ChapterThree
NADIA
“Nadia?” my sister calls as she knocks on my door. My eyes flicker open, and I wonder what time it is. “Are you up yet?”
“Ahh!” I pull the covers over my head when she turns on the light because my eyes aren’t ready for it.
I tossed and turned most of the night, but I must have finally crashed at some point. There’s no way I’ve been asleep for long because I feel exhausted.
“What are you doing?” She laughs and yanks the blanket down. “You’re going to be late. I made breakfast.”
She is way too chipper this morning, and why didn’t my alarm go off? Oh yeah, it’s because my phone is busted.
“Cereal?” I love my sister, but she’s a terrible cook. When we lived in Vegas, I did the cooking. Graham does the overseeing of the house, and more often than not there are meals prepared so that we only have to heat them up.
“Hey, I've been practicing,” she huffs.
“You’re really taking this housewife stuff seriously.”
It’s actually adorable seeing her this way. For once, someone is taking care of her, and she deserves it. She’s so smitten with Luke. I think he makes her long for things she never let herself want because she didn’t think it was possible. The whole white picket fence was not in the cards because she had me to take care of. College wasn’t an option for her, and I hate that I held her back.
“I need practice.”
“Practice?” I echo, and then I watch her bite her lip. It’s what she does when she wants to say something but is afraid to. “Out with it,” I say around a yawn.
“I’m pregnant!” she blurts out, and I jump up from the bed and give her a hug.
“Congratulations!”
No wonder she’s so damn chipper this morning. I didn’t know they were trying. I mean, I know they are always all over each other, but I never heard them talk about kids. Clearly Kat is happy about it, and I have no doubt Luke is too. Anything that puts a smile on Kat’s face makes him happy as well.
There was a time when I didn’t think men like Luke existed, and I’m surprised when an image of Walsh flashes through my mind.
“Hey.” Luke pops his head into my bedroom.
“Congrats,” I say to him.
“Thanks.” He’s smiling as he comes in holding a box. “Sorry to interrupt, but this package was at the door with your name on it.”
“Thanks,” I say as I take it from his hand. “What time is it?”
“Seven,” both Kat and Luke answer at the same time.
“Let me get dressed, and I’ll come eat your breakfast,” I say around another yawn.
“Did you not sleep well?” Kat asks. “Was the date that bad?”
Thankfully, when I got home last night, she and Luke were still out to dinner. Otherwise I’m sure Kat would have been all over me about who dropped me off because it was a different car than the one that picked me up. When I heard them get home, I pretended to be asleep so Kat couldn’t pepper me with questions. I didn’t want to burst into tears again and make her worry.
“It was fine.” That’s the only way I can describe it. First it was an utter disaster, but then there was Walsh. My stomach flutters even thinking about him.
“It must have been better than fine with the way you’re smirking.”
Crap. Did I smirk when I thought of Walsh? What is wrong with me? That’s Kyle’s freaking dad!
“Let me get ready for school,” I say again, trying to change the direction of this conversation.
“Fine,” she huffs, and the two of them leave. Once I’m alone, dread falls over me. I don’t know if I tossed and turned all night because I couldn’t stop thinking about Walsh or because I would have to face Kyle today.