“I hate that this hurt you, but Luke…” He rubbed his thumb against my temple. “Goddamn it! I want you to be happy. Whether that be here or there. I just want you to be happy and not let that asshole control your life. He is gone. He was an asshole to you when he was alive, but it sounds…” He paused, his tone softening. “It sounds like the one good thing Tye did in his entire life was save those people.”
I could feel my eyes filling before a tear leaked down over his cheek.
“Don’t let your life pass you by like he did, Luke!” He leaned forward and pressed his forehead to mine. “I love you too much to stand by and watch that happen.”
I stared into his eyes for a moment before I slowly nodded my head.
“I hate to break up this tender moment,” Lauren called, “but…” She took a deep breath as she gripped Christopher’s hand as he helped her stand. “But it’s baby time.”
“Oh, shit!” I let out a laugh as the color drained from Thomas’s face.
He ran to Lauren and took her hand. They both laughed as he brought their clasped hands up to his mouth.
“I’ll grab the bags. Christopher, start the car.” I ran up the stairs to their bedroom and grabbed the packed bag that was sitting in the corner. “Let’s go and meet this baby!”
CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE
FREDDIE
I’d seen Thomas’s message and for the first time since Luke had left, I realized it didn’t matter what had happened earlier—fuck yesterday. Nothing mattered in the past, just what happened moving forward. It felt like a lifetime since I last had Luke in my arms and it had been a mere day with the time difference. My head was that fucked, but I daren’t allow my body to succumb and rest. It was precious time I didn’t have available. There would be time to rest once I’d reached my man.
What hit me dead center in the chest was the united front of Luke’s family—his nearest and dearest—who knew him better than anyone and knew I was what he needed. Nina and James hadn’t seen Luke, and I used that notion that maybe this wasn’t what he really wanted, but seeing Thomas’s message hurt. It hit me deep in the chest.
The pitter patter of my heart thumped rapidly, increasing in speed, knowing I would go to him—fight for him to listen to me—whether he wanted it or not. It was my prerogative. Luke was going to see I meant business, and I wasn’t giving up on him—us—without a valid reason. I’d never give up on him.
I opened the boot of the cab, thanked the guy for waiting for us and threw in my luggage. I grabbed James and Nina’s too before shutting the door closed. I turned to face them both and cocked my head to the side, taking in their surprised expressions.
“What, did you think I was going to change my mind?” I uttered. “Haven’t we got people expecting us?”
“I was wondering when we’d see some fight appear.” Nina reached for the door handle, but James got to the door a second sooner. “I can do that myself.”
“I know, but why should you when I can do it for you?” James replied, winking as Nina slid into the backseat.
I walked around and got in at the opposite side and took a seat next to Nina, as she glanced up at James. “Are you getting in?”
“Yeah, but looks like we’re not going to Thomas’s and Lauren’s place?” James slid in and shut the door as we both gawked in confusion.
“So, where are we going?” the driver asked as Nina placed her petite hand over James’s leg before turning to face us both. “Moorfields Eye Hospital, please.”
“No problem.” The driver set off, weaving through the traffic.
“The baby’s on the way,” James stated.
I nodded at the statement and the fact that my plan of a calming, relaxed space where Luke and I could talk together without heated debate was now impossible. There was more of a chance of me turning straight. The tension in the hospital was going to be wrought and strained, to say the least. The last thing anyone needed was the added pressure brought on by me being there, but I knew I couldn’t be anywhere else.
I couldn’t not walk through those doors and be the rock my man needed. Even if all I did was remain sitting in the canteen the whole time, at least it meant he knew I was in the building. Be there if he needed me. Be there for his comfort.
I would do anything he needed just to get through this time until his niece or nephew entered this world and he could meet them. Then I would prise his attention away. Until I made him listen to me.
* * *
It seemed I wasn’t very good at hiding my nerves when Nina started to glance at me every two minutes before checking on the traffic out of the window that kept moving at a snail’s pace.
“How are you doing over there?” James asked, like he’d been reading his wife’s mind as she kept on glancing over at me. The way I was wringing my hands open and closed at the bottom of my shirt must have been a sign that I was on edge or noticed the excess sheen of sweat on my brow I’d felt form even though it was really cold here, even with the heating of the car. “You seem lost?”
“Lost?” I turned to face him as I leaned forward. “I’ve been lost the moment Luke walked out, James. That’s nothing new…” I breathed out a long sigh before I leant back into the padded seat. “If anything, I’m concerned for him… I’m worried. Okay?”
“I get that. I do,” James replied, as Nina grabbed my hand and shifted her body so she could face me.