I throw my head back and laugh. “Gabriel Wilde, are you scared of our Lulu?”
He shakes his head and drags his teeth from my ear, along my jaw and bites my chin; my eyes close of their own accord and I know I just gave a little moan…out loud.
I jump, when right in my ear a voice says. “Get a room you two, there are children present.” I open my eyes, turning my head to the side where Jake is standing grinning at me, he slides his arms around my waist and kisses my cheek; Gabe is right in front of me and I feel like the meat in between the two sexiest slices of bread to ever to make up a sandwich. Gordon Bennett. Imagine being part of a threesome with these two? Did I actually just think that? Oh well, let’s face it, who wouldn’t?
“Take your arms from around my wife Curtis, before I rip them out of their sockets and beat you with them.” Gabe almost growls the words and I’m not sure if I should be scared or turned on.
“She’s not your wife yet Wilde, I’m still in with a chance.” Jake kisses my cheek again; Gabe raises his head and gestures towards Jake. “Tell him baby; tell him who your Daddy is.”
I shrug and look over my shoulder at Jake and say in my best southern drawl. “I’m sorry sugar, y’all hot and that but ma Gabe here. Well he’s so big and fine.” I rub my hands over his chest and arms and wink at him as he stands all straight and upright with the biggest grin on his face.
Jake gives me one more kiss on the cheek, which wipes the smile right off Gabe’s face. “Your loss Lauren, your loss.”
Jo appears from nowhere and slaps Jakes arse. “Will you please stop grinding into my friend? Totes inaprops Jake.”
Gabe grabs me and pulls me away from Jake. “Dude, quit with the grinding, seriously.”
“You can come and grind me Gake. Jabe. Whatfuckinever your names are?”
We all laugh at Lu, she really needs to go home; Shannon walks away from the flat screen shaking his head. “Taxi for Lorraine. Time to go I think darl.”
We say our goodbyes and listen to Lu’s complaints at being called Lorraine as Shannon manages to get her into a taxi fifteen minutes later.
From above us I hear Ava call from the balcony. “Dad, what about the song?”
“Shit.” I hear Gabe say under his breath from beside me, I turn around to face him, he’s had a fair bit to drink and I can smell it on his breath, his eyes are glassy and he’s smiling a lazy drunken smile. I hold him steady by his waist as he sways ever so slightly. “What song babe?”
“Aww, it’s something Ava wants me to do and I forgot.”
“Well if Ava wants you to do it, then you better get to it, you don’t want to be letting your daughter down.”
He rakes his hands through his hair, kisses my cheek and asks Jen if he can borrow her for a few minutes, the pair of them head inside where all the kids are now gathering, leaving the weather proof bean bags around the fire pit now free. Finally, I sit down and am quickly joined by everyone else.
“You got a drink Loz?” Jem asks, waving a bottle of Bailys at me, surely one won’t hurt, if I put lots of ice in it?
“Yes please, lots of ice though” I try to sound as casual as possible and instead my voice goes all children’s television presenter like. High and squeaky, squeaky reminds of the bitch from the ultrasound clinic, which reminds me that I’m pregnant, with twins. I swallow down the panic as it starts to unfurl in my stomach, I’m suddenly too hot and need to move away from the fire but Jemma is passing me a whisky tumbler full of ice, I take it from her and she concentrates hard on not spilling the thick caramel coloured drink as she pours it into my glass, as soon as the smell hits my nose I heave, Jemma stops, completely still and just stares wide eyed at me as I put my free hand over my mouth and heave again, I put the glass down as quickly as I can and jump up to head towards the bathroom but apparently I’ve moved too fast and as soon as I stand everything sways, I can feel sweat start to gather on my top lip and feel it run down my back, Jemma is suddenly at my side, holding me up and guiding me to the toilet, I just make it in time to empty the contents of my stomach in two giant heaves. As I quiet my retching, I can hear Jo banging on the bathroom door and telling us to open up, I nod for Jemma to let her in, she slides in the barely open door as I splash my face with water and put the seat down on the toilet so that I can sit on it.
“You better start talking Day and I do not want to hear any crap. Are you sick?”
There’s another knock on the door, this time it’s Sam with a bottle of water. I look up at all of them, looking down at me.
“We’re not leaving here till you tell us what’s going on Lauren.” Jemma folds her arms across her chest, just to make her point clear.