The One Awakened: Book 1 in The One Trilogy (46 page)

How could I be so irresponsible?
 

I berate myself for the second time since yesterday and indicate to make my way onto the motorway, bouncing across two lanes, foot hammered to the floor.
 

I’m not going to get much sleep tonight. My next meeting is in 6hours, back in Knightsbridge. Another 4hours and I’d be at the hotel, traffic dependant. I need coffee!

I should have fucking stayed; regardless of her anger and my stupidity.

I knew the minute Toni had rung to inform me of Lu’s little visit to the chemist, it was my fault. I should never have allowed her to puts doubts of another guy in my mind. She’d seen her in Holdgate being the morning after pill, purely coincidental and after seeing Lu with Leo at the party on Saturday, put two and two together. I was more pissed that I was apparently the last to find out. What I did bloody expect though? I hadn’t put a raincoat over my cock, twice! Should I just have waited for her to inform me she was pregnant?

Now thats a question. Suddenly my mind is racing with all kinds of strange and unfamiliar thoughts I’d never considered. I shake my head.
Focus! You’ve got some serious work to do here to make this up to her - to convince her that you’re more than just a player. That this was more than just a fucking amazing fuck!

God she’d looked washed out. Her beautiful face, pale; huge lime eyes dulled. What a way to put a dampener on a fabulous night. Now I had immense bucket-loads of
 
guilt. Now I had doubts about whether I was good enough for her.
 

She’d been so bloody angry. That stubborn streak flaring, its fiery head the second I brought my own to the fore. I’d been rock solid just watching her, all rumpled from sleep and firmly independent. I loved that about her that she wasn’t a drip. I just wished she’d have told me - our friendship was wavering and I’m at a loss as to what I can do to reign it back in and maintain the pace of our blossoming sex life.

So I’m off the hook now am I?
 

We’ll se about that - not a fucking chance - I’m all in, and this is far from over between us Ms. Myers.

I was wrong.
 
A new day and a better nights sleep hadn’t altered anything really; I still felt pretty shit about it all. Rushing around in the usual tizz that has become my habit on a morning, I grab a bite of my toast, and cringe as my delicate stomach flips in disgust; not quite there yet I agree with my body, as nausea waves engulf me again.
 

Thank goodness I’d not had to cater for Finn this morning, at least I’d been allowed the luxury of a lie in until 7.30am! I spy the designs collated yesterday, shrug into my suit jacket and locate my heels from the lego dump truck. The faint buzz of my phone alerts me but it is buried deep within my bag, amidst the escaped make-up, pens, spare change and MacDonald’s toys; I just don’t have the time to locate it right now.

Today was going to be just as manic as Monday, and I’d be firing on half cylinders, as I feel rather beaten up after last night’s pill taking and impromptu visit from Seb. I really am going to need Colin’s support over the next few days. With a last frantic look around the lounge, I mentally tick off what I have, whether I’ve forgotten anything and nodding to myself, shut the door – if its not with me now, it was tough.

In the car I connect my phone to bluetooth and locate Suzie’s work number. After a few rings she picks up.
 

“Good Morning. Dolly’s Boutique,” her happy voice filters through my handsfree system and I relax.
 

“It’s me.”

“About bloody time Missy. I’ve been worried sick! I was busting to call you first thing but Gino persuaded me to wait - well?”
 

“Thanks for the heads up, last night. Turns out I needed it, as Mr. Silver turned up all guns blazing at nearly midnight.”

“Oh shit!”

“Yes. Oh shit exactly. He was lovely though. Really caring; carried me upstairs, and tucked me in.”

“See, I told you he’d be nice about it.”

“Stop interrupting me,” she laughs at my bossiness. “It changed in seconds. I think I messed up - he was being all
controlly Sebastian
again. You know how independent I am.” I can practically see the eye roll at the other end of the phone, and smile to myself. “Anyway we argued big-time; about whether the risk could be with Leo too? About why I didn’t tell him, then got side tracked onto
us
and then he stormed out. I fell asleep. Pills stayed down. Feel a bit crap today but I’ll be fine.”

“Shut the front door - why would he think you’d slept with Leo?”

“Apparently someone put the thought in his mind. The same person who saw me buying the pill and kindly informed him.”

“Sly fucker!”

“My sentiments exactly. I’d love to know who it was; I’d tear them a new arsehole.”

“The anger hormone is raising its ugly head then Sis?”

I laugh at this. “Totally - my hormones are all over the place.”

“Well, remember how you feel now, - the next time you’re sliding down his Silver pole Madam.”

“I know, I know! Lesson learned but I’m not sure there’ll be a reoccurrence of that unfortunately - self-preservation me thinks. Anyway enough about me; one of the reasons I couldn’t sleep secret lady, is I’ve been too busy wondering about
your
drama? Come on, spill.”

The phone is silent at the other end.
 

“Suze - you’re starting to worry me.”
 

“Wel….lllll! Maybe now’s not the right time to say anything after you taking the morning after pill… but… oh sod it! I’m pregnant!” her excited voice is full of joy, and I’m immediately over the moon for her.

“Oh. My. God. That’s amazing news sweetie! You daft thing. When did you find out?”

“Yesterday but you were indisposed. Normally you’d have been in the loo with me, whilst I pee’d on that stick and you know it!”

We laugh together as she’s totally on the money.

“I’m already 14 weeks gone!”

“What?”

“I Know! I thought I was just getting fat and you know how dicey the Myers females cycles are!”
 

She’s right my mum, Suzie and I all had dodgy periods but she’d never seen fat! But I suppose on a tiny size 8, a fourteen-week pregnancy belly would show.
 

“So you’d be due in what… January sometime?”

“Ahem - a few weeks after New Year. I’ll be the turkey this year, Auntie Lulu.”

A baby.
I’m suddenly surprised at how emotional I feel.

I’m so, so happy for her and Gino - it was definitely the right time for them and they were both fabulous with Finn.

“Finn, will be made up to have a cousin. Can I tell him?”

“Of course. I’m over three months now, so the scary time is over. I’m telling Mum and Dad tonight.”

“Great. They’ll be so excited too. Ah, you’ve really cheered me up, Hun. I can enjoy today now, as nothing is going get me down after this news. I’m going to be an Auntie!”

“Go. Bugger off and let me do some work… and ring Sebastian - you two need to sort things before they go on too long. You’re good together - he’s put the glow back into you.”

He’s put much more in me I think naughtily, aching for his touch. I miss him badly.

“I’m not calling him. Anyway he’s away now on business until his party. I’ll catch up with you this week. My congrats to G.”

“Oh don’t! He’s strutting around like he’s God’s gift to women! Obviously,
I
had nothing to do with it.”
 

I know she’s joking, but I also know the Italian in him can make him rather less, modest, shall we say than us British, so I empathise.

“Seriously, I’m not sure I can take another 6months of Gino the baby maker. Its been one day and he’s feeding me pre-natal vitamins, checking the temperature of my bath, so it’s not too hot, won’t let me lift anything! The man’s gone mad - gorgeous - yes - heart in right place - yes, but utterly bonkers! We are
not
calling the baby Sonny, Tommy, Frankie, Fat Larry, Vinnie, or anything remotely related to The Godfather or Goodfellas, if it’s a boy. He’s just going to have get over it.”

I burst into laughter. She was on a rant. Funny! Good luck Gino trying to convince Suze of any of those names.
Although surely she’s exaggerating with Fat Larry?

“Bye my Lovely. Best news ever. Speak soon.”

We hang up and I continue on my way to work, in complete awe of my recent findings. It’s true what they say; behind every cloud is most definitely a silver lining.

Cracking on, with the positive news, I achieve plenty. As a team we work tirelessly - I thank heavens for Colin and Jackie - the only thing that reminds me of Sebastian, enough to send me off track is the hand delivered Rose from FWC, which I sign for as I’m about to lock-up at the end of the day. I’d already sent J & C home. They’d worked through lunch and been great so what was 30 minutes, if it meant they’d do it all again for me, willingly, tomorrow?

Happily, this meant I could open my delivery in private and the monogrammed cream card that accompanied it.