AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Thank you so much for having me,” I reply.
Melanie comes closer, putting her arm around my shoulders. With her head tilted toward me, she whispers, “I’ve heard the news. Congratulations.”
“Oh,” I stammer, glancing at Luke. He looks so uncomfortable I’m afraid he might jump back in the car and leave.
“Let’s go inside,” he mutters as he turns his back and marches toward the house. Melanie keeps her arm around my shoulders and ushers me behind her.
“Uncle Luke!” the little girl shouts as she comes riding toward us.
His demeanor softens immediately. “Hey, Abigail,” he says. She ditches her bike and Dean scolds her for letting it drop to the ground instead of using the kickstand, but she’s already bolting into Luke’s arms.
I can’t take my eyes off him as he kneels down to scoop up his niece with one arm. I’ve never seen him like this, but he is so effortless with her. Not stiff, uncomfortable or brash. Even the smiles he gives her are unique. I’ve certainly never seen them before.
It’s another gut punch. Or rather, a heart punch.
Why does he have to be so perfect? What happened to the infuriating professor that was easy to hate?
To make things worse, he glances back at me as I walk behind him, as if he’s looking to make sure I’m coming. He treats me like I’m with him, and all the you’re mine talk is just a game. It’s not real. But today, he’s acting like I mean something to him.
What an asshole.
Meanwhile, Dean lets out a huff and an eye roll as he goes to pick up his daughter’s bike from the drive. I smile to myself as I pass him by.
The only person less likely to become a parent than me was Dean. But he made the mistake of falling in love with a man and woman who already had a daughter.
I know the truth, though—he’s in heaven. Even when he doesn’t show it.
The inside of the Goode house is ginormous and smells so good. It’s so clean and tidy, like it’s been decorated by professionals, and has constant cleaners to maintain its pristine condition.
So this is where Luke gets it.
Sage waddles out of the kitchen with a beaming smile. Adam is close behind with a hand on her back as if she’s going to tip over at any moment. Honestly, she’s all stomach, so I wouldn’t be shocked if she did.
I wrap my arms around her, although I see her nearly every night as it is. She’s due next week, and she looks so tired but glowing at the same time. I can’t believe they’re going to be parents soon. It still feels so surreal.
My hand goes to my own stomach. What am I thinking? I only have a few months myself.
Sage drags me into the massive kitchen and offers me a sweet tea. Caleb and Dean’s wife, Briar, are sitting at the kitchen island with a spread of books and papers between the peeled potatoes and casserole dishes.
“Don’t mind me,” she says, looking exasperated. “I just waited until the last minute, and I have a huge paper due Monday.”
“You’ve got this, angel,” Caleb says from the other side of the kitchen where he’s basting the turkey.
Suddenly, I don’t know what I’ve been so worried about. This family is so warm and casual, just like any other. Melanie hands me a glass of tea while Briar laughs with Sage while feeling the baby move in her belly. Dean kisses Caleb’s cheek while he stirs something on the stove. Abby comes barreling into the room, trying to steal whipped cream off the pies before getting redirected by her mother.
It’s all ridiculously perfect, and it makes my heart ache to know that this would be a wonderful family to raise a child in. Mine is great, too, but if I were in this family, I’d have sisters and a loving mother-in-law. My child would have cousins to play with.
A soft hand rests on my lower back, and I turn to find Luke standing next to me. My heart pitter-patters in my chest, and I force myself to move away.
Stop it, you jerk.
In fact, this whole family is acting like jerks. The audacity to make me fall in love with them in minutes.
Twenty-Four
Lucas
Two Thanksgiving dinners are one too many. If I even see another potato, I might be sick.
