Chapter 25: "Do I look like a dog to you?"

Carly Martina Wolfe was born at five thirty-three in the afternoon after two hours of contractions prior to a really painful looking C-section.

Luke and I were standing together by Marie's bedside, waiting for Seth to come back from seeing his newborn be put in an incubator.

"How're you feeling, Marie?" Luke asked after a pause. I glanced at him and stifled a grin when I saw how pale he was. We'd come back in as the head started poking out, and judging from the way the blood drained out of his face, I figured Luke was one of those people who closed his eyes during the childbirth videos in Health class.

Marie was extremely tired, and looked like she wanted to bite Luke's head off at his question. Luke instinctively flinched into me, and I had to bite down on my lip to keep from laughing at his unease.

"It feels weirdly empty," she murmured, rubbing her belly absent-mindlessly. "I don't feel my little baby trying to kick her way out of my stomach."

"Maybe that's because she's not inside you anymore?" I suggested under my breath.

Mum, who was sitting on a chair next to Marie, squeezed her hand and shot me a look. "Well, I'm proud of you, honey. You did well, and gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby."

Carly was only four pounds and ten ounces, which was why they put her in the incubator to see how she was doing, but as far as we knew, she was perfectly alright.

Mum then turned to the two of us. "Jordan, darling, have Lucas take you home. You have school tomorrow, don't you?"

I watched her in concern. "What about you?" I asked carefully. Mum looked just as tired, if not more so, than Marie. In fact, it wasn't just fatigue - it was sadness. I frowned, my eyebrows furrowing. "You should go home and rest."

Mum waved me off with a small smile. "Don't worry about me, darling. Just go home, alright? Visiting hours are almost over for non-family, and you don't want to leave Luke all by himself, do you?"

Was she trying to guilt trip me, because Luke wasn't going to cry if I let him leave on his own. He was a big boy. "Mum-"

His hand rested on my shoulder and he leant down to whisper in my ear. "Come on, beautiful."

I looked from Marie, whose eyes were now closed, to Mum, who was waiting for me to make a decision. "Okay," I finally relented, standing up straighter. "Bye, Mum. Please come home soon, okay?"'

She looked immensely relieved at my acceptance and nodded. "Of course. I'll have your brother drive me home when he's ready."

I doubted he'd leave Marie in the hospital all by herself for the whole night, so I made a mental note to call him and make sure he dropped Mum off home. But for the time being, I shrugged and moved around to hug her and kiss her forehead.

"Bye, Mrs. Wolfe," Luke said cheerfully, taking me by the arm and pulling me out of the room.

"See you later," I added softly. I allowed Luke to lead me out of the hospital and to his truck, my mind wandering this way and that as we walked.

"Hey. Hey, beautiful." I blinked, noticing a large hand waving in front of my face.

I turned to Luke and smiled when I saw his concerned expression. He really was too good for me, there was no doubt about it. It was like something had changed between us when he held me while I broke down. Like now the idea of "fake dating" wasn't enough anymore. I couldn't wish for more though, because Luke should have a girl who could meet his every need. I wasn't sure if I could be that girl. I was a mess.

"Hey, Lulu," I teased. I reached out and patted his cheek, causing his eyes to soften considerably. I pursed my lips and faced the front so that I wouldn't be caught staring at his warm, hazel eyes.

"Do you..." He paused as he started the engine and drove out of the parking lot. "Do you maybe want to stay the night at my house?"

I immediately shook my head. "I don't want to leave my mum alone at home."

Luke cocked his head, pouting slightly. "Are you sure?"

"Quite sure."

"Oh, quite sure, are you?" he mimicked, adopting a posh English accent.

I rolled my eyes. Sweet, serious Luke was gone for now, replaced by the fun-loving jokester I knew him to be. "Don't be a bitch."

His wide-eyed expression was quite hilarious. "How the hell am I being a bitch? Do I look like a dog to you?"

I crossed my arms and raised my eyebrows. "Do you want me to answer that question?"

He huffed. "Who's the one giving you rides everywhere?"

"Who's the one being your fake girlfriend?" I fired back, unable to keep myself from saying it. I hoped he couldn't hear that underlying layer of bitterness in my voice.

But by the way he sighed, I guessed he could. "Touché," he drawled.

The rest of the ride was spent in comfortable silence while he drove me home. When we reached, I walked up to my front door, but then stopped when I heard footsteps behind me.

"What are you doing?" I asked cautiously, staring at Luke in surprise when I realised how close behind me he was.

"I'm sleeping over," he stated confidently.

I cocked a hip and planted my hands on both at his sure tone. "Excuse me?"

"I'm sleeping over," he repeated brightly, flashing a big grin at me.

Fuck, I was a sucker for that smile, and damn him, he knew it. "Oh you are, are you? And who said so?"

He glanced around himself and then stepped forward cautiously. "The voices are telling me it's the right thing to do," he stage-whispered. I wasn't amused, however.

"Maybe you should take my voice's advice and leave," I suggested. I wasn't a kid - I didn't need to be babysat. I was perfectly alright to stay by myself for a couple of hours.

For Chrissakes, you let the man hold you for a minute and he suddenly thinks he can't leave you alone.

Luke groaned at my nonchalant response. "Oh come on, beautiful! I want to have a sleepover!"

At his words, I forced a bright, fake smile. "Oh, with food and chick flicks and pillow fights?" I exclaimed in an exaggeratedly peppy voice, adding a little clapping of my hands for dramatic effect.

He looked taken aback at my change in tone, but nodded encouragingly. "Sure, if that's what you want."

I immediately pulled a stoic face and turned around so that I could unlock the front door. "Go home, Luke, I was just joking."

I yanked open the door and tried to sneak in without him getting around me and inside the house, but as always, he managed to dupe me.

I faced him and glanced from him, who was five feet in front of me, to the closed front door, which I was standing right next to. "How the fuck did you get there so fast?"

"Magic."

"Can you do another magic trick for me?"

"What?"

"Disappear." I opened the door and gestured for him to leave.

"Sorry," he apologised cheerfully. "But I can only do my disappearing act on Tuesdays and Thursdays."

"Today's Tuesday-"

"Wednesdays and Thursdays," he hastily corrected.

I frowned at him. "What are you trying to do, Lucas?"

"Nothing..."

My frown deepened. "That wasn't an acceptable answer."

"My apologies, Miss Wolfe."

"Now what did I say about calling me Miss Wolfe?" I snapped, striding forward and poking his chest hard.

"Jordan, do you feel that?"

"Feel what?" I replied, momentarily distracted.

"It's like a little hummingbird is pecking at my chest."

I tipped my head back and groaned. "Making cracks at my height now, are you? That's low."

"You know what else is low?"

"Your erection?"

Luke's mouth dropped open, and I had to smother my smile at the sight of his shock. "Are you implying that I have a tiny dick?"

I raised my hands and stepped back. "Hey, you're the one who said it."

We grinned stupidly at each other for a moment, until I realised that he was just trying to distract me.

"Okay, out."

"Oh come on, beautiful, can we just hang out until your mum comes home?" he pleaded, jutting his lips out at me. My spine stiffened at the sight of it. He was a sly little bastard; trying to get me to agree to him by using that stupid pout of his.

I stared hard at him, but all I could see was good intentions, even though I didn't like how he felt like he needed to keep me company when I would otherwise be alone. "Alright, but just until she comes home."

Luke cheered loudly, throwing his hands in the air. "Movie time!"

I allowed a small smile to creep up on my face at his childish behaviour. "Take your pick but I refuse to watch Dear John."

"Why do you even have that film if you never watch it?"

"Why do you always request it when you come over?"

"Are you even a girl? Isn't it part of the girl code to like it?"

"Oh," I said in mock surprise. "Is that why you like it so much?"

He lightly swatted my shoulder as I walked by him, and I flipped him off. "Hey wait, beautiful."

"Wha-" I asked as I turned around. As soon as I was facing him, he cut me off by pressing his lips to my cheek.

And also possibly stopped my heart from beating.

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