by Lacey Black
“Oh, stop. You will, without a doubt, be the cutest pregnant woman in the history of all pregnancies.”
“I’ll be the biggest one, that’s for sure,” I reply with a laugh.
“Luke adores you, though, so it wouldn’t matter if you gained a hundred pounds.”
God, I hope she’s right. I can’t imagine him wanting to ever see me naked again once I start packing on the pounds and my belly swells up to the size of a massive watermelon.
“Uh uh, don’t do that,” Carly chastises.
“Do what?”
“Start to doubt for a second that he’s in love with you.”
“What?” I ask, turning surprised eyes her way.
“He hasn’t told you?” she whispers, stepping closer. “Have you told him yet?” I avert my gaze. “Of course you haven’t. Listen, I’ve known Luke for over a year now and I’ve never seen him like this before.”
“Like what?” I whisper.
“In love. He’s completely smitten with you. His smiles are different and he’s happier since you two started seeing each other. I know it hasn’t been very long, and that the babies weren’t exactly planned, but please don’t doubt that he’s here because he loves you. I know it.”
My heart tries to tap dance out of my chest. Could he really love me? I’ve already figured out that I’ll probably never love another man the way I love Luke, but is it possible the feelings are mutual?
Before I can ask her any more questions, voices rise from the stairs. Carly and I both turn towards the noise as heads appear. Blake is leading the way, a look of shock and concern written on his face. His eyes immediately seek out Luke’s before jumping to me. An uneasy feeling creeps up my spine as Janice’s head, and that of a brunette woman come into view.
Luke whispers a harsh “shit,” as Blake heads straight towards his wife, wrapping his arms around her growing belly.
“Good afternoon, everyone. So lovely to see you all. Look who I ran into last weekend! Can you believe it? It’s Jessica, Luke’s girlfriend,” Janice proclaims, her voice jovial.
Blood swooshes in my ears as her words fly around in my brain like a bomb ready to detonate. I tense instantly, remembering the beautiful brunette that Luke dated his senior year in high school. She was the captain of the cheerleaders, and even though I wasn’t anywhere near her clique in school, she made my life hell. I’m sure it had something to do with my friendship with Luke, though she never admitted as much.
“Ex.” Two letters, one word, and it’s full of venom. Luke steps forward, his eyes never leaving his mom, and says, “Can I speak with you for a second, Mother?”
My attention is pulled from the gorgeous woman to the man I arrived with. He’s practically throwing flames out his ears as he walks down the hall, his mom acting all innocent as she trails behind. A door slams before you hear his raised voice. We can’t make out his words, but can hear the heat behind them.
“Can I get anyone a drink?” Blake asks as tension fills the room.
“I’d love a beer,” Daniel says with a smile.
“Me too,” Jessica chimes in, twirling her hair around her finger.
It’s then that Daniel notices me standing across from him and makes his way towards me, a wide smile plain as the nose on his face. “There you are. I heard you were back in town,” he says as he engulfs me in a warm, familiar hug.
Daniel Thomas was the father I always wished I had. He never missed a football game and was usually one of the loudest in the stands. I used to watch him mow his own grass, a simple act that seemed so great for some reason, as the gardener arrived to cut our lawn and trim our bushes. When Luke wrecked his skateboard, it was Daniel who patched up the scrapes, and it was Daniel who taught me to drive when I was fifteen. He was warm and caring and so very different from my own father that it hurt.
“It’s so good to see you, Mr. Thomas,” I tell him, my face buried in his shoulder.
“You know better than that. It’s Dan.” He pushes me away slightly and gives me a quick lookover. “You grew into a beautiful young lady,” he says with a smile before pulling me back into a hug. “And I believe you’re the reason my son has been smiling so much lately.”
I’m unable to speak as he pulls away and gives me that smile. The one I remember from when I was younger and tried getting away with something I shouldn’t have.
Before I can reply, the door to the back room is thrown open.
“She’s always wanted the best for both boys, especially Luke. Her approach isn’t always the best, but it comes from a good place.” Dan kisses me on the forehead before turning back to the room.
Luke is standing there, his eyes locked on me. When his dad moves aside and goes to play with Natalia, Luke is before me in three strides and wraps his arms around my body. I’m instantly calmed by his touch, but can feel the anxiety radiating from his big body.
“I had no idea she would pull this shit,” he mumbles quietly in my ear.
“It’s okay,” I tell him. “We won’t let either of them bother us.” Easier said than done, I’m sure, but I’m not about to let Jessica’s presence tonight hinder my mood.
“We won’t,” he says before pulling back and kissing me soundly.
Once I’m left speechless and a little off kilter, Luke turns to Jessica. She’s standing there, center of the room, and completely oblivious to the tension of the room that’s centered around her.
“Jessica, it has been a long time,” he says, keeping his arm around my waist.
“It has!” she exclaims as Blake hands her a beer and Janice returns to the room.
“I’m sure Mom would be making introductions, but I don’t mind. That woman over there is Carly, Blake’s wife, and this is Sidney. My girlfriend.” He says the words plainly and simply, as if there are to be no questions.
“Girlfriend? But your mom said you weren’t seeing anyone,” she whines in that irritatingly annoying voice I remember from high school.
“Mom was wrong.”
“Luke and Sidney have been friends for so long,” Janice says stepping forward to stand beside Jessica. “This is a new development.”
“Not really,” I find myself saying, adding to the conversation for the first time.
“Oh my gosh! Little Sidney Rogen? I didn’t even recognize you without those big plastic glasses and those railroad tracks on your teeth,” Jessica says with a snort-laugh.
“Ah, I’m not surprised, actually. It’s hard to focus on those around you when you spend all of your time under the bleachers or in the backseat of someone’s car.”
Carly laughs behind me and tries to cover it with a cough, Blake gently pounding on her back, as if to help the situation.
“Wow, someone isn’t very nice,” Jessica says, flipping her hair over her shoulder.
“I just finally got tired of your crap. You were horribly mean in high school, and I apologize if my impression of you now is much the same,” I tell her.
“Cock-block!” Natalia yells from Dan’s arms. Everyone in the room gasps and there’s no mistaking the rosy blush creeping up Carly’s neck.
“What did she say? Roadblock?”
“Yep, roadblock. I was in a traffic jam last week and she learned roadblock,” Blake says, hurrying up to grab his daughter.
“Isn’t it time for dinner?” Daniel says through his laughter.
“Yes! Dinner’s ready,” Carly says as she and Blake start taking the food out to their screened-in patio out back. It’s the same level as the kitchen and dining room and has a great view of their nice backyard.
“I’m so sorry,” I mumble to Luke as he guides me towards the food to help Carly. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
“Are you kidding? Besides finding out we’re having twins, that was the best thing I’ve heard in a long time. The look on her face when you basically called her a slut was priceless.”
“And that’s a true testament to your maturity
level,” I say with a laugh. “I still can’t believe I said that in front of your parents. That was completely rude of me.”
“You’re fine, angel. In fact, I loved it. It turned me on,” he says with a wiggle of his eyebrows. “You’re so hot when you’re feisty.”
“Breathing turns you on, Luke.”
Before he can reply, Blake returns to the kitchen. “Quit dicking around the food. I’m about to feed this to my daughter and it doesn’t need pecker-tracks through the melted cheese.” He grabs a steaming pan of lasagna from the stovetop and returns to the room outside.
“Come on. Let’s eat.” He pecks a kiss on my lips before pulling me outside.
Outside, the air is warm but the atmosphere is frigid. Carly looks over, apologetically, as she rips a breadstick in half for Natalia. There are two chairs remaining, conveniently on the same side as Jessica. She’s sitting in the middle of the three seats, and if the growl that comes from Luke’s throat is any indication, I’d say he’s as happy about it as I am.
“You wouldn’t mind sliding over a seat, would you Jessica?” Luke asks as we approach the table.
She glances over her shoulder and smiles sweetly–until she sees me. Luke stands directly behind her, patiently waiting. Finally, with a huff, she slides over and sits beside Janice. As everyone starts to dig in and pass around the food, he pulls both chairs. I’m surprised, however, when he indicates for me to take the middle seat.
Luke helps push in my chair and then takes the final seat on my right. He instantly starts talking to his dad, who’s at the head of the table, while we continue to pass around food. My appetite comes and goes, but ever since I started anti-nausea medicine, I’ve been able to keep most of my food down. The early mornings are still the worst, but once my meds kick in, I’m usually okay for the rest of the day.
Dinner progresses awkwardly. Luke tries to ignore Jessica and talk to me, Carly tries to lighten the table with Natalia stories, and Janice continues to shoot icicles from her eyes into my chest. Just your typical first-time family dinner, complete with ex-girlfriend and a mother who hates you.
Yay me.
* * *
It’s Monday morning, the day following the parents’ dinner apocalypse. Luke dropped me off at the hotel this morning on his way to work since I stayed at his place last night. It was the first night I’ve stayed there, and I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. His house isn’t large, and while it lacks in that feminine touch, it’s still cozy and inviting. I think after the mess of a dinner last night, we both just needed to recharge our batteries. We ended up eating cherry ice cream in bed and talking about everything and anything. After kissing me soundly, which turned into naked playtime, we fell asleep wrapped in each other’s arms.
“Good morning,” Cassidy sings as she steps into the office. “Café Mocha, decaf, with extra whip.”
“You’re a godsend,” I moan as I take a sip of the coffee beverage. No, it’s not the same as when I could have caffeinated, but I don’t let a little thing like caffeine stop me from enjoying my morning drink.
“Ten a.m. meeting with Penny,” Cass reminds me as she boots up her computer, not that I need the reminder.
“I’m going to ask to hire more help. I think we’ve been busy enough for a while, and we’re putting in more than forty hours a week. You’ve picked up a lot of slack lately and covered several weekends for me, and I think it’s time we have a little more help.”
Cass sits down in her chair. “You know I don’t mind helping you out whenever I can. It’s not like I have much of a social life, especially when Matt is training or away at a fight.”
“Yeah, but it’s still more than two people can handle. And I’d like to have more free time, especially with the…” I say, pointing down to my flat belly.
“Have you decided when you’re going to tell her?” Cass asks quietly, looking around to make sure someone isn’t lurking nearby to overhear.
“Soon. Especially with carrying twins, I can’t imagine I’ll be able to hide it as long as I would have been able to if I was only carrying one.”
“Twins?!” Cassidy squeals.
Shit. I completely forgot to tell her about the second peanut after last Monday’s ultrasound. “Yeah, sorry. Luke and I found out at my appointment that I’m carrying two babies. We’re still not telling anyone yet, but we’ll probably have to move that up a little now.”
“Probably,” Cassidy confirms. “You’re going to be, like, as big as a house by July 4th.”
“Thanks for that,” I mumble as she laughs.
“You know I’m kidding. You’ll, for sure, be the cutest pregnant woman.”
“Cute is code for huge, isn’t it.”
“It is not,” she retorts as she stands up. “Meeting at ten. I’ll get out of your hair so you can get a few things done before heading upstairs.”
“Thanks.”
I take several deep breaths and set out to start my day. There isn’t time to worry about the babies, Luke, his mom, or his crazy ex-girlfriend as I dive into the stacks of contracts we’ve signed in the last few weeks. This fall is sure to be a busy wedding season in Las Vegas.
* * *
“Come in,” Penny says following my knock.
I step inside my father’s former office and approach her desk. I’ve compiled a list of events we’ve signed in the last twelve months, and compared it with the amount in the last five years. The Diamond has definitely grown as a premiere party destination, increasing our events–and income–by sixty percent in five years.
“Good morning,” I say as I take my seat across from her desk. “I have a few things-” I start, but am cut off.
“Before I forget, I have to fly to New York for two weeks. I’m leaving tomorrow morning. Can you watch Jacobi?”
“Uh, of course I can. You’ve planned this trip last minute?”
“Oh, no. I’ve had this planned for a few months. My friend Margot is modeling in a fashion show next weekend, and there’s tons of pre-parties and post-parties that I’ll be attending. I’ve heard that designer, Max Deacon, is hung like a fucking racehorse. I plan to spend two weeks riding that thing like we’re qualifying for that Derby thing.”
It’s a damn good thing I wasn’t drinking or it would have been spewed all over her fancy desk. Of course it doesn’t surprise me that Penny had this trip planned but didn’t think to give me any more than a twenty-four hour heads up. But I draw the line at hearing my former stepmother talking about riding dick. No thank you.
“Anyway, I’ll have Renaldo run him over tonight so that I can relax before my flight tomorrow. Mick will be in charge around here in my absence.” More stellar news.
“I’d actually like to talk to you about hiring another event planner. I’ve compiled data and a comparison of how much the events section of the hotel has grown over the last few years,” I start.
“Oh! That reminds me! Do you think we should add a complimentary chocolate fountain to the main entrance?”
I stutter, my mind racing to catch up. “You mean in the main foyer? Of the hotel?”
“Yes! It’s brilliant, right? What guest wouldn’t love checking in and enjoying chocolate covered strawberries while they wait?”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Don’t you need someone in food service to oversee something like that?”
“That’s why we’d charge the guests when they check-in.”
“Isn’t that defeating the purpose of complimentary?”
Penny looks at me like I’ve grown a second head. She pulls out a compact and touches up her lipstick. “Anyway, it’s only money. Hire whoever you want.”
“Really?” I ask, dumbfounded that she’s not asking me for more details or to see the information I’ve worked on for the past few days.
“Sure, whatever. Just do it. Tell HR that I approved it. Sign my name, or whatever.”
“Okay, well, thank you. That’s al
l I have,” I say, gathering up my stuff and turning to leave.
“Wait! You didn’t tell me about your little surprise,” Penny says with a smile, giving my stomach a pointed look.
My belly drops into my designer shoes. For the first time since I arrived at work, I actually feel the need to vomit. This was not at all how I pictured this going. I want to ask her how she found out, but I already know the answer to that question.
Mick.
“Oh, it’s nothing. I’m due in December. I’ll have the new employee trained well before then, and combined with Cassidy, we’ll make sure everything is covered with the events. You’ll barely even notice I’m gone.”
“I don’t care about that. Take as much time as you need!”
“Oh. Well, thank you.” I’m sure the look on my face is one of pure disbelief. I turn and head towards the door.
“So, does this mean you and Mick are getting back together again?”
“What?” I whisper, my throat closing and my chest tightening.
“The baby. He said you were pregnant. He seems really excited about it.”
Blinking at her several times, I finally find words. “The baby’s not Mick’s. Why would you think that?”
“I don’t know. He just kept saying something about another heir to the hotel legacy.”
“The baby is an heir because of me, not because of who the father is.”
“You know what!? You should let me throw you a baby shower! It would be so much fun! Just imagine how fun that would be, Sidney!”
Time to go. Quickly. “I wouldn’t want to put you out, Penny. You’re so busy running this hotel and everything.”
“I know, I’m really busy,” she says, looking down at her empty desk calendar that’s just for display. “I have to get a bikini wax this afternoon before my trip to New York. And I’ve thought about getting my vajayjay pierced. I’ve heard it feels wonderful. I bet Max with the big dick would love to fuck me with a piercing.”
“I’m late for my next appointment. Have a safe trip. Don’t worry about Jacobi,” I say all in one breath as I dart towards the door.