Lust on the Rocks (16 page)

How did someone break this kind of news?  Spit it out, like Sam said?  Just blurt out, I’m pregnant? 
Then what
?

“Hello?”

Jessica’s heart skipped a beat at the sound of Luke’s buddy then took off on a gallop through her chest.  “Hey Matt, is Luke around?” her words flew out in a rush.

“Jess?”

“Yeah, it’s me.  I need to talk to Luke.”  But with each passing second, she felt her resolve crumble.

“Sure, man.  Hold on.”

Thank God Matt was a guy of few words.  She didn’t feel like making chitchat.  Just spit it out.  I’m pregnant, and the baby is yours.

I think.

“Jess?”

“Luke?”  Jessica’s heart skittered, then shattered.  His voice was tender, loving.

He should be mad as hell—not sweet and understanding.  She should hear anger, bitterness, yet she heard nothing of the kind.  But damn it, that was Luke.

Crap.  This was going to be harder than she thought.

“How are you?”

“Good.  I’m good.” 
Liar
.  “Listen, we need to talk.”

“I know, babe, I’ve been trying.  What’s going on?”

“I, um, had to get out of town.  I needed some space.  That’s all.  Some space.”

“From me?”

Luke sounded heartbroken at the possibility.  “No, babe,” she hurried to deny.  “Not you.  From school, class.  It was bogging me down and I had to split.”

“I would have come with you.”

She knew that.  And in an instant of crystal-clear clarity, Jessica realized he would do anything for her.  Whatever she asked, Luke would come through.

“Can we meet?”

Because suddenly, she also realized this had to be done in person.  Luke didn’t deserve to be told this kind of news over the phone.  Whatever his reaction was going to be, she had to face him.

“Name the time.”

She picked up her wrist and checked her watch.  Pearly brown faced and trimmed in silver, the canvas-covered band matched the brown and blue surfer shorts Luke had given her for Christmas.  And the sandals he had given her on her birthday.

She slumped.  It was going to be like this forever.  One way or another, from here on out, she was going to be reminded of Luke.  Tears welled in her eyes.  “Can you be here in an hour?”

“No problem.  See you then.”

“Yep,” she uttered before her throat went dry.

“Do you need anything on my way over?”

Can you turn into a jerk and make this easier
?

A heavy tear spilled onto Jess’ cheek.  “No,” she croaked.

Forty-five minutes later she answered the call from the doorman.  Nerves freaking, Jessica tried to calm herself by using Sam’s breathing techniques.  Deep in, she breathed, slow out, she blew.  In...  She closed her eyes and filled her chest with as much air as she could, then out she exhaled.  But as she let go of her control, her lips flapped on the breath as it escaped in a lazy swish.

This breathing wasn’t doing squat.  Neither was the extra deodorant she applied.  Nothing helped the felon awaiting execution sensation running through her body.

At the knock on the door, her heart stopped, then took off, pounding so hard she thought it would fly through her chest.  But when she opened the door, all hell broke loose in her body.

Luke stood there, flowers in hand, more handsome than she remembered.  His shoulder-length hair was loose, the way she liked, and he was dressed in her favorite faded blue T-shirt.  The one she picked out for him in St. Augustine during their first weekend away together.  It was the first time they both said the words,
I love you
.

He smiled.  “These are for you.”

“Thanks,” she mumbled in gratitude.  Anxiety made a brief swirl around her heart before morphing into dread.  “C’mon in.”

When he walked past, she inhaled a nose full of his cologne.  Luke was clean and fresh and pure good intention—the complete opposite to how she felt inside.  Her sense of injustice returned.

Closing the door, Jess circled around him and directed him toward the sofa.  About to join him, she remembered the bundle in her hand.  They needed water.  “Let me put these in the kitchen.”

With a nod of his head, he shoved his hands deep into the front pockets of his jeans, and waited.

Jessica trudged to the kitchen sink.  So, she mentally rehearsed,
Luke, I’m pregnant.  I haven’t decided what to do about it, but I felt it was important you know
.  She slapped the bouquet down onto the counter. 
I’ll let you know what I decide when I decide it
.

But as she fumbled through cabinets in search of a vase, her nerves started firing again.  Did Sam even have any vases?  And where did she keep them?  Her hands started to tremble.  The last thing she wanted to be doing was messing around the kitchen searching for a nonexistent vase when she should be talking to Luke.

She closed the cabinet door with a thud.

“Don’t worry about those,” he said.

Jessica yanked her attention from the cupboard to find him staring at her, a mix of concern and confusion lurking in his eyes.  “I don’t know where Sam keeps her vases,” she sputtered.

“It’s cool.”  He indicated the sofa with a quick nod of his head.  “How about we sit?”

She slumped.  Yes, how about that?  That is what you’re here for after all.  To sit, and talk.  Ignoring the flowers, Jessica walked into the living room.  May as well be a plank, she mused, apprehension rolling in her stomach.

Luke smiled, though it was forced.  He was un-comfortable, much like her.  Seemed he got the hint this wasn’t a pleasure trip.

Jessica dropped onto the end cushion and waited while Luke took a seat nearby.  Not too close.  This may be bad news, and he wary enough to keep his distance.  Just in case.

“Are we over?”

“Luke,” she said, but faltered.  Maybe.  Maybe that’s exactly what was going to happen.  Anxiety clamped down hard.  She didn’t want it to be over, but maybe that’s exactly what was going to happen.  Strength flushed from her limbs.

Once he found out
.

“You don’t love me anymore?  Is that it?”

This was happening too fast!  It was getting too complicated!  Reason raced from her mind and she burst out, “I’m pregnant!”

Luke’s expression absorbed the hit.

Jessica felt suspended in air.

He leaned forward and her pulse jumped.  “Are you sure?” he asked.

She wrapped her arms around her body.  “Double pink lines, three times.”  And she was vomiting, though not in the mornings like she was supposed to.  She puked at night.

Luke fell heavy against the sofa.  “Man,” his eyes shot to the ceiling.  “So that’s what this is all about.”

Duh! she wanted to shout, but her lips were quivering, her limbs shaking.  She couldn’t speak if she had to.

 “Now it all makes sense,” he said, relief swelling with his every word as the news set in.

Great
.  Now what are we going to do about it?

He raised up from the cushion back, slow and cautious.  “What are you going to do about it?”

Aggravation rose in her belly.  He missed one small detail.  There was a “we” involved here, not just her.  “It takes
two
to make a baby!”

“I know, I mean, all I was asking was…do you want to get an abortion?” Luke asked and appeared as if it were the last thing he wanted her to do.  “Do you want to keep it?”

Jessica’s chest threatened to explode.  Damn it—this wasn’t fair!  “I’m not the only one who should be deciding this,” she cried out.

Luke was taken aback.  “I never said you were.  I’m only trying to have the conversation.  If you want to keep the baby, we should talk about it.”

Was he for real
?  “Keep it?  And do what with it?” she demanded.  “Tote it around in my backpack?”  Anger twisted through her gut and she squeezed her arms tighter.  Did Luke even know what he was asking?

“Jess,” Luke said and turned hopeful.  “We could get married.”

“What?” she asked, terrified it might not be his.  She had run through the numbers over and over again and her fling with Brad had placed him in the running for possible fatherhood.

Despite it being only one night
.

But she couldn’t remember if he used a condom, or not.  She glared at Luke.  What if he found out?  What then?

“Yeah...”  Luke smiled now, warmth swimming in his eyes as he leaned forward.  “I love you, babe.  We could get married and give the kid a home.”

“This is serious—think about what you’re saying,” she snapped, fear nipping at her heels, guilt close behind.  “We’re college students.  We’re not old enough to be parents.”  Where was his brain?

“Sure we are.  My mom and dad married at eighteen and had kids right away.  They did all right,” he defended with pride.

“People don’t do that anymore, Luke.  They wait.  They live life first, find out who they are, and then they settle down.”

It was Sam’s advice, word for word.

“We can do whatever we want,” he said, disappointment curling the edge of his words.

My God, did Luke really want to keep this baby?  Panic drizzled down her spine.  What if it wasn’t his?  The contents of her stomach coiled into a ball of fire, cramps stabbing in all directions.  What if it was Brad’s baby?  An image of the tall, clean-cut good-looking surfer popped into her brain.  Blue eyes, great body, he was also cocky.

She should never have slept with him.  Leaving with him after that party had been a total mistake. 
What if it was his
?  Jessica knew without question he would ditch her, bolt before the next wave rolled in.  And then she’d be totally alone.  Luke would dump her and she’d be on her own.  Pregnant and alone. 
Oh my God
...  Without a word, Jessica leapt from the sofa and dashed for the bathroom.

“Jess?  Are you all right?”

No.  She was going to be sick.

For real
.  Jessica raced to the bathroom before she splattered hurl all over Sam’s spotless wood floors.  Pushing in against the closed door, she dropped to her knees—just in time.  The first batch of greenish-purple fluid flew from her mouth and into the basin.

Luke was right behind her when she heaved the second round.

“Oh
babe
,” he cried and kneeled by her side.  He put his hand on her back.  “Can I do anything?”

Damn it, damn it, damn it, was all she could think.  Damn his sensitivity.  Damn Brad.  Damn her bad luck.

“Let me get you a cold towel.”  He jumped up and turned the faucet on full blast.  “Maybe that’ll help.”

Jessica’s midsection rolled again, her throat burning as the nasty liquid shot through on its way out.  Forget towels.  She was sick and pregnant and totally freaking out.

Chapter Fourteen

“I think we’re good to go,” Vic said.

Sam wasn’t, but allowed Vic the opportunity to make his case.  The three of them gathered together in her office, the overhead lighting felt bright, as though nightfall had fully landed—but it hadn’t.  It was ten in the morning, the clouds outside her window heavy with rain.

“Dr. Griffin Pope is a prominent sports medicine doc who’s been lobbying for a change in the law.  He wants to see AEDs in the medical bags of team and athletic trainers, in sports arenas, health clubs, schools, anywhere patients at risk may be engaging in strenuous activities.  He even wants to see them in physician’s cars.”

“A little aggressive, isn’t it?”

Vic shrugged noncommittally.  “I don’t know.  He’s already been successful in getting legislation passed in several states, so I think our chances are good.”

“Better than good, Sam,” Diego pitched in.  “I think we have the potential to set precedent with this one.  Change the law, even.”

Sam liked the sound of that, but she wanted all guns loaded.  She was a one shot-one kill trial attorney and would be damned if her case got overturned on appeal.

“The guy will sit well with the jury, too,” Vic said. “He’s soft-spoken and intelligent, and passionate about his cause.”

“Fine,” she said.  “Who’s next?”

“Dr. Herrera.  An electro-physiologist who is pre-pared to testify regarding the basics of sudden cardiac death and its treatability,” Vic continued, glancing between the two as he spoke.  “He’ll demonstrate for the jury just how easy they are to use, and how you can’t really harm the victim by attempting to resuscitate.”

“Does he have the facts to back him up on that claim?”

“I would assume—” he replied, but chopped off his sentence. “I’ll double-check his supporting documentation, but I think we’re good to go on that point.”

“Do we know of any problems with the device itself?”

“No major recalls to date,” Diego said.  “My technical guy is a major fan of these things.  According to him, they’re the best thing since the laptop computer.  It’s portable, easy and completes the mission.”

“He’s going in on that angle?”

“Pretty much.  Modern technology has done wonders for the human body, both inside and out.  No reason anyone should have to die, in his opinion.”

“Great,” she groaned.  “Another idealist.”

“Yeah,” Diego said with a grin, “but the juries love him.  He has
beaucoup
experience in the courtroom, too.”

“Okay,” she said to both, and stood.  “I want a mock jury set up at the soonest possible moment so we can move forward and work out the kinks.”

“I’m on it,” Diego said, and rose with her.

“Fine-tune your witnesses, and bring them up to speed on what we expect.”

“You bet.”

“Let’s try for next week, if we can.”

“Sounds good,” Vic agreed and stood, prepared to follow Diego out the door.

“One other thing,” she said.  “Goldman called.”

Vic’s pulse jumped in his jaw as both men stopped.

“He wants to settle.”

“You told him no, right?”

“I told him with the right contingencies, maybe,” Sam said, though she didn’t divulge Goldman’s refusal of said contingencies.  On purpose.

“Why the hell would you do that?”

Acutely aware of Diego’s presence, she steeled her response, “Because I work in the best interest of my client,
Vic
, that’s why.  I haven’t made a decision.  I’m considering my options.”