by Caragh Bell
The party was in full swing when they eventually arrived.
The bassline was low and funky. Young, beautiful people filled every room. The smell of dope filled the air and the ground was littered with empty cans and plastic glasses. Girls gave Luca approving glances as he passed, but he ignored them completely.
Tyler got two beers from the keg in the corner.
‘So, what’s the deal, Luca? When will you be back for good?’ He took an enormous gulp.
‘Hmmm?’ Luca wasn’t listening. Instead he was thinking of Van Gogh. He should try and go to the Museum of Modern Art and get her a book or something like that.
‘Luca!’ Tyler shook his arm. ‘Snap out of it. What’s going down, bro?’
‘Nothing.’ Luca drained his beer. ‘Nothing at all.’
‘Did someone die, or something?’
‘Nah. Everything’s cool.’ He managed a half-smile.
Suddenly a pretty girl in a flimsy black dress sidled up to them and kissed Tyler on the cheek.
‘Hey, Ty,’ she said, flicking her blonde hair. ‘Long time no see.’ She gave Luca a hot look. ‘Who’s your buddy?’
Luca smiled wanly. ‘I’m Luca,’ he said, offering his hand lamely.
‘Luca,’ she echoed, licking her lips suggestively. ‘Nice name.’
Tyler gave Luca the thumbs-up behind her back. ‘Luca, this is Rosa. You guys haven’t met before?’
Luca shook his head. ‘No, we haven’t. Hey, Rosa.’
Rosa sat down next to him, and exposed a long, slender thigh. ‘So, where are you from?’ she asked in a husky voice.
Luca jumped to his feet, as though he were electrocuted. ‘Sorry, guys, I’ve got to split. Ty, thanks for the beer, man. Later.’
He turned around and strode out of the room. Rosa’s cheeks reddened. Tyler mouthed an apology and backed away.
‘What the hell?’ Tyler scampered after him. ‘Have you lost your mind? She’s freakin’ hot. What were you thinking?’
Luca stopped and turned around slowly. ‘I want to go home. I told you that I didn’t want to go to this bullshit party. Got it?’
‘No, man. I don’t get it. You always want to party. That’s the way you roll.’
‘Well, not anymore.’
‘What?’ Tyler looked dumbfounded. ‘You serious?’
‘Yeah, I met this girl and I like her.’
Tyler burst out laughing and then stopped when he saw the murderous expression on Luca’s face. ‘You? You met a girl? That I gotta see.’
‘Anyways, I’m not interested in anyone else, so …’
Tyler was shaking his head in disbelief. ‘You’re crushing on some Irish girl, is that it?’
‘So what if I am?’ Luca looked at him menacingly.
‘Oh yeah? Then, what’s the problem? Why are you back in New York? Why aren’t you with her?’
Luca paused, his heart heavy. ‘She doesn’t want me,’ he said quietly.
‘What?’ Tyler grabbed his arm. ‘She doesn’t want you? Are you crazy?’
Luca shook his head. ‘She’s got a boyfriend. She won’t split with him. Game over.’
He stopped outside the subway station, his ticket in his hand. ‘Look, Ty. Thanks for inviting me out, but I’ve got to go home.’
Tyler frowned. ‘It looks like you gotta go back.’
Luca closed his eyes. ‘It’s not that easy ...’
‘You gotta go back, get this other guy outta the picture and bring this girl back to New York. I gotta meet the girl who tamed the Jacob.’
‘The Jacob?’ Luca repeated, amused. ‘You serious?’
‘Damn right, I’m serious. Every guy in high school looked up to you, man. You were the love machine. I never thought I’d see a day where you were in love, like for real.’
‘Well, I guess that now you have.’
They hugged briefly.
‘Look after yourself, Ty. See you soon, bro.’
Tyler fist bumped him. ‘I’m gonna go back and console Rosa. I think I gotta chance, now that you’ve blown her off.’
‘Have a blast, man.’
He walked down the steps, into the subway station.
Tyler was right. He had to go back and face her. He had to try.
Chapter 40
Lydia’s heart started to pound. Her period was late.
She struggled to think. She had it after the skiing trip and nothing since.
Luca.
What would he think?
Sitting on the toilet bowl, she felt light-headed. She couldn’t be pregnant.
No way. There was only one time when she wasn’t careful. And she had taken the morning-after pill. What were the odds of that?
She was probably late because of being sick and not eating properly.
Or from stress. That was it. Stress.
She looked at her knickers, willing the familiar red stain to appear. How late was she? Which dates was she dealing with here?
A box of tampons stood on the shelf above the sink, taunting her.
Getting to her feet, she exited the bathroom in a daze, only to bump straight into Samantha.
‘Lyd! What’s wrong? You look awful!’
Her face crumpled and she burst into tears. ‘Oh Sam, oh Sam, I’m in a terrible mess. Oh, Sam!’
Her friend took her arm and led her into her room.
‘Sit down and tell me everything,’ she ordered. ‘I have had enough of all this. What the hell is going on?’
Lydia sniffed dolefully. ‘I think I’m pregnant.’
Samantha gasped. ‘What? Are you sure? Oh Lyd, that’s pretty crazy.’
Lydia burst into tears again. Samantha rubbed her back.
‘Try not to worry. Dominic is an amazing guy, the best. He will do right by you. There’s no doubt about that.’
‘Oh, Sam. Oh, Sam. That’s not it!’
‘What is it? Lydia, please tell me.’
‘It’s not Dom’s baby.’
There was silence.
‘I slept with someone else.’
There was a gasp and then silence. Lydia didn’t dare look at her friend.
‘Who?’ said Samantha eventually.
Lydia bit her lip. She couldn’t tell her. Not with Craig being related and all. It was too much.
‘Just some random guy I met at Elixir.’
Samantha looked genuinely shocked. ‘When? Oh Lyd, why did you do it?’
‘I was lonely. Dom was away and, to be honest, things had been strained for a while. I got drunk and met him and then it just happened.’
‘Do you have his number?’
She warmed to her story. ‘He was an exchange student. Over from France. It was a once-off thing.’
Samantha gave her a huge hug. ‘I don’t know what to say. Have you done a test?’
‘Not yet. But I know I am. I’ve never been so late. Oh Sam, what will I tell Dom?’
‘One step at a time. We need to get a test and make it official. You wait here – I’ll go to the pharmacy.’
She got to her feet and grabbed her coat.
‘Will you be all right here alone?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Right then. I’ll be back in a sec.’
Lydia curled up into a ball and tried to make sense of the whole situation. She would have to tell Dominic. He didn’t deserve this. That would spell the end of their relationship. She would have to accept that. He would be horrified and disappointed, outraged and disgusted. And rightly so.
Her parents were another hurdle. What would her mother say? She would be so devastated for her. And her dad? Her darling daddy? He would never look at her the same way. He adored Dom.
Oh, how could she have jeopardized all of this?
Then there was Luca. He had left her world just as suddenly as he had entered it. He would hear about this through Craig, there was no denying that. Would he put two and two together? Would he run a mile? She couldn’t see him as the domestic type. This would be the wake-up call he needed.
He would finally see that his so-called feelings for her weren’t real.
Then again, he need never know. She could let him assume that the baby was Dom’s. It’s not like he was even in the country.
She heard the door slam and her breath quickened. Samantha was back.
‘Lyd? Can you pee? Will I bring in some water?’
‘I can pee,’ she said.
Dragging her body to the bathroom, she felt like she was going to collapse. Her whole future rested on the white stick in Samantha’s hand.
‘Ready?’ Her friend’s eyes were warm. ‘You’ll be fine.’
Lydia took the stick from her hand and positioned herself on the toilet.
‘Make sure you pee on the tip,’ instructed Samantha. ‘Hold it in the stream.’
Lydia giggled hysterically. ‘This is so awful but so ridiculous. I mean, look at the position I’m in.’
Samantha smiled grimly. ‘Get on with it.’
She did as she was told and placed the stick, window side down, on the radiator.
‘How long do we wait?’
‘Two minutes.’
She felt like she was going to puke.
‘So, what was his name?’
‘Who?’
‘Your one-night stand. We need to have a name if this is positive.’
‘Um, Bastien.’
‘Bastien? You don’t sound too sure.’ Samantha raised an eyebrow.
‘It was Bastien.’
Lydia stared at the condensation stain on the wall. She felt like she was having an out-of-the-body experience.
‘Okay, this is it.’ Samantha picked up the stick. ‘Ready?’
Lydia went white. ‘Ready,’ she whispered.
Colin rang the doorbell in frustration.
‘Lydia!’ he called. ‘Open up!’
He dialled her phone for the sixth time, cursing when it went to voicemail.
Banging the door, he yelled again.
Suddenly it opened and a grave-looking Samantha ushered him inside.
‘Jeez, Sam, I’ve been waiting for ages. What took so long?’
She put her fingers to her lips. ‘Shhh! Things are fraught.’
‘Why?’ Colin took off his jacket. ‘What’s going on?’
‘Lydia is late and –’
‘Late for what?’ he interrupted.
‘No, you donkey, late late. She’s just done a test.’
The penny dropped.
‘Are you saying that she’s having a baby?’ His eyes widened. ‘Dom’s baby?’
Samantha was about to speak when Lydia appeared behind her.
‘Hi, Col.’
‘Lydia, darling. Are you feeling okay? Sit down and rest for God’s sake.’ He took her arm and steered her towards the couch. ‘Can I get you anything?’
She removed his hand purposefully. ‘False alarm, Colin. I’m not pregnant.’
He collapsed on the couch himself. ‘What a relief. I mean, it would have ruined you, all those sleepless nights and losing your figure ...’
She laughed. ‘I can see how awful that would be all right.’
‘For what it’s worth, Dom would have been super-cool about it though.’
There was an awkward pause.
‘What? What’s going on?’ demanded Colin, sensing something was up. ‘Tell me.’
Samantha looked at Lydia. ‘Can I tell him?’
Lydia shrugged. He knew she had been unfaithful so more lies didn’t matter. She knew he wouldn’t break her confidence.
‘Lyd had a one-night stand.’
Colin glanced in her direction. Lydia gave him a meaningful stare, pleading with her eyes for him to keep his mouth shut.
‘With whom?’ he asked innocently.
‘This one-night stand called Bastien, a French guy she met in Elixir.’
Colin snorted but he quickly regained his composure. ‘God, Lyd, that’s awful. Imagine if it had been positive?’
‘I know. Lucky escape.’
‘Yes, very lucky,’ he echoed softly.
‘All’s well that ends well,’ said Samantha, switching on the kettle.
‘Please don’t tell anyone,’ pleaded Lydia.
They both nodded solemnly. It was only when Samantha went to the bathroom that Colin brought it up again.
‘Bastien? What possessed you, Lyd?’
‘What did you expect me to say? She’s going out with Craig, his cousin. I panicked.’
‘She’s not stupid. It’s a ridiculous story.’
‘It’s not an issue. Luca is gone. Probably forever for all we know. Dom is home in a few days so things will be back to normal.’
‘Normal? After all this? Are you sure?’
‘Yes, I’m sure.’
‘What would you have done had it been positive? Honestly?’
She stared off into space for a moment. ‘I don’t know. I really don’t. I wouldn’t have passed it off as Dom’s or anything like that. Would I have told Luca? Probably not. To be honest, Col, I couldn’t bear to think about it.’
He patted her hand. ‘Just forget it now. Maybe it’s nature’s wake-up call. I bet you never want a shock like this again.’
‘Never,’ she agreed vehemently.
Later that night Colin was reading in bed when Val came home.
‘How was rehearsal?’
‘Long. Ophelia is a total bitch. I can’t stand her.’
‘Lucky she drowns herself then.’
‘Hmmm.’
The door of the ensuite banged shut.
Colin flicked through his magazine, pausing to study different photos of different celebrities.
It was ten minutes later when Val finally crawled under the covers.
‘Did you have a good day?’ he asked sleepily.
‘It was a weird day but I can’t tell you anything. I’m sworn to secrecy.’
‘Cut the crap, Col. I’ve had enough drama for one evening. What happened?’
Colin took a deep breath. ‘Well, Lydia had a pregnancy scare but the daddy wasn’t Dom.’
‘Luca?’
‘Luca,’ affirmed Colin. ‘She’s bloody lucky it was negative.’
‘I agree completely.’ Val frowned. ‘He’d be a nightmare to deal with. Jess keeps on about the things he used to do.’
‘Is she still not over it?’
‘Not at all. He totally broke her heart. I’m still angry about what the two of them got up to behind her back.’ Val rearranged his pillow and turned onto his back.
‘Whoa, Val, she is my cousin.’ Colin’s cheeks grew red.
‘Still and all, Colin, it was pretty unfair.’
‘Yes, but she’s still my family. I will stand by her, no matter what.’
Val rubbed his arm. ‘Luckily, there is no matter what. Now, I’m going to sleep. Will you be long?’
Colin sighed. ‘I’ll just read the horoscopes and I’ll turn off the light then.’
Val squeezed his leg. ‘Night.’
Chapter 41
Luca arrived back in Ireland the following day.
The minute he stepped onto the runway, he felt enormous peace wash over him. It was stupid to run away. He would just settle down, write his thesis and try to forget all about Lydia Kelly.
The house was empty when he arrived. The kitchen was in its habitual disarray, with empty pizza boxes and beer cans strewn everywhere.
Home sweet home, he thought grinning, bypassing the mess and heading up to his room.
He opened the window immediately and let the cool crisp air waft in. His room was stuffy and his bed was unmade. He could imagine her lying there, her long hair trailing over the pillows. It made him long to see her.
Dumping his bag on the floor, he flopped down on his bed.
He sure felt beat. Maybe he could fit in a quick sleep before the others arrived back.
Craig arrived home at six.
‘Luca! Christ, I thought you were gone for good!’
Luca was standing at the fridge, drinking
milk from the bottle.
‘No, man, I’m back. Just needed to clear my head.’ He thumped him on the back. ‘How’s tricks?’
‘Busy. I’m up the walls with study. I don’t even have time to watch the Six Nations.’
‘Really?’ Luca looked shocked. ‘But that shit’s your life, man.’
‘Well, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration.’
Craig grabbed a beer from the fridge. ‘You look way better than the last time I saw you.’
Luca shrugged. ‘I touched base with Mimi and chilled for a while. Ate a few hot dogs and some Hershey bars. I needed to feel American again. Any news?’
‘Not really. Sam is busy with her exam classes so I don’t see much of her. Although, she had some interesting news the other night.’
‘Oh?’
‘Well, Lydia and Dom are not as perfect as we thought.’
Luca perked up. ‘What? Why?’
‘She had a pregnancy scare. Sam had to help her do a test and everything. She said the baby wasn’t Dom’s.’
Luca went pale. ‘Baby?’
‘Yeah, she said it was some guy she met clubbing. A one-night stand.’
‘Baby?’ Luca couldn’t process the information.
‘Anyway, the test was negative, so it’s no biggie. She got a real fright though. Sam can’t believe that she did the dirt on Dom. She was so shocked.’
‘Is he back?’ Luca’s voice was hoarse.
‘Not yet. Soon though. I wonder if she’ll tell him. Sam says she’s pretty cut up about it.’
Luca took a swig of his beer. ‘As you say, it’s no biggie.’ His face was impassive.
‘Come on, let’s go to the pub. I could do with getting out.’
Luca paused. Did he want to go out and get wasted? Not really. He had to see her. He had to talk to her.
Lydia arrived back from town to find Luca waiting outside her flat. Her heart jumped when she saw him and a warm feeling coursed through her. He looked even more gorgeous than usual.
Smiling she waved, but he scowled in response.
‘We need to talk,’ he said as she approached.
‘Well, hello to you, too.’ She fished her key out of her bag.
‘Is Sam home?’ His tone was serious.
‘No, she’s at school.’