Beautiful Storm (San Francisco End Game #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Luke

I somehow smile through my media commitments and even project the fun and carefree Luke I usually am. But the second I get back to my locker, I have my phone in hand ready to text Amelia. The sad expression on her face when she walked away hasn’t left my mind for the past forty minutes. I have no idea if Keeley put a ban on discussing the incident, but thankfully no one asked me about it because I’m not sure I could have kept my cool.

Who the fuck does that man think he is? And in what day and age is it okay to call a woman out for being pregnant? I can’t fathom what he thought was going to happen. Did he think Tom was going to fire her on the spot and hand the reins over to him? And that we’d just accept that?

I squeeze my phone in my hand and will myself to calm down. He’s gone and I need to focus on what’s important. Amelia. Amelia is what’s important. She never came back after walking off the field and I’m worried.

I’m worried.

It’s like I’ve come full circle.

I went from wanting to protect her when we were kids, to being pissed off by the very sight of her, to caring about my unborn child, to caring about her, to suddenly wanting to protect her with all that I am. Whatever it takes. And as hard as I try to pretend that has everything to do with Jelly Bean, I know that’s not true. Deep down I’ve always cared—there’s no denying it—and I need to know she’s alright.

Luke: Are you okay?

I stare down at the screen for a solid minute before accepting that she’s probably not going to respond straight away, and instead, collect my things to leave. Reed nods when he catches my stare, but when I lock eyes with Easton, he turns away, just like he’d do in any other situation. As though nothing happened, and it pisses me off. I’d call him out on it, but I’m smart enough to know that now’s not the time. I need everyone to move on from what happened with Amelia, not draw attention to it.

I’m on my way home when my phone finally buzzes, and I can’t wait until I arrive to check it, pulling over to the side of the road the second I get a chance.

Only to be disappointed.

Thomas: What the hell is going on?

Can’t say I didn’t know that was coming. I’m actually surprised it took this long; I expected him to chase me into the parking lot. It’s the kind of shit that we do. And he’d have every right to question me. I should have told him sooner. It’s been killing Lainey to keep it a secret, and I shouldn’t have put her in that position to begin with.

Instead of texting him back, I drive straight to their house and prepare myself for the million questions. It’s time I told them both everything that’s going on. I could use my sister and my friend right now.

L ainey’s eyes widen when she opens the door, but when Thomas sees me, he calls out from behind her.

“Well, this saves me a call. I appreciate that.”

Lainey’s brows furrow as she spins around. “What’s going on?”

“Ask your brother.”

I subtly shake my head when Lainey glances back before walking inside and closing the door behind me.

“There’s something I need to tell you both.”

Thomas raises an eyebrow as his lips pull into a suppressed smirk and he waves a hand in front of him. “Go on.”

“I’m getting married,” I blurt on purpose to wipe that smug expression off his face. “And she’s having my baby.” Thomas’s jaw drops while Lainey bursts out laughing, and when he hears her, he smiles, assuming I’m joking.

“Hilarious. What’s really—”

“He’s not kidding. It’s tomorrow. I’m the witness.”

“What?” He spins Lainey’s way and gapes. “I thought we weren’t supposed to keep things from each other?”

“We’re not. But this wasn’t my secret to tell. Kind of like the secret you had that Luke kept quiet about?”

“Fuck, okay. I love you; you’re forgiven. But you—” He turns and points at my chest. “You need to start talking.”

“I will. Geez, can I at least sit down?”

Thomas shakes his head but follows me into the living room, and when I’m sitting, I tell him everything I told Lainey, letting him know we’re keeping it quiet but that her dickwad of a colleague tried to announce it today.

“Thank God Reed and I overheard that asshole, because otherwise he would have announced it to the world.”

“You don’t think they’d actually fire her, do you?” Lainey asks, her voice full of concern.

“No,” Thomas and I answer at the same time before I add, “We wouldn’t let that happen.”

“He’s right.” Thomas nods as he reaches for Lainey’s hand. “The production company may have had some pushback when they first arrived, but we’ve all been pretty cooperative. We could easily refuse their future requests and make life hard for them.”

“Or leak stories about the production.”

“Point is, they won’t risk it. Especially after you and Reed made a point of standing up for her. How is she feeling?”

My stomach twists, making me wince. Isn’t that the million-dollar question?

“I wish I knew. She hasn’t responded to my text, and I couldn’t find her before I left.”

“ Shit .” Lainey worries her bottom lip. “Does she have anyone to talk to? About any of this? I should have asked you that when you first told me.”

And cue the guilt. “She mentioned a friend, Hayley. But if I’m being honest, I never really asked. Things are complicated between us.”

“I’ll say.” Thomas huffs out an incredulous laugh. “You two barely speak unless it’s about the show.”

“Maybe we meet up in secret. I would have thought you of all people would have considered that.” I raise an eyebrow, referring to him dating my sister behind my back.

“Yeah, okay. You got me there. So is that what you’re doing? Running around in secret?”

“Nope.” I deadpan, making him laugh.

“The marriage is for insurance purposes,” Lainey cuts in, rolling her eyes.

“No way.”

“Way. And thanks for ruining my fun, Lainey.”

“I was getting bored. Are you going to tell him or should I?”

“Go ahead.”

“They’re getting married so that Amelia and the baby can use his insurance. He wants to protect them.”

Her eyes light up and Thomas smiles at her happiness. “How is it possible that you kept this a secret? The marriage I get, but the baby. You being an aunt. To Luke’ s child. I would have thought you’d be dying to tell me.”

“I was. It’s the one time he gets to invoke the brother-sister code.”

“My mind is poouff.” Thomas gestures as though his head is exploding and I laugh, despite feeling the same. “So it’s all fake? And Amelia knows that too.”

“Yes.”

“And you’re still fucking around? With others.”

“What? No. I’m not an asshole.”

“That’s debatable but I wasn’t accusing you. I was asking.”

I fold my arms over my chest and glare at him. “It was your tone.”

“Seriously.” Lainey shakes her head. “You two are like children.” She laughs until her face turns serious. “But I really hope you’re not.”

“I’m not .” Jesus, is my word worth nothing?

“Good. Does this mean I get to meet her now? I’ve been waiting so long.”

“No.” Hell no.

“No? That’s it? Well, since Thomas knows, I could go with him to the stadium for bring-your-fiancée-to-work day.”

“That’s not a thing,” I scoff.

“Sure it is. It’s this Friday.”

Thomas subtly shakes his head and I bark out a laugh. We have an away game this weekend, so we’ll be traveling Friday.

“I mean, Thursday. Obviously .”

“God, you’re annoying. You’re going to see her tomorrow at the wedding.”

Lainey’s jaw drops before she huffs like the child she was just accusing me of being. “I’ll be on a screen with my mic muted.”

“Close enough.” I shrug, holding back my smile. I was grateful when I discovered some states including California had introduced legal online weddings because it would ensure our privacy. But now, I’m discovering there are more benefits.

“Ugh.” Lainey pouts, making me laugh. “I’m getting a drink. Anyone else want some water?”

Thomas shakes his head. “I’m good.”

“I’d love a coffee,” I say as she gets up, ducking when she throws a cushion at my face.

“Two waters it is,” she sasses before walking away, knowing full well I don’t drink coffee at night.

When Lainey’s gone, I turn back to Thomas just as my phone vibrates across the table. I rush to grab it, not bothering to hide my urgency, a tension easing when I see that it’s Amelia.

Amelia: It’s been a strange week

That’s it? That’s all she’s giving me? It’s not enough. I massage my temples as I figure out how to respond. When I lift my gaze after a beat, Thomas is staring at me, his expression pensive.

“How do you really feel about everything?” he asks.

“What?” I frown, trying to recall what happened to make him ask that.

“I remember something you said after Lainey and I broke up. God knows why it came to me, but it did.”

Jesus, that was years ago and I was absolutely ragey. I can’t imagine anything I said was making sense. Thomas continues to stare, his lips pursed as he thinks, until I laugh. “Don’t leave me in suspense. What did I say?”

“It was something along the lines of ‘You did the best thing for now. You have to play the long game. She’ll be back when the time is right for both of you.’”

“Bullshit. That doesn’t sound like me at all.”

“You’re right. But it was. At the time, I thought you were spinning some shit to make things better, but now… I’m not so sure.”

“Of course that’s what I was doing. You were spiraling. I had to do something.”

“ Or …maybe you’ve cared about Amelia for longer than you think? Why else would she drive you so crazy? Maybe you’re playing the long game.”

“Nope. I don’t have that kind of patience,” I joke. “This and that are completely unrelated.”

I laugh off his comment, but it sits with me as we wait for Lainey to return, my face pinched as I struggle with the idea of his words. I know I’ve always cared about her, on some level, but what he’s saying is so much more than that, and he’s wrong. That applied to him and Lainey. This is an entirely different situation.

As soon as Lainey appears, I jump up and make an excuse to leave. I've said my truth, and I don’t need to hang around while they pick it apart, which they'll undoubtedly do with or without me. Thomas already tried.

After saying goodbye, I pause in the driveway and send off a reply to Amelia, my body tense from her short response.

Luke: Can I see you? We should talk before tomorrow

My message turns to “read” almost immediately as though she was waiting by her phone, but I’m halfway home before she actually responds.

Amelia: I’m just leaving my office. I can meet you somewhere

She’s just leaving? Jesus.

Luke: Does my place work?

Amelia: Yep. See you in twenty minutes

I pull into my driveway, but don’t bother going inside. Instead I sit on my front steps and wait. It’s a nice night, and if I’m honest with myself, I’m too anxious to do anything else.

My phone buzzes in my pocket and my stomach sinks, expecting her to cancel, but when I check the screen, it’s Reed.

Reed: I’m here if you need me. Anytime

Some tension releases in my shoulders and I can’t help but smile as I think about him defending Amelia today. I don’t usually openly share any of my business, but who knows, one day I might take him up on that offer. For now, there’s one person I need, and she’s almost here. But am I really ready to talk?