by Amiee Louise
“Touché!”
I quickly pull on some clothes, tie my hair up in a loose knot, and walk barefoot into the kitchen where Jax and Brody are sitting on the worktop. Lucas is sitting at the table leaning on his elbows, and Sam is nowhere to be seen.
“You need to sort your man out, darlin’, I’m going to need fucking therapy after that!”
I laugh. Brody jumps off the worktop and lifts me into his arms; he pulls me in for a bear hug. I am still struggling to get used to the friendly, affectionate side of Brody Hart. Over Brody’s shoulder, I see a look pass between Jax and Lucas. The look on Jax’s face is bemused, and Lucas shakes his head with an adorable smirk on his face.
“Am I going to have to kick your arse for having your hands all over my woman, Brody?” Sam jokes, and Brody pulls away from our embrace.
“Happy birthday, you old fucker!” Jax breaks the silence. He leaps off the worktop and gives Sam a manly hug.
I love the brotherly banter between the boys. I can see what Amy was talking about when she said the boys have taken me under their wing and have accepted me as one of their own. Our baby is going to have an extended family, consisting of three doting uncles in Brody, Jax, and Lucas.
Throughout the day, our apartment is like Piccadilly Circus with visitors coming to wish Sam a happy birthday. Soon the evening rolls around, and we are getting ready to go to Sam’s parents for his birthday dinner. A part of me is really looking forward to seeing how our families interact with each other, and another part of me is really nervous. I am dressed in a red prom style dress with black skulls covered in diamantes. It matches my quirky style and still makes me look ladylike. The neckline accentuates my breasts, but the cut of the dress doesn’t draw attention to my growing bump, which is good because tonight is the night we have decided to announce the pregnancy. My hair is in loose, tousled waves, and I have a red rose in my hair. I am putting the finishing touches to my makeup in the mirror when Sam comes up behind me. He looks so handsome in his black suit, white shirt, with a loose black tie and black biker boots. His hair is his usual messy spiky style, and his green eyes are glittering with excitement. He nuzzles my neck and snakes his arms around my waist.
“Are you ready yet, angel?”
I chuckle.
“I’d be ready a lot faster if you weren’t being so distracting in that suit.”
He cocks his pierced eyebrow and smiles, temporarily disarming me.
“Ah, so you like the suit then, angel?” he rasps. I blot my lipstick and spin around in his arms.
“If you carry on looking at me like that, baby, we won’t be leaving here tonight, and I’m sure your mum won’t be too pleased about that.”
He kisses me on my forehead. “You look absolutely breath-taking, angel.” He kneels down and rests his cheek against my stomach. “Your mummy looks beautiful, boo.”
I love seeing this tender side of Sam, it melts my heart.
“Boo?”
He plants a gentle kiss on my bump and gets to his feet. He takes my hand and leads me out into the living room.
“Yeah, what else are we going to call him or her?”
“Boo sounds perfect.”
“Boo it is then.”
We leave the apartment and go down to the parking garage. Cole and Amy are waiting for us. Cole is dressed in a black pinstripe suit, black shirt open at the collar, and black shoes. He looks handsome; Amy’s slender figure compliments his muscular frame. She is wearing a silver strapless dress which makes her legs look like they go on forever, silver and white Jimmy Choo shoes with a black bow on the front, and her hair in a neat, sleek up-do.
“Peyton, you look gorgeous, hon.” She kisses me on both cheeks.
“So do you, Amy, you look stunning, I look like a small beached whale next to you.”
She takes my arm and rolls her eyes. “Please, I’ve seen more fat on a butcher’s pencil. Tell her she looks beautiful, Cole, sweetie.”
Cole smiles brightly. “You look wonderful, Peyton.”
He kisses my hand, and I blush. We all climb into Sam’s Porsche Cayenne 4x4, Sam and Cole in the front, Amy and me in the back. The journey to Sam’s parents’ house in Kent goes by quickly as we all chat easily in the car. As we pull into Lori and Marlowe’s driveway, I notice the gravel path lined with small tea lights. We climb out of the car and Sam takes my hand.
“I’m sorry, my mum has a thing for all things theatrical,” he whispers. The door opens, and Lori steps out; she looks like a movie star. Her short hair is styled perfectly, and she is wearing a gold dress with matching accessories. The look suits her and makes her look younger than her years.
“Happy birthday, my darling boy,” she croons as she kisses him on the cheek and he wraps her in his arms.
“Thanks, Mum.”
She pulls away from their embrace and opens her arms.
“Peyton, sweetie, you look fabulous,” she says in her familiar American drawl, which I have become accustomed to.
“So do you, Lori, you look amazing.”
She laughs. “This old thing, oh please!” She rolls her eyes and chuckles softly. “Cole, Amy! Come, come inside,” she says enthusiastically. She greets Cole and Amy, we all step inside.
“Happy birthday, son.” Marlowe hugs Sam, and the similarity between the two of them never fails to amaze me. “Peyton, you get more stunning every time I see you.”
He kisses my hand, and over Marlowe’s shoulder, I see Ruby. I am surprised to see her. What could Ruby be doing here? Last I heard, she and Jax weren’t on the best of terms.
I catch her gaze, and she shrieks, “Peyton!”
She rushes towards me and envelopes me in her arms as if we haven’t seen each other in years.
“Rubes! What are you doing here, babe?”
I am actually happy and relieved that she is here; I could do with some back-up.
“Jax and I are seeing each other again, exclusively! Who knew?” she says dramatically, and I chuckle softly.
“You’re looking amazing, babe.”
She looks me up and down, taking me in. “Thanks, so do you, sweetie.”
She can throw any old thing on and look stunning. She is wearing a little black dress with a skinny silver belt round her waist. She is wearing black Christian Laboutin shoes, and her long black hair is flowing like a cascade down her back.
“The flat seems so empty without you in it, babe,” she pouts, and I roll my eyes.
“We knew this was going to happen eventually, sweetie.”
She takes a sip of her champagne.
“Yeah, but I didn’t expect it to happen so soon.”
I take her hand. “I love you, Rubes, you’re welcome at ours anytime, babe, you know that.”
She nods, and Jax comes up behind her. He wraps his arm around her waist and nuzzles her neck.
“So you told her then, sweets?”
Ruby nods. Her and Jax stare dreamily at each other. I have never seen her this happy with a man in all the years I have known her, love looks good on her. I’m so happy for her and Jax; they will be good for each other. I turn and see my mum, dad, Dexter, Grace, Eden, and Jonah walk into the large open living space.
“Darling,” my mum shrieks and throws her arms around me. I am so happy to see my family; it feels like it has been ages since I last saw them all.
“God I’ve missed you, Mum.”
She squeezes me tight. “We’ve missed you too, sweetie, so much.” She kisses me on the cheek. “Now, where’s that handsome rock star of yours?”
I look around the room, and it is as if Sam and I are drawn together like two magnets. His gaze locks on mine, he casually walks over to me with a beer in his hand and a glass of orange juice in his other hand. I take it from him, and he kisses my forehead.
“Sophia,” he rasps, and my mum practically melts at his feet. I am glad it isn’t just me that has that reaction to him. My dad hugs me and tells me how happy he is to see me when Dexter taps my shoulder.
>
“Sis.” He envelopes me in his arms and lifts me off the floor. “It’s so good to see you.”
I laugh. “You too, Dex.”
He sets me down on the ground and narrows his eyes at me. “You look different, sis.”
Grace hits Dexter playfully.
“Leave your sister alone, Dex, she looks gorgeous as always. I love your dress!” she says in a singsong voice and hugs me.
“It’s been forever, we need to set up a meeting to get you fitted for your bridesmaid dress, and we could make a day of it.”
I am actually looking forward to Dexter and Grace’s wedding, honoured that I have been asked to be a bridesmaid. Dexter rolls his eyes, and it’s my turn to hit him on the arm.
“What?” He feigns innocence, and we both laugh.
As the evening progresses the conversation is flowing easily, my parents and Sam’s parents are getting on famously, much to my relief. Milo, Seth, Brody, Lucas, Willow, Brandon, Elijah, J.D., Savannah, and Callum all join the party. Even though I am less than happy to see Savannah, Callum, and J.D., I feel good for the first time in a long time, and I am happy. I am chatting to Amy and Ruby when Sam comes to my side, wrapping his muscled arm around my waist.
“Are you ready to make our announcement official, angel?” he whispers so only I can hear him, and I worry my lip between my teeth nervously. “Don’t be nervous, angel, it will be OK, I promise.”
He winks reassuringly and kisses me gently on the lips. He taps his glass and clears his throat.
“Excuse me, could we get everyone’s attention, please?”
Sam is interrupted by the arrival of Seb.
“I’m so sorry, I’m late,” he says, and I see Willow’s mouth drop open from the corner of my eye. I chuckle. Sam shakes Seb’s hand and runs his hand through his hair.
“Erm, yeah, where was I? First, I want to thank everyone for coming to celebrate the birthday that shall remain numberless.” He smirks, and the room erupts with laughter. “Also, Peyton and I wanted to wait until tonight to make our little announcement official. Christ, I’m no good at this speech stuff … We’re having a baby.”
There are a few audible gasps and then a rapturous round of applause. Our friends and families, happy to be expecting a new addition to the family, enthusiastically congratulate us all. I feel blessed and relieved to have our news out in the open. My sister stands behind me wearing a white dress with a skinny red belt around her waist, sipping champagne.
“Wow, who would have thought, my little sister knocked up by a rock star?” she sneers rather loudly, and I roll my eyes. Typical Eden.
“Can’t you just suck it up and be happy for us, Eden?” I snap, and she cocks her perfectly-plucked eyebrow.
“Don’t you understand? You have my life! You have the life I want so badly! You’re with a gorgeous rock star who quite clearly worships the ground you walk on, and I’m left with …”
She gestures over her shoulder where her fiancé Jonah is standing with a bored look on his face. His sandy blonde hair is slicked back, and he is wearing a tan roll neck jumper and dark-blue jeans, his attempt at looking casual. I have only ever seen Jonah wear perfectly-tailored Saville Row suits.
“He doesn’t even want to be here, thinks this rock star nonsense is beneath him,” she mimics his upper-crust English accent, and I can’t help but feel sorry for her. “At least you got out of Brighton and made a life for yourself.”
I brush her arm.
“Yeah and jumped from one failed relationship to another. I’m standing in my current boyfriend’s parents’ house with my ex and the woman he cheated on me with.”
We both laugh.
“OK, you win on that one; but you’re in your dream job, and you’re doing fantastic.”
Wow! Who kidnapped my sister and replaced her with a clone!
“Who are you and what have you done with my sister?”
She laughs. “I know I’ve been a bitch to you and Dex for years and I can’t apologise enough, Peyton. I’m sorry; I love you so much, for putting up with my shit for so long.”
We hug tightly, and with that hug, the past few years of us being at each other’s throats fade into insignificance.
We all assemble around the table for a three-course meal of mushrooms on ciabatta toast, pie and mash, and banoffee pie, all of Sam’s favourite foods. I am sat between Sam and Seb. Sam chooses to eat one-handed, refusing to let go of my hand. I observe everyone, and the table is alive with the cacophony of animated conversation. Marlowe, Milo, and Seth have my dad and Dexter in stitches with their stories. My mum, Grace, Amy, and Lori are locked in a fashion debate. Lucas and Brody are discussing music with Brandon, Elijah, J.D., and Cole. Jax and Ruby are fawning romantically over each other, it is sweet to watch. Eden and Jonah are having an awkward whispered argument; Savannah is shamelessly feeling Callum up across the table in a lame attempt to evoke a reaction from me. Needless to say, it isn’t working, and Callum’s face is beet red. Willow is staring dreamy-eyed at Seb from across the table, and I catch him staring back at her.
I nudge Seb and whisper. “Someone’s got the hots for you, babe.”
Seb chuckles throatily and shrugs as he takes a sip of his beer.
“She is cute.”
I laugh. “You should go for it, honey, you deserve to be happy. She is a smart girl, you could do worse.” I wink as I get up from the table.
“Excuse me, I need to use the bathroom, the trouble with being pregnant I need to pee all the time!”
Everyone laughs, and I leave the table. I use the bathroom, and as I come out, Callum is leaning against the wall waiting for me; I get a feeling a déjà vu.
“Peyton.”
I go to walk around him, and he grabs my arm.
“I’ve got nothing to say to you, Callum; we’ve said all we need to, time and time again.”
“So you’re pregnant? I’d like to congratulate you, but I don’t like it, baby cakes, not one fucking bit.”
I snatch my arm away from him.
“The last time I checked it has fuck all to do with you and stop calling me baby cakes!” I snap.
“It should be me; you should be carrying my baby!” he blurts out, and I am taken aback.
Where the fuck did that come from? I quickly recover from the shock of his statement.
“Don’t you dare! You had your fucking chance, Callum, but you cheated on me with that … that fucking whore!” I lower my voice, and he smirks.
“Wow, you always were one not to beat around the bush, baby cakes.”
“And that was a dick move, by the way, letting her practically wank you off under the table just to get a reaction out of me. Nice, Callum, really fucking grown up.”
He hangs his head. “I had nothing to do with that, Peyton, I swear.”
I shake my head. Un-be-fucking-lievable.
“I fucked up, I know, babe, and I’ve said I’m sorry countless times, I don’t know how many more times I can say it. But you and Newbolt, I fucking despise him, Peyton. He is going to hurt you I know him; he walks around with his stupid rock star swagger thinking he is God’s gift to women.”
I smirk at Callum, and he frowns.
“You always were the jealous type, Callum.”
“Because you deserve so much better than that prick, baby cakes.”
I roll my eyes. “Like you, you mean?”
He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, and I hear footsteps approaching.
“Get your hands off her, you filthy fucking worm!” Ruby’s voice cuts through the silence, and she steps behind him.
“I suggest you get the fuck away from her, now.” She raises her voice and Brody storms up the stairs towards Callum, grabbing his arm.
“So you’re the famous fucking ex?” Brody retorts and regards Callum with a look of pure disgust on his face. “I’ve got this, babe, take Peyton downstairs and make sure we’re not disturbed. Callum and I need to have a little chat, man to man.”
&nb
sp; Brody winks at me, and I smile warmly at his concern. I am glad we have become close friends; I love all the boys like brothers. Ruby takes my arm and leads me downstairs. The party has spread out onto the outdoor deck area, it is relaxed, and people are still chatting easily as if they have known each other for years. Ruby finds us some spare seats, and we sit down.
“What the fuck was that all about, babe?”
I shake my head. “Callum being Callum, he just can’t leave it alone.”
