Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26859 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26859 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
“Are you about to cry?” Paisley asks me, her own eyes filling with tears. “If you cry, then I’ll cry.”
“I’m not gonna cry.” I sniff.
“Are you pregnant too?” My brother says it with a laugh. The room goes quiet for a second, and I realize he said ‘too.’
“Are you pregnant?” I ask Paisley. A smile breaks out across her face.
“I think I should be asking you the same.”
“Wait, I was joking. Are you really pregnant?” My brother's eyes drop to my stomach, as if I could be showing already.
“Don’t tell anyone.” I point my finger between the two of them. Paisley only squeals and engulfs me in another hug.
“We’re going to have babies together.”
“That is kind of cool,” I admit.
“So does Luka not know yet? That's why you don’t want us to say anything?”
“I only found out this morning, and he’s been at work.”
“At work.” Paisley rolls her eyes. “I’m really over this work crap.”
I know she’s frustrated on my behalf. I should probably stop calling her so much. I don’t complain to her; I just want to talk. The silence in this home drives me crazy. But every time we got on the phone, she’d ask me if her brother was around.
“He’ll be here for dinner.” I check the time. We have another hour until then.
I make both of them something to drink and make sure that my order for dinner is still set for delivery. I might not be the best cook, but I can find the best food around and plate it better than anyone else.
Paisley tells me more about their honeymoon. I have not been big on travel, but I'd enjoy a few days away with only Luka and me. There would be no phone or anyone to bother us. That sounds like heaven. I wonder if Luka could even disconnect from the world for that long. That might not be an option for him.
"Hey!" Paisley's hand comes down on my knee. "Everything is going to be okay."
"I miss my momma." My eyes fill with tears yet again. A whirl of emotions runs through me.
"Oh, honey."
"I'm fine. I'm fine." I jump to my feet. I can't go there right now. I need to focus on tonight. We're going to eat dinner and have a lovely time. I don’t want to ruin my time with Paisley and my brother. "How do you think your brother will react when I tell him?" I'm not sure if I should do it before dinner or while we're alone.
“I don’t know. He’s so different with you. And honestly, I don’t know him like you know your brother.”
That's because Luka doesn't allow anyone to get close to him. It’s how he grew up. It’s all he knows.
"If you guys don't mind, when he comes home, I'd like to tell him alone. I’ll take him to the bedroom.” There is no way I could make it through dinner. It also doesn’t feel right that everyone at the table will already know except for him.
“Of course.” Paisley gives my hand a squeeze. Thankfully, the food arrives, and I can change the subject. Not that it lasts long. The minutes tick by one by one until it’s way after seven and there’s no sign of Luka.
“I don’t want the food to go cold. Why don’t we eat?” I try to mask the disappointment in my voice. I’m not going to continue waiting.
“If you want.” Paisley slips into one of the dining room chairs. My brother drops down in another. I can tell he’s pissed, but he keeps it to himself. I pull out my phone and text Luka, but there is no response.
I push my food around the plate. Paisley tries to fill the silence with a bunch of small talk, something that I can usually do, but I don’t have it in me tonight. I’d been so excited. Now all I feel is heartbroken.
“Okay, I can’t take this bullshit.” My brother drops his silverware on his plate with a loud clatter. “You’re pissed.”
“I’m not pissed.”
“Fine then,” he sulks. “Then what are you? Because my sister, June bug, doesn't hide her emotions. And she sure as hell doesn’t do whatever this is.”
“I ah—” I’m not sure what to say. I can’t deny it. I feel different.
“He’s right. You’ve been different these past few weeks.” Paisley gives me a soft smile, but I see the sadness in her eyes.
“I’m going to talk to him.” Jackson pushes back from the table. He looks pissed now.
“No.” I grab his hand. “I will not have my boyfriend, or whatever Luka is to me, bullied into wanting to spend time with me.” I can sense Jackson's desire to argue with me on this matter, but he retreats. “I appreciate you, though.” I want him to know that him trying to fill his big brother role is appreciated by me. I love him for caring so much.