches across the table, grasping my chin in his hand, forcing me to look up at him.

  “Damn it all to hell. Don’t you dare put yourself down like that, Carly! You weren’t with Colton when you and I were together. Yeah, we made love in a heated passion, thanks to being drunk off our asses. But we did nothing wrong. I don’t regret bein’ with you.” I roll my eyes because I will never be convinced otherwise.

  “Anyways, there are a few tests I can have done, but only one is safe to the baby. It’s a Pre-natal Paternity DNA test, but I have to wait until I’m fourteen weeks before they can do the test.” I inhale a deep breath, working up the courage to make my next request. “I really hate to even ask you Luke,”

  “You know I will, Carly. Whatever it is, just tell me when and where. I’ll be there.” Luke says cutting me off mid-sentence.

  I nod, smiling inwardly to myself, because I know Luke will do just about anything I ask of him. “Will you be okay with Colton being there, or should I make a separate appointment?”

  “It’s fine, but I’m worried about you being alone when you talk to him about us. You’re terrified of how he’s gonna react, I can see it written all over your face. Do you need me to be with you when you talk to him?”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Luke. The two of you like to act like crazed zoo animals while in the other’s presence, so maybe you should sit this one out.”

  “I just worry about you.”

  “Colton wouldn’t hurt me, Luke.”

  “Not physically, no. But he’s a dick and will literally flip his shit when he finds out I’ve had his girl. You can count on that.” He smirks, and I deserve his cocky attitude. Such. A. Slut. I kick at his shin from under the table and roll my eyes at him. An evil look he deserves for his cockiness.

  “He loves me, Luke. We’ve been through a lot together and apart. Bringing this down on him may just be the final blow. I don’t know how I’ll live if it is.”

  Luke leans back and releases a deep pent up breath. Staring down at the table he fidgets with the straw while he speaks. “I’m not trying to be an insensitive ass here, so please don’t hate me for sayin’ this.” He lifts his eyes, silently asking my permission for him to continue with his thought. I nod, willing him to go on. “I pray to God that baby you’re carryin’ belongs to Colton. You and I are friends. We will never have the kind of love that you and Colton have for each other. It just wouldn’t be fair to bring a baby into this world that wasn’t made out of love.” He laughs inwardly, but I’m not finding any humor in the discussion. “I have enough heartache of my own to live with, Carly. I couldn’t bare us having a baby together and not bein’ able to make you happy. Because I’m not him. I’ll be by your side if the baby is mine, or not. But we both know friendship is all we will ever have.” I can see the pain in his eyes as he speaks. But he’s right. I want nothing more than for this baby to be Colton’s.

  We chat for a short while, before we agree to meet at the doctor’s office for the paternity test. I don’t need to tell Luke to keep this little secret between us. We may be just friends, but Luke sees through me, and understands my unspoken words. I stand to leave, giving him a one armed hug, just to try to keep this at a friend level. I grab a to-go cup of sweet tea on my way out the door before heading back to Simon Energy.

  Now, I just have to work up the courage to break the news to Colton. And that, will be the earthquake to rattle Eastern Kentucky.

  When I get back to Simon Energy, Colton is at Shelly’s desk. I walk through the lobby greeting them both as I head to my office, only to notice Colton quick on my heels. I drop my messenger bag and purse beside the desk and plop down in the leather chair. Colton shuts the door behind him. Guess he’s planning on being here for a bit.

  “Need something?” I ask, looking up through my glasses. He’s standing in front of the desk with his arms crossed over his chest, studying me with his lips pressed into a hard line.

  “Where’ve you been?” He probes.

  “Lunch.” I reply, avoiding eye contact with him as I pick through the memos Shelly left on my desk while I was out.

  “I would have joined ya had you asked, darlin’.”

  “Sorry, had to meet a friend.”

  “A friend, huh?” He rubs his hand across his day old stubble, and I continue to sift through the mail, not paying much mind to his interrogation. “So you’re feelin’ alright? You ain’t been talkin’ to me much, avoidin’ my phone calls. Dodge me as much as you can here at work.” He pouts, his chocolate brown eyes resembling that of a sad puppy.

  “Not avoiding you, Colton. I’m overworked, tired and guess what, I’m pregnant!” I mock, waving my hands in the air in sarcasm.

  “I know, darlin’. I just worry about you. We have a lot to talk about. How ‘bout I bring dinner over tonight, and we talk it out?” He suggests, and I agree. Might as well lay all of our cards on the table. It’s only fair that I tell him that Luke may be the daddy. I can’t keep stringing him along, giving him false hope. He smiles, and tells me he will see me around eight thirty tonight after he gets Heidi Jo settled in for the evening.

  When I get home, I straighten up the house before giving Savannah a call to catch her up to speed. I tell her that I’ve talked to Luke and about his reaction to my pregnancy. I inform her that Colton and I are talking tonight, and that I’m rattled with the fear of what’s to come. Being the amazingly up beat, rainbows and butterflies kinda gal that she is, she assures me that it will all work out and to stow my emotions until they’re needed. Easy as that? Sure Sis, you know who the twins’ daddy is!

  At eight thirty sharp, I hear the roaring rumble of Colton’s Silverado pulling up the driveway. My heart immediately begins to pound against my chest, just knowing that my fate could be walking up the porch steps within minutes, then turning his back forever. When I open the door to let Colton in, I see that he is just as much a mess as I am. He walks inside taking a seat on the couch. He doesn’t even bother with hugs or kisses which is unlike him, and gives me cause to worry about this night even more. He’s keeping me at arm’s length, but why? I’m used to Colton smothering me with love, his hands constantly in contact with my body when we are together, so his distance worries me.

  “I thought you were bringing dinner?” I ask, as I pull my knees up into my chest, nestling myself into the corner of the couch. He sighs, as he rubs his chin. He looks over at me with a nervous grin.

  “Figured we’d order something. Don’t really know how you’re handling food right now.”

  “No worries. I’m not really hungry anyways.”

  “What have you eaten today?” I roll my eyes up, and fall into deep thought for just a second before answering him.

  “Grapes.”

  “That’s all? You gotta eat, Carly Jo. Damn it, the baby needs nutrition! If you ain’t gettin’ nutrition, how do you expect it to live?” He barks at me with a thunderous tone.

  “Okay, chill out. Damn, I had a busy day, and I don’t have an appetite. I’m taking pre-natal vitamins, and I eat when I’m hungry. So back the hell up.” I shriek. My nerves are tattered enough without him bitchin’ at me. This evening is gonna go to hell in a hand basket, quick. He scrubs his hands roughly against his face, then reaches out to me. I scoot closer to him, but keep a distance between us. He lifts my hand to his mouth, peppering kisses across my knuckles, batting his long silky eyelashes at me.

  “I’ve missed ya, darlin’.” He smiles sincerely. I muster up a smile that doesn’t meet my eyes, and lay my head against his chest. The awkward tension about the room is unnerving. Almost as if we’re both afraid of what’s to come, but we know something painful is just beyond th
e bend. Colton decides to order a pizza and we make small talk while we wait for the delivery.

  “What day is your appointment? I think I wrote it on the calendar on my desk at work. I wanna go with ya.”

  “Uhm, I go back in two weeks though, so maybe you can go then.” He leans up bracing his elbows on his knees, looking over at me with a cocked eye brow; a look that tells me he’s pissed.

  “Wait, what? You already had an appointment?” He shakes his head in disbelief. I nod. “Why didn’t you tell me? I really wanted to be there for you, Carly Jo.” He says, disappointment flashing across his eyes.

  “I was nervous, and just wanted to be alone for my first appointment. I really didn’t know what to expect.” I say chewing on the bottom of my lip. Colton sits quietly for a few minutes, staring off into oblivion.

  “What’d the doctor say? Everything look alright?” He asks.

  “Everything is okay. I’m eight weeks along. The expected due date is September 6th.” Colton looks over to me and nods, remaining silent. He is acting eerily odd, like something is bothering him. The door-bell rings, interrupting our conversation. Colton pays the delivery guy, then brings the pizza to the coffee table before going to the kitchen for drinks. We eat in silence, Colton keeping a close eye on me. I manage to get down one slice before the grease laden dough begins to knot my stomach. When Colton see’s that I’m finished, he speaks up.

  “Carly Jo, I’ve learned a lot over these last few months. I know that smotherin’ ya only pushes you away more, so I’m tryin’ to give you some room. I know that you’re scared and nervous about your pregnancy, but I want to be there if you’ll let me. If you want to do it all alone, I’ll leave you be. I know we ain’t together, and I ain’t happy ‘bout it. I want us to work through everything, so we can build our family around happiness and love. But you gotta work with me, not against me.” He nods, cueing the end of his short speech as he balls up a napkin in his fist then tosses it to the coffee table. I suck in a long deep breath, as I try to calm my rattled nerves. My heart scatters about wildly in my chest, beating out of rhythm. He laces his fingers through mine, locking out hands together tightly. Tears begin to fill my eyes, but I swipe them away quickly.