“That doesn’t change how much I love him.”
“Exactly, you love him. We haven’t even got to that stage yet. I like him a lot, and I miss him, but I’m not in love with him, not yet.”
“D’ya think you could be eventually?”
Luke appeared from around the corner, and Sash fell silent. I watched her eyes roam from his feet, up his jean-covered legs, over his T-shirt, and up to his face.
She was still in love with Luke, which was what her problem with going to Australia was all about. I wasn’t sure if she was doing it just to make a statement to my brother or if she really had feelings for Shain, but either way, the electricity bouncing between those two was enough to make my hair stand on end. It was the way Liam and I looked at each other.
“I’m starving, you cooking?” Luke asked without taking his eyes from Sasha.
I shook my head, and he finally looked in my direction.
“There’s some of that smelly cheese you and Liam like in the fridge and some pate.” I turned towards Sash.
“You wanna go plate up some nibbles, and we’ll order takeaway once I’m finished.” She nodded and headed to the kitchen, careful not to brush against Luke as she passed him.
It was dark by the time I was done. I had avoided joining the others in drinking alcohol by claiming that it’d be dangerous whilst climbing on and off the stepladders, but since I finished, I was struggling for an excuse not to have a wine.
I actually didn’t mind telling Liam in front of Luke and Sash. They’d be the very first people we’d call anyway. So, I decided to just do it. I was gathering up the courage to turn to Liam and drop the news, when my brother cut me off.
“I’m still starving, we gonna order some proper food?”
I let out a deep breath and smiled in his direction. “If you wanna. What’s everyone fancy? Pick somewhere that delivers, you lot have all had too much to drink to drive, and it’s freezing out there now, so I’m not going to collect it.”
“Pizza?” Luke requested.
“Menus in the drawer.” I told him as everyone agreed.
Sash, who was standing in the kitchen, reached straight into the cupboard and retrieved a wine glass.
Liam attempted to pull me towards him, but I dodged out of his way and claimed that I needed to go to the bathroom before I could sit down.
I rushed up the stairs and into my bedroom, pulling out the Christmas cards I’d bought earlier from their hiding place. It only took me a moment to write in each card, and then I was making my way back to the kitchen. I moved much slower on the way back than I did on the way out. I was shaking with nervous anticipation, my mouth was dry, and my legs felt like jelly. I was scared, excited, and not sure if I wanted to laugh or cry . . .
“I know it’s a bit early,” I announced, “but I have Christmas cards for you all. I’d like you to each open them at the same time, but no one is allowed to speak until Liam has opened his.”
Liam smiled his crinkly eyed smile at me, and I wanted to cry. I was about to completely change his world and he had no idea. I swallowed down the nerves and tried to lock down my emotions as I handed out the cards with shaky hands.
“What are you up to, pretty girl?” He grabbed my hand and pulled me in for a kiss as I passed him his card. I wrapped my arms around his neck, kissed him quickly, and then stepped away. I wanted to be in a position where I could fully take in everyone’s reactions.
“Okay, open them.”
I laced my fingers together in front of me in a begging gesture so I had something to hang on to. I wanted to bounce up and down on the balls of my feet, and I might even have done that for a few seconds before I could contain my excitement.
Sash and Luke shrugged and looked totally confused as they opened their envelopes. Sasha’s mouth dropped open first, and her head whipped in my direction. She hadn’t even pulled the card out yet.
She knew.
She was my best friend for a reason, and if it weren’t for the fact that we had seen so little of each other lately, she probably would already have guessed.
Luke tore open the envelope and peered inside, but he only frowned before looking up at me glassy eyed, his mouth opening and closing like a goldfish.
My attention turned to Liam as he pulled the card from the envelope. I held my breath as I watched the varying emotions cross his face. He read the front, frowned, opened the card, read what I’d written inside, and frowned some more. I almost expected him to ask me what I was going on about, but then something must have clicked. His shoulders relaxed. A look of wonder spread across his handsome face, and he tilted his head back to stare at the ceiling for a second.
“Sarah?” he asked on a whisper while reaching for my hand. “You’re pregnant?”
I nodded.
His eyes met mine, and they were filled with tears.
“When?”
“Yeah, we don’t need to hear that,” Luke told him, but I ignored my bother.
“I think he’s asking when she’s due, not when did it happen,” Sasha told him.