Page 31 of It Shouldn't Be You
“In other words, you’re a big softie behind that tough mafia man exterior.” She nudges me with her shoulder, laughter in her eyes.
“Shh, not so loud. It’s a secret.” I make a show of looking around us as if anyone else is here to overhear her reveal my secret and am rewarded with her laughter.
“I guess I should feel lucky to know about this place, huh?”
“Extremely, even Alex doesn’t know.”
“Considering I get the impression he knows everything there is to know about you, and then some, that says a lot. How can I ever repay you for this honour?”
“He pretty much does. We’ve been more or less on the run together for the past decade after all. Hmm, you could tell me a secret no one else knows?”
“I hope you know we’ll be circling back to that remark. As for a secret, I don’t know if I have any, um... oh! I used to dream of being a baker with a cat cafe. I thought the idea of incorporating two of my favourite things would be perfect but then life got chaotic, and I stopped baking and focused on volunteering when I could.” If the birthday cake she made me on such short notice is anything to go by, then her talents are wasted if she never does anything about it.
“You can ask me anything, anytime, Princess. And I for one, think you shouldn’t give up on that idea so quickly. You could even take some of the cats from here and we could use that as away to filter people towards wanting to adopt them.” Watching the idea light a spark behind her eyes is like watching magic come to life, and as she gets lost in thought, I start running through ways to help her make the idea a reality.
Maybe it’s time to place a call to my realtor guy and see what’s for sale nearby.
Text chat
Chapter 25
“How’s married life been treating you?”
Sitting in my parents' kitchen with a cup of tea, while Mum bustles about making breakfast before Dad and Logan come down, is more than I ever dared hope for when I got married. I had imagined maybe phone calls or the occasional holiday visit, with my family staying in a nearby hotel. But being here, under the same roof as my childhood home, feels incredibly bittersweet.
The fact that Logan suggested we stay with my parents makes me fall for him even more.
"It's been good, honestly. Logan has been nothing short of a perfect gentleman, and the girls there aren't half bad. It's different, for sure, but I'm growing to like it," I tell Mum, who turns to looks at me with a smile.
"I'm glad, Abbie girl. All your father and I have ever wanted was for you to be happy and safe, and it sounds like Logan has that under control. But the second that changes, you call me,okay? I don't care what kind of politics are involved—if you're anything short of happy, I will get you out of there and back home myself." My mum has never been one to blindly follow anyone, not even her husband.
"I promise, Mum. Having the wedding so close to mine really helped, and taking Cole with me has been a lifesaver when Logan's tied up with business," I say, appreciating how much smoother the transition has been because of these factors.
Humming in approval, Mum serves up a full English breakfast just as our men join us with sleep-rumbled greetings and help themselves to coffee. Breakfast passes with stilted conversation, filled out with Mum and my efforts at small talk.
Afterward, we head over to Cora and Owen's house to help with last-minute wedding prep. Before I can even get out of the car, Lily pulls open my door with a frantic look, grabbing my hand and dragging me behind her.
"Wow, what's the rush? Is something wrong with the dress? The flowers?" I ask as she hustles me through the house to the kitchen, where she slams the door shut and leans against it heavily, her eyes wild.
"It's not about the wedding; everything's perfect with that…it's," she cuts herself off with a sob. Panic floods me, and I quickly cross the room to wrap her in a hug, soothing her as best I can.
"What's wrong, babe? Do I need to get Logan to kick Matt's ass, or is it something else?" Her gasp tells me I've hit close to home before she manages to compose herself.
"How... never mind... I think I'm pregnant." Her confession hits me like a ton of bricks, not least because if my suspicions are correct and the potential baby is Matt’s, the repercussions couldbe devastating. They're only step-siblings, but Matt has been marked to marry Don Salvatore's niece when she comes of age.
I’m going to stab that selfish fucker with my six-inch Louboutin’s right through his eye.
"Have you taken a test, or are you just late?" I ask, knowing all too well the stakes involved. Lily's wild college days and her desire to escape were always more than just youthful rebellion—they were acts of desperation.I can’t say I blame her. It’s bound to be like a knife to her heart knowing the man she wants can never be hers.
"I'm like two weeks late...and I've never been so much as a day late. I can't be seen getting a test. They'll crucify me, Abbie." Hazel eyes full of terror and pain meet mine as she starts pacing the kitchen. "I haven’t even told Cora because, as much as I love and trust her, she’s the heir to this damn thing. I can't risk her placing that above keeping this secret, plus I don't want to stress her out days before her wedding. If I make a doctor's appointment, Mum will know, and I sure as fuck can't tell her. I don’t know what to do."
"Hey, look at me," I say, stopping her mid-pace with my hands on her shoulders. "Breathe in for five, good. Hold it. Now out for five." I guide her through a few calming breaths. "Here’s what we’re going to do: I’m going to get Logan to buy a bunch of tests. He won’t breathe a word of it, I promise you. And then I’m going to hold your hand every step of the way while we figure out what we’re dealing with, okay?"
At her hesitant nod, I shoot Logan a text.
Sitting on the floor of Cora’s downstairs bathroom with Lily, we wait out the longest five minutes imaginable. Both of us are steadily ignoring our phones, which are blowing up with texts from the bride-to-be. Lily picks at her nails, and I try to coax her into opening up.
I'm a girl's girl through and through. As much as keeping secrets from Cora feels wrong on so many levels, I'll respectLily's wishes not to involve her. Yet, part of me wants to shake some sense into her.
