Forgotten Awakenings (Awakenings #2) (30 page)

“Whoever’s in there better get your fucking ass out here right now!” Ivy snarled, angling her body so that she was protecting Elle.

Elle’s heart was racing as an arm thrust through the bushes and pulled them back. A second later, Lucia and Aaron stepped out. Though it was dark outside, the light coming from the building showed their red cheeks, their disheveled appearance, and the smeared lipstick.

“What the fuck are you two doing?” Ivy laughed. “Were you making out in the bushes like a couple of teenagers?”

“No,” they muttered, but when Ivy gestured toward said bushes, they sighed and said, “Yes.”

“We totally busted you!” Ivy cackled as she looked over at Elle, who was staring at her sister-in-law. “Are you okay?”

Elle nodded. “Just need a minute to calm down.”

Turning, she sat back on the bench and took a couple deep breathes. Irrational or not, she had expected Trixie to be the one hiding in the bushes, not Lucia and Aaron.

“Elle,” Lucia called, rushing around the bench and taking a seat next to her. “Are you mad at me?”

Elle frowned. “Why would I be mad at you?”

Lucia shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know.”

“Well, I’m not,” she said. “Though, I am curious about when you two started sucking face all the time.”

“We don’t!” Lucia exclaimed, but when Ivy snorted, she groaned. “We’ve been seeing each other for a couple months. Taking it slowly because, well, I’m not ready for anything too heavy.”

Elle nodded and looked back at Aaron, who had his hands shoved deep into his pockets. “And you’re treating her like she’s the best gift you’ve ever been given, right?”

Aaron snapped his head up, looking her directly in the eyes. “I’m going to pretend that you didn’t feel the need to ask me, of all people, about how I am treating her. You know me better than that, Elle.”

“I didn’t mean to insinuate that you’re mistreating her,” Elle mumbled.

“I love her,” Aaron declared.

“You what?” Derek’s booming voice echoed around them and Elle clutched her stomach as she and Lucia leapt to their feet. Ten feet away from them, standing in the shadows, was Derek. “Did you just say you love my sister?”

Aaron nodded. “I did, and I do. I’m in love with her.”

Derek clenched his jaw tight as he took two steps toward them, only stopping when Lucia rushed over and placed her hands on his chest.

“Don’t do this, Der!” she pleaded.

“Move, Luc,” he ordered, his tone firm and tight.

“Please, don’t do this,” Lucia cried, but moved out of his way.

Derek’s hands were curled into tight fists as he stalked up to Aaron, and for a minute, Elle thought he was really going to hit him. “I like you, Aaron. You’re a good guy, who has proven on more than one occasion that you’re willing to fight to help those in need. I consider you a friend, so when I say that you’d better love her, that you’d better treat her like a fucking Goddess, you know I’m serious. You hurt her, I hurt you. Understand?”

“Understood,” Aaron said, firmly.

Derek nodded and stepped backward, his eyes shifting to Elle as he smiled. “Come on, beautiful; let’s go dance.”

Elle grinned as she closed the distance between them and took his hand and headed back inside, but Lucia placed her hand on Derek’s arm.

“Thanks,” Lucia murmured.

“Don’t thank me, sis. Be happy. You deserve a great guy like him.” Derek leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “But don’t ever keep your happiness a secret from me, okay?”

“Okay.” Lucia smiled before rushing over and throwing herself into Aaron’s arms, squealing when he lifted her off the ground.

Twenty-eight

“It’s hotter than a whore’s tit in here,” Elle groused, falling back in her chair as she picked up a magazine and waved it in front of her face.

“Exactly how hot is a whore’s tit?” Derek asked, laughing until Elle turned her glare toward him. “Sorry.”

“Whatever,” she muttered, pulling at the front of her shirt. “Are you sure the air conditioner is on?”

“Yep,” Sadie replied, tugging her sweater around her. “It’s a frosty sixty-five degrees in here.”

“It’s got to be at least ninety!” Elle wailed, not missing the look Derek and Sadie shared.

Before she could call them out, however, the door to their office opened and Nate stepped inside, his arms full of folders. Over the last few months, he had more than proved himself, and Elle had assigned him his first solo project, that she would sign off on of course.

The news of her upcoming promotion had been leaked around the office a week ago, no doubt by Samuel himself. Elle had fretted over the way her co-workers would react to her being their new boss, but everyone seemed supportive and agreeable to the change in leadership. Or so they said, anyway; who knew what they spouted off behind her back.

“Hey, how’s it going?” she asked.

Nate smiled. “Good, good.”

He had been very tightlipped about his project, which made her both nervous and impressed.

“Need any help?” Elle pressed.

“Nah, I got it, but Samuel was looking for you,” he told her, tossing the files on top of his desk. “Said something about there being a problem with your parents’ house?”

“What?” Elle snarled, placing one hand on her stomach and the other on her desk as she stood up. Once she had her footing, she grabbed her cane and hobbled out of the office.

Samuel was perched up behind his desk when she arrived at his office, a smirk on his lips. He enjoyed watching her wobble too much, she decided. Got some sort of pleasure out of her discomfort. She convinced herself that the man was a sadist.

“What the hell is going on?” she snarked, bracing herself against the doorjamb.

“Don’t know the details. The Brothers just called and said they needed you at the house as soon as possible. Something about there being a flaw in the plans.”

“A flaw?” she scoffed. “There isn’t a flaw!”

“Don’t shoot me; I’m just the messenger. Anyway, I thought I’d head over and check out the place with you, if that’s okay?”

“Sure, why not,” she muttered, waving her hand in the air. “Just need to grab some stuff from my office.”

“Okie dokie,” he replied, smiling.

Elle gave him a look, but didn’t call him out on the fact that he just uttered the words ‘okie dokie’. Neither Derek, Sadie, nor Nate were in the office when she got back, Sighing, she scribbled out a note and left it on Derek’s desk before grabbing her purse and phone.

Samuel was waiting for her next to the elevator. The look on his face had her suspicious, like he knew a huge secret and it was literally hurting him not to tell, which was probably true. He had never been good at keeping secrets, hence her suspicious that he leaked her new promotion.

“I don’t know what’s really going on, Samuel, but as long as you promise that I won’t get hurt, I’m up for anything.”

Samuel tilted his head back and laughed. “Good to know, sweetheart.”

The drive to Sausalito took almost half an hour, but it felt like an eternity. Elle couldn’t get comfortable. Her entire body ached, and even though he swore it worked, the air conditioner blew nothing but hot air over her.

Elle’s breath caught in her throat as Samuel turned into the circle drive in front of Helina, James, Bruce, and Claudia’s new house.

The first time she saw the land her parents, Bruce, and Claudia had picked for their new house, she had fallen in love. Right on the beach, the land had a beautiful view of the city. She hadn’t been out to check the progress in almost a month, and at the time, they were still working on the drywall. Now, from the outside, it appeared to be almost complete.

“Oh, my God,” Elle whimpered, struggling to climb out of the car. Her lips trembled as she brought her hand up, trying to keep from blubbering like a baby.

“Come on,” Samuel said, sliding his hand around the top of her arm. “Let’s go inside.”

All Elle could do was nod as he led her up the front walk to the door. He reached out and pushed it open, and the minute she stepped inside, a dozen voices screamed, “Surprise!”

Tears saturated Elle’s face as she looked around, finding people she loved and cared about surrounding her: Derek, Sadie, and Callum, obviously, but also Helina and James, Bruce and Claudia, Lydia, Carlos, Felicia, Leigh, Thomas, and Tyson, Regina, Greta, and more. Her friends and family, co-workers, clients like Wes and Amanda Anderson, the Asciari Brothers, Nate, and Gabriel, but it was the person standing in the middle of all of them that surprised her the most.

“Ivy?” Elle cried, reaching for her older sister. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in Jersey with the band, aren’t you?”

“No, I’m exactly where I am supposed to be.” Ivy wrapped her arms around Elle before leaning away, dropping her hands to Elle’s stomach. “I couldn’t miss your shower. Nick and the band wanted to be here, but you know, their schedule . . .”

She trailed off, her eyes flickering down to Elle’s stomach. “I can feel her moving.”

“She never stops,” Elle murmured, coving one of Ivy’s hands with her own. “I’m glad you’re here. I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you, too,” Ivy said, stepping away. “But I’m here now, so . . .”

Elle understood the words Ivy conveyed. She hadn’t just returned for the surprise baby shower, but as her sister. She was putting aside her anger and hurt over being unable to have her own child.

Wiping away her tears, Elle shifted her eyes around the house, surprised to see it finished. Other than a few last minute details, like curtains, the house was done.

“When’d you finish?” she asked, shifting her attention to the Asciari Brothers.

“Three days ago,” Tank replied, smirking. “We wanted to surprise you.”

“Well, you did,” Elle laughed, waving a hand around. “It’s prefect. Thank you.”

“It was our pleasure,” Duke said with a chuckle.

Elle turned and looked to her left, finding her lovers smirking. “You’re in trouble.”

“Oh, come on, now, honey. Did you really think we weren’t going to throw you a shower?” Callum snickered as he balanced Flora in one arm and walked over to her, sliding his arm around her waist. His lips brushed past her ear as he whispered, “Your mother planned this, by the way. Don’t make a big deal, though. She doesn’t want you to know.”

“Oh.” Elle bit the inside of her lip as she shifted her attention to where her mother stood. “Is there cake?”

Helina smiled. “And ice cream, too.”

“Yay me!” Elle cheered, causing everyone to laugh.

“You sit, I’ll get you some cake and ice cream,” Derek said, gesturing for her to have a seat on the sofa.

Elle was grateful to be able to sit, her back and leg throbbing from the additional weight her belly provided. Derek returned minutes later with a plate filled with three scoops of caramel pecan ice cream and chocolate cake.

“Thank you,” she murmured, licking her lips. “I’m starving.”

After a few minutes, everyone had cake and ice cream and were gathered around Elle, chatting about the house, gushing over Flora, and trying not to stare as Elle had a second and third helping.

Tears burned her eyes as she took in her surroundings. There was a time, and not all that long ago, when she felt alone and lost, helpless in world out to get her. She doubted her families’ love, their support, and almost let her fear keep her from being happy. But now, she had four sets of parents who counted her as one of their own, brothers in Nick and Aaron, another sister in Lucia, friends, co-workers, people she could count on to always have her back.

“Ready for presents?” Helina asked, tossing the last of the paper plates in the trash bag she was carrying. She turned to Elle, the bag slipping from her hand. “Sweetheart, are you okay?”

“Huh?” Elle cried, unable to keep the moisture from her cheeks.

“What’s wrong, honey?” Sadie asked, reaching around Callum and placing her hand on Elle’s thigh. “Are you in pain?”

Elle shook her head. “I’m fine. Just . . .  I don’t know . . . overwhelmed, I guess?”

“Do you want to open presents?” Claudia asked, holding out a small package with pink paper wrapped around it. “Or you can take them home and open them when you’re ready.”

“No, I’m fine. Let’s open them now,” Elle rambled. “Though, I’m not sure why I’m getting anything. We have all of Flora’s stuff still.”

“Because . . .” Lydia paused. “I’m sorry, what’s her name again?”

“Bertha, Mom,” Callum muttered, dryly. “We’re naming our daughter Bertha. Or maybe Hilda. ”

“Liar,” she pouted.

“You’re right, I am lying. We’re not going to tell you her name, so quit asking.”

“I don’t like you right now, Callum,” Lydia grumbled.

“Oh, now, Mom, that’s not true. You love me,” he scoffed.

“Hmm, so you say,” she quipped, turning her attention back to Elle. “We wanted to spoil you and little Bertha, so just open them. Okay?”

Elle nodded and smiled. “Yes, ma’am.”

“And don’t name my granddaughter Bertha,” Felicia grimaced. “Por favor.

“Sure thing, Ma,” Derek snickered.

“You little . . .” Felicia’s muttered the rest of her words, but Elle could have sworn she heard something that sounded like ‘Take him over my knee.’

“Here, open this one first,” Helina said, handing her one of the presents. “That’s from me and Ivy.”

“You didn’t need to get me anything,” Elle muttered, but slowly began peeling the light pink wrapping. As she pulled the lid off, she smiled. Inside the box was a photograph of Helina holding Elle when she was a baby. Ivy was curled around their mother, one hand resting under Elle. “Oh, wow.”

“I was going through some of my photo albums,” Helina explained. “And I found this one tucked behind a different photo. We’d just brought you home from the hospital and Ivy was meeting you for the first time. She had been so excited to finally get a baby sister. It’s always been one of my favorite pictures and, well, I wanted you to have it.”

“Thank you,” Elle murmured, shifting her eyes up to her mother’s before looking at Ivy. “Both of you.”

“That part is from her. My part of the gift is still inside the box,” Ivy told her, tilting her head toward the package.

Elle carefully lifted the silver frame out of the box. Beneath it was a gift certificate to a high-priced spa named Senspa.

“I thought, maybe, we could go together,” Ivy said. Elle shifted her eyes up to her sister. “You, me, and Mom. It’s been years since the three of us were able to just hang out, and —”

“It’s a great idea,” Elle interrupted, “But I’m not sure it’s safe. We may have to go after the baby’s born.”

“Well, um, actually,” Ivy hesitated before placing her hands on her stomach. “My doctor said it was fine.”

“Wait, what?” Elle asked, her voice trembling. “Are you pregnant?”

Ivy’s head slowly bobbed up and down. “Thirteen weeks, as of yesterday.”

“Oh, my God!” Elle screamed, trying to stand.  “Someone help me up!”

Derek laughed as he swooped her off the couch, setting her on her feet. “There you go, beautiful.”

Elle once more found herself in tears as she wobbled across the room, throwing herself in her sister’s arms.

“You’re having a baby?” she cried.

“Yeah,” Ivy whispered. “”I would have told you sooner, but . . .”

“But you were scared, right?” Elle asked.

She nodded. “I’m still terrified, but we’ve made it into the second trimester. Anyway, my doctor said the spa is fine as long as we’re careful. Senspa has a great package for expecting mothers, and I know I could use the pampering. So, will you come with us?”

“Of course,” Elle whimpered, reaching out and grabbing Helina’s hand. “I can’t wait.”

—FA—

“Ugh, I ate too much.” Elle groaned as she climbed onto the bed, curling herself around a pillow.

“I tried to stop you at five pieces of cake, but you kindly told me to fuck off,” Sadie tittered, kicking her heels into the closest and unbuttoning her blouse.

Elle licked her lips, watching the way Sadie slide her shirt down her arms, exposing the dark blue bra she’d worn that morning. As Sadie’s fingers traveled to the top of her black skirt, she shifted her eyes to Elle and smirked.

“Like what you see, baby?”

Elle nodded. “Suddenly my mouth is very dry. Can you think of something that would quench my thirst?”

Sadie smiled and shimmied her skirt down her legs, leaving her in a pair of matching blue bra and panties. Crossing the room, she climbed onto the bed and grabbed Elle’s knees, forcing her legs apart with little effort.