A cold, wet nose nudges my face, “Eww,” I swat Benny away and roll over sleepily, looking up at him and his big brown puppy eyes. “A hungry wake-up call, hey?” I yawn. He has an area that he uses for his business on the balcony. Benny wags his tail and lets out a soft woof. I roll onto my back and sigh. I was having such a wonderful dream for once too. Benny barks again.
“Alright, alright, I’m getting up.” I glance at the time. “Well damn.” It’s nearly 9 am! I haven’t had a sleep-in in a long while.
Benny flounces around me while we head to the kitchen to get his breakfast ready.
Now, I could catch up on some work, go to the house I’m flipping, or I smile; I could go back to sleep and pick up where I left off in that dream.
I shake my head; I can’t do that. I always feel like shit if I haven’t done anything productive.
“What do you think of a little picnic?&rd
Strange that Dax called. Usually, he just shows up unannounced. I decided to start on dinner and cook for two. Dax will likely stick around for dinner and I know just what to make boscaiola pasta and garlic bread. Just as I’ve finished the salad, Dax walks in. “Hey, why the phone call? Everything alright?” I ask “Yeah, I just didn’t want to interrupt anything, just in case there was something to interrupt,” he says pensively. I look at my friend bewildered, “What could you possibly interrupt?” Dax is acting stranger than usual, and that’s saying a lot about him. “Don’t be obtuse, Lillian. Luke was here.” He takes a seat on the barstool and stares at me. I don’t think Dax has ever called me by my full name before. “Okay. Well, there is certainly nothing like that going on.” I shake my head. Is he jealous? “What’s going on?” “I didn’t want to bust in on you, that’s all”, he grins. “Is that my favourite pasta dish?”
I made it through dinner and dessert without being grilled about Luke. Which for my family is really something. “Dinner was delicious as usual, Esther” Joe rubs his stomach appreciatively, Mum blushes. I laugh, “Little birdie told me that you had moved in.” Joe winks and leans forward, “Your Mum and I aren’t young like you and Luke. We both know what we want and don’t feel the need to keep taking things slow any more than we already have.” He grins broadly and gazes at my Mum, “When you know. You know.” “I love that.”, when you know, you know. I smile; I’m going to call Luke. “I know that look.” Joe chuckles, “Go call him.” “Who’s for karaoke?” Stace cries, everyone murmurs in agreement and before I have a chance to find my phone in amongst all the phones in Mum’s ‘No Phone Rule’ basket, Stace is dragging me into the great room. Mum has a fantastic karaoke machine; how did I not notice the set-up when I walked in. Luce w
People are jamming into The Bar tonight. Joe will be excited about the bottom line, and I can’t say I’m mad about it either. It will help with the extra details Abbey wants to add to the house. All of this doesn’t stop me from pacing back and forth in the office. Joe insisted on installing a two-way mirror in our office, and right now, I’m grateful that he dug his heels in. I’ve been waiting and watching for Luke to show for the last three hours, and nothing. After Dax left, I called him and left a message. An hour later, I called again, and he sent me straight to voicemail. I was pissed. I called his office. The receptionist was a bitch, so I have no idea if she took my details down or not. An hour ago, I left a final message. I have officially become a stage five clinger and stalker. The only thing that has occupied my mind this afternoon is soundcheck. Now that we’re all in the office except Dax. He’s waiting for Sally at the door.
I can’t get my keys into the door. I’m so damn nervous. “Are you okay?” I glance up at Luke, “I’m fine.” Finally, the key slides in, and I open my door. Benny isn’t around this evening to take the edge off. Quinn picked him up while he was in the city for a client and took him to Mum’s. Luke closes the door behind him. “Welcome to my home.” I drop my keys in the small bowl on the hall table. Nervously I walk on ahead; just brazen it out, Lillian, just brazen it out. I start showing him around my apartment, finishing the tour with the lounge room. “And that’s it.” I stay a couple of feet away from him. I’m so out of my depth here. “Would you like something to drink?” Luke doesn’t answer right away. His eyes are firmly on something else. I take a small step closer and notice his overnight bag on the floor next to the couch. “Oh um.” Luke grins at me, “Don’t worry about it babe, I’m glad it’s here. Saves JJ the trou
“Wake up, beautiful. It’s time to face the day.” Luke whispers affectionately.I smile and breathe him in. Hmmm, he smells so good. I kiss his chest and slowly run my tongue over his nipple and tug gently with my teeth.He growls. That’s a delicious sexy sound to hear first thing in the morning.Luke pulls me up and kisses me eagerly. God, yes, I could get used to waking up like this.“Lilly”, he breathes my name.“Yes?” I gaze into his eyes, and he smiles tenderly, tucking a curl behind my ear.“We should talk,” he says ominously. Oh? I frown and pull away. What guy wants to talk rather than have incredible sex? Well, Luke. But I don’t give in that easily.“Do we have to talk right now?” I ask, going back to kissing his neck and down his chest towards a very happy trail.“Yes, baby, we need to do this now.”I sigh and
Mum is in full operation hostess mode. I’ve received several phone calls since last night asking about Luke’s favourite meals, beverages, right to his favourite colour. My mother would have been a great interrogator. She has pulled more information about Luke than I have, and I’ve been with him intimately. It’s been nice having Luke around this weekend. I frown, but mum had to remind me that if I’m going to have a serious go at having a relationship with Luke that I must tell him everything. That’s a bubble I’m not ready to burst just yet. I’d like to have a few days of happiness before I drop another bomb into our very fresh relationship. I smile and sip my coffee. Luke has spent most of this morning in my study after JJ arrived with a fresh bag of clothes, his laptop and other things. We were sharing my study for a while, but with his constant phone calls and then the conference calls, I finally left and here I am using my kit
Ren and Dax have built a great little bonfire for our small gathering tonight. Abby, Quinn, and Luce have gone home. Abby is sure Luce will have a belly ache after all the roasted marshmallows she ate earlier, especially when we were all sneaking her more when we thought my sister wasn’t paying attention. The poor kid might not make it to school tomorrow. Mum and Joe have gone to bed. Leaving us to continue our evening under the stars. The boys have their acoustic guitars, while Justin plays around on his tablet. He’s always playing on his tablet if not a game, then music. I catch Andy staring into the fire pensively. She has a lot to think about with her girlfriend and boyfriend. I can only imagine what it would be like to not only navigate your feelings but two partners as well. I can barely navigate my feelings, let alone Luke’s. Adding another person to the mix would blow my mind. “You alright, love?”, Luke asks. I snuggle further
“Good morning baby, wake up my sweet girl, it’s time to face the day.” Luke whispers sweetly in my ear, but a shadow takes over the sweet whisper and turns into a growling grunt, “My sweet, sweet Lillian.” I open my eyes and smile up at him cautiously. “What’s wrong Lily?” “It’s far too early in the morning for this conversation.” “No. What’s bothering you? I need to know.” “Please never girl me sweet.” He laughs, “But you are sweet.”“I’m not being cute, Lucas.” Luke sits up. “What’s wrong with the word sweet?” “Dean called me his sweet. Often during….” I trail off, unable to finish the sentence. “Fuck.” He scoops me up into his arms, “I’m so sorry Lily.” I snuggle into him, “Don’t be. Just don’t use that term of endearment. That’s all.” I lean back and smile up at him, kissing the tip of his nose. “I want to kill him.” His voice darkens with his eyes. “I want to fucking kill him for what he has done