Beautiful Storm (San Francisco End Game #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY

Amelia

Is it possible to have an easy life? Because mine is like an amusement park ride spinning out of control, and I don’t know if I can hold on any longer. The whiplash is exhausting.

I fall into bed with that same giddy smile that’s been plastered on my face since we called it a wrap for the day. I couldn’t hide it if I tried.

Today was perfect. The crew worked seamlessly together, the players were receptive to our requests, and the small snippets I saw on the camera were beautiful. It was successful all around and as first days go, I couldn’t fault it.

We have another couple of days of filming this week, then not much next week until the game on Sunday. All part of the deal to ensure we don’t interrupt the team too much ahead of the season opener.

Not that I think that would be an issue. The guys were on fire today.

I’ve been to a handful of practice sessions since I started working on this project, and I have never seen the team gel like this. In fact, every session seems to bring them even closer. I’d love to say it’s because they were showing off for the cameras but it wasn’t that. If anything, they forgot we were there, none of them paying us any mind.

The only minor blip on my happiness radar was Luke. After his marriage proposal, I expected things to be awkward between us, but he effortlessly reverted back to his usual cocky self and I went with it. It made life easier for me.

But something happened between our easy conversation in the locker room and when he ran off the field because he completely ignored me when I was waiting to congratulate the team. And it wasn’t by accident. Some might assume I’d embarrassed him with my teasing, but it’s Luke—he thrives on banter like that. No, it was definitely something else, and while it shouldn’t bother me—when I first started this job I would have given anything for him to pretend I didn’t exist—now, it’s not sitting right.

Not that I’ve let him ruin my mood.

I spent too many years allowing that to happen, and nothing is going to affect me today.

Grabbing my phone, I hit call on Hayley’s name and laugh when she immediately answers.

“Bitch, you have been killing me. I expected a call on your way home.”

“Yeah well, that’s hard to do on the bus.”

“Bus? What happened to your car?”

I cringe. Due to everything that happened yesterday, I forgot about my lack of a car. I’ve had my Honda since I was sixteen and it was my grandmother's before that. I’ve been expecting something to happen for years, but of course, it chose the morning of my ultrasound appointment to stop working when I was already in a rush. That will teach me for trying to get in a few extra hours at work.

I called to arrange an emergency appointment to get it checked out, but when they told me the additional cost for urgency, I said I’d call back. And I never did.

“She died yesterday,” I joke yet it’s anything but funny.

“Did the mechanic say they can fix it?”

“I kind of haven’t taken it in yet.”

“What? Why? You shouldn’t be catching the bus on your own, especially in the dark.”

“That’s not an issue, but it does add a lot of time to my trip. Time I don’t have.”

“So?”

“So, I can’t afford it at the moment.”

Hayley sighs. “I wish I could pay for you but I’m barely surviving. I’ve eaten Ramen noodles for dinner three nights in a row.”

“You and me both.”

“I hope you mean the money issue, not the noodles. You need more than that when you’re feeding two people.”

Two people? I can’t help but laugh. What is my life now? “That’s my problem. I’m spending all my money on good food and putting the rest into a baby fund. There’s nothing left over for car issues.”

“What about your rich baby daddy?”

“Hmmm,” I stall as I sit up, trying to figure out how to tell her what went down yesterday. She’s either going to laugh or yell at me for being so stupid, and neither is great for me.

“Don’t play dumb,” Hayley huffs, and I can picture her rolling her eyes. “You should ask him for money toward the baby stuff. You know, since you have to pay extra money for good food.”

“Yeah, about that.”

“Oh my God, you already did? You asked for money? You are my queen. We—”

“No, he offered it,” I cut her off and she gasps.

“He what now?”

“I guess you could say, we’re kind of engaged.”

“What?” There’s a loud bang before Hayley mutters “bloody hell” and a ruffling sound hurts my ear. “Sorry, I dropped the phone,” she says as she comes back on the line. “Please explain how you’re kind of engaged?”

“Luke wasn’t happy about my lousy health insurance, and when I wouldn’t let him pay for everything, he proposed marriage so I could use his insurance. And… I reluctantly agreed.” I say the last part slowly and wait for her reaction.

Hayley goes silent but I know her well enough to guess what that means. “I can hear you smiling.”

“I’m not smiling.” She giggles softly before bursting out with the most obnoxious laughter. “Okay, I was smiling…and laughing. But my God, that man just gets better and better, doesn’t he? You should ask him to fix your car too.”

“No. Not happening. Have you forgotten everything I said about our past?”

“Nope, but that was in high school. People change.”

“Okay, let's say we consider the present Luke instead of the past Luke. He’s still a well-publicized playboy.”

“I can’t argue with that. But you said yes?”

I let out a long sigh. “I did. His arguments made sense and then he said he wanted to protect us both. Not just the baby.”

“Wow.”

“I know.” I fall back onto my bed again and huff out a laugh. “But the car is my problem. That’s not related to his baby.”

“Seems related to me but I’ll shut up. What happens now?” I’m about to argue when Hayley’s tone turns serious. “I mean because you’re still technically married and well, I didn’t think you could stand each other. Although, that seems to be changing.”

“We’re keeping things quiet until my divorce is finalized and then I’m not so sure.” I ignore her comment about us changing.

“Well, I’m here for you. You know that, right?”

“I do and it means the world to me, because, Hayley, I have no idea what the hell I’m doing.” I run a hand down my face and squeeze my eyes shut, willing my heart to stop racing.

“We’ll work it out. I’m happy to play mum with you. But I refuse to be a ‘Mom’; I still can’t wrap my head around that. Mom. Mom. Mom. Nope, it is and will always be Mum.”

“What you’re saying sounds exactly the same.”

“No, it doesn’t. Listen carefully. Mom. Mum. Mom. Mum.”

“It’s the same.”

“Fine, you say them.”

“Mom. Mum.” It’s weird to say Mum, but when it comes out of my mouth, I hear the difference. “Okay. You win. Guess that will make it easier for the baby. It can call me Mom and you Mum.”

“Deal. But I hate saying ‘it.’ Can you and Luke come up with a nickname?”

“I’ll add it to my list.” I laugh.

“Good.”

“Can we catch up this week? I could use a girls’ night.”

“Absolutely. I’ve got my callback audition on Thursday and—”

“What? Hayley, that’s amazing. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I was worried I’d jinx it. But now I’m thinking I need to take the manifesting approach.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Congratulations! You got the role. I’m so proud of you.”

Hayley laughs before cutting herself off. “Thank you. I’m going to be amazing in it. That Academy Award is mine.”

“Damn straight.”

“So, Thursday night then, to celebrate properly.”

“Lock it in.”

“Love you, Hayls. I couldn’t do this without you.”

“Love you too, Babe. I’ll see you Thursday.”

My smile returns, having lost it for a moment, and I’m about to hang up when Hayley rushes to stop me. “Shit. Wait.”

“What’s wrong?”

“We never spoke about your first day.”

I bark out a laugh. So much for nothing affecting my first day buzz. “It was amazing, Hayley. Couldn’t have been better.”

M y alarm goes off extra early the next day to give me the time to catch the bus, and while I’m on my way in the darkness, I curse myself for not paying the price to get my car fixed. Not that I’d ever admit that. A little public transport never hurt anyone. Still I stare longingly at my car as I walk across the parking lot, but as I’m stepping through the doors, my phone rings, cutting me from my thoughts.

“Amelia speaking.”

“Hi Amelia, it’s Nick, the mechanic. I’ll be there at ten a.m. today. I just need your key.”

“Excuse me? What? Who?”

“Nick. I spoke to Luke yesterday. He told me to confirm the time with you. So, I’ll be there at ten. Is that good?”

Luke? Goddammit . Why does he have to be so annoying but also really hard to be mad at? I need my car. But… Ugh. I don’t want to be indebted to him and—

“Miss? Does that work?”

“Oh. Yes. Thank you. I’ll be standing by my car at ten.”

“Thank you. See you then.”

He hangs up and I’m left staring at my phone. I should have seen this coming, but since things got weird with Luke late yesterday, I never even thought about it.

Is this our life now—me falling apart and Luke riding in like a knight in shining armor, saving the day?

And if it is, is that really the life I want?

I try to focus on work, but by eleven a.m., my car’s fixed and I’m feeling a mix of relief and guilt. I know Luke was trying to help, but I should be able to get things done on my own. I’m a grown-ass woman, for God’s sake.

Despite knowing I have to talk to him, I put off the inevitable and don’t seek him out until the end of the day, but when I find him in the halls, he completely ignores me. Again. He then continues to ignore me during the next two filming sessions and pretends not to notice me in the hall the following week.

He has me second-guessing everything and it’s driving me crazy. He won’t even let me say thanks. And while I didn’t want to be friends, I’m now finding myself doing things to get closer to him, hoping he’ll acknowledge my existence, and I hate that. Especially considering he’s no longer pissed at me. He’s just neutral. And I have no idea what that means.

When he blatantly walks away after I join a conversation he’s in, it’s the last straw, and I shoot off a text before bed that night. I’m not putting up with his shit. He wanted to be involved with the baby. He wanted to get married…and now this. Who does he think he is? I’ll bet he’s doing it on purpose, knowing it would be eating away at me.

When he still hasn’t replied by morning, I’m pissed off and silently cursing his name as I arrive at work. I’m running through all the ways I can get back at him when I find him waiting in my new office, spinning around on my swivel chair, a pen in his right hand. With the light shining from above him, his black Storm cap casts a shadow across his face, but if I focus hard enough, I note that he’s lost in thought.

It shouldn’t surprise me that he hunted me down after my what-the-fuck text, but I am surprised that he knew where to find me, since I only moved into my private office yesterday.

“I’m sorry, do I know you?” I play dumb as my eyes bounce around the room.

Luke kicks his foot out to stop himself mid spin and smiles. “Funny.” He points the pen toward me as he stands up and huffs out a fake laugh. “We need to talk.”

“Uh-oh.Are you breaking up with me?” I huff out a laugh of my own until his expression turns serious. “What’s going on?”

Luke takes a deep breath, and his pinched expression worries me. “First,” he begins, standing taller, “I need the details for the lawyer, attorney, whoever you have handling your divorce.” I nod as he speaks but, Jesus, this is getting real very quickly. “Second.” He huffs out a breath as he removes his cap and runs a hand through his sexily mussed hair, drawing my attention until he speaks. “What the hell was that message?”

“What the hell is your attitude or lack of attitude? You get my car fixed but you won’t even talk to me. It’s weird. I don’t like it. ”

“What?”

“You’re pretending I don’t exist. I couldn’t even say thanks. What’s with that? Did you change your mind about being a present father?”

“No. Fuck. I just don’t think we should talk to each other in public.”

“What?” His words catch me off guard, making me frown. He’s the one that said telling people wasn’t an issue. “What happened between ‘where’s my close-up’”—I put on my deepest and best Luke voice—“and now?”

Luke rolls his eyes at my impression but continues on. “I realized you’d be bad for my reputation. Once this is all over I’m going to have a baby. And babies get the ladies. I don’t want them to assume I married you and then left after the baby was born. That would be the opposite of conducive to my goals.”

“Your goals of what? Being the oldest playboy in California? I’m pretty sure Hugh Hefner will always hold that record. No matter how attractive or rich you are.”

“Thanks for the compliment.” He smirks as he raises an eyebrow, but something about it isn’t Luke. I once thought his career and reputation were all he cared about, but that was before he found out about the baby. Now he’s different.

“What’s the real reason?”

“I told—”

“Bullshit.”

“Bullshit? Don’t act like you know me.”

“I do. No matter how much that annoys you, I do.” At least I used to, and I’m certain that boy is still in there somewhere.

Luke curses under his breath as he walks closer. “I don’t want this”—he gestures between the two of us—“to ruin your career.” He pauses and shakes his head before huffing out a laugh. “I’m not always an asshole. It’s going to be hard enough with you being pregnant and… What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

What? I don’t know how I’m looking at him but I’m speechless. I never expected this to be about me. That he was worried about me. Though considering he fixed my car without gloating, I probably should have considered it. “Thank you. I think.”

“You think?” He barks out a laugh and shakes his head again. “Typical. I once again try to help and you don’t trust me.”

“No.” I reach out and grab his arm when he brushes past me. “That’s not what I meant. Are we really going to be able to do that? I mean, we’re currently alone in my office and we have to work together and—”

“We can talk in a professional sense. If you need me to do something, I’ll do it. Just like I fixed your car.” And here comes the gloating.

“I didn’t need you to—”

“Just accept it and move on. I’m here to help, but we shouldn’t be friendly.”

“Friendly?” It’s been a while since we were truly friendly.

“You know what I mean. To anyone watching, our conversation last week came across as friendly banter. Flirty even. And that can’t happen. Not if we want to keep this quiet.”

“Okay. Thank you.” I don’t know what else to say.

“You’re welcome. I meant what I said; I’m here to help. Send me the details of your lawyer and I’ll keep you up-to-date. Until then, to professionalism.” He lifts his fist for me to bump, and I can’t help but laugh incredulously.

“To professionalism.” I return his bump and he nods before walking away, completely stunning me. “And thank you,” I call out. “For the car.” As much as it pains me to accept his help, it was a nice thing to do.

Why don’t people know this side of Luke? The caring, protective side. I’ve always known he existed somewhere deep down, but it’s strange that he’s never shown it to anyone else. He really should, because the protective side of him is way sexier than the playboy side he usually projects.

I don’t move until he reaches my door, and I’m about to sit down when he calls out, “Oh, and Amelia, my sister knows.”

His sister? Shit . Why is that worse than if it was a friend?