Author’s Note:
I’m so sorry it took me so long to update this story! I’ve had so much to do at the end of the school year, and I just kept putting it off. It’s finally summer now, and I expect to have a lot of time to continue this one. I want to thank everyone for reading, and of course the lovely reviews I’ve received. You guys are the greatest!
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Chapter Four – Slide And I'll do anything you ever
Dreamed to be complete
Little pieces of the nothing that fall
May put your arms around me
What you feel is what you are
And what you are is beautiful-Goo Goo Dolls “Slide”
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“Ssh, she’ll hear us.”
“Why do you care so much if anyone hears us?”
“I don’t want to have to answer any questions.”
Luka rolled his eyes dramatically, and I could tell he was slowly but surely getting fed up with my antics. After all, it was through my insistence that we even began this little shopping trip, let alone come into this particular store.
I sighed deeply and grabbed his hand, steering him around a large display of stuffed animals. “If we go this way, maybe she won’t see us. We can sneak out that door over there.”
“Abby, you’re impossible,” He replied, allowing himself to be pulled along toward the exit.
“Proud of it,” I muttered, pushing the door open and hurrying out onto the street. I glanced back into the store, taking notice of both the overly persistent salesclerk and Debbie Dawkins from the pharmacy. Both women seemed to be occupied with something or other, and appeared completely unaffected by our silent getaway.
Success.
“I don’t think you realize how silly you’re acting right now,” Luka teased, leaning up against the building and surveying me with an expression of sheer amusement. “You look like a little kid on Christmas.”
“That was a clean escape!” I exclaimed, throwing my hands in the air. “Neither one of them saw us!”
Luka chuckled softly, clearly entertained by my excitement. “Did you want a metal?”
“Nice. Real nice.” I glared at him. He was so insolent.
“
Ab-by,” He droned, looking slightly guilty. “Abby, I was only kidding with…” He paused as a mischievous grin spread across my face. “Look who’s being so nice now!”
“Come on, let’s get back,” I said, grabbing his hand and walking down the street. “It’s been a long day, and I don’t think there are too many baby store dressing rooms left for us to christen.”
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“I wonder which one of us she’ll look like,” I announced, hours later. We were both in the lounge, working a late shift. It had been a very slow night, and we were both busy catching up on charts.
“I thought you didn’t want anyone to hear you talk about that,” Luka replied without glancing up from his work. I shrugged nonchalantly, glancing around.
“No one’s in here. Neela’s finishing up whatever’s left on the board, and Morris is sleeping in three.”
“No surprise there.”
I grinned. “You still didn’t answer my question.”
He placed his pen down, finally giving me his full attention. “It’s hard to say. We don’t know which one of our genes will be stronger.”
“But I want to know what you
think he’s going to look like.”
“You said she before.”
I rolled my eyes in exasperation. “You’re changing the subject!”
He laughed softly. “Calm down, Abby.” He glanced at the clock. “My shift’s over. When does yours end?”
“Two hours ago,” I replied, grabbing my coat from off the back of my chair. “Want to take the El?”
He nodded, helping me into my coat and grabbing his own. He could be such a gentleman sometimes without even noticing it.
Must be a European thing.
“You’re both off?” Neela asked, as we passed by the Admit Desk. She looked slightly disappointed. “I’m on till morning.”
“I’ve been off for a while,” I replied, following Luka past the desk. “See you tomorrow?”
Neela nodded and waved us off, absorbing herself into one of her own charts.
Silently, we walked through the bay and down the street, his arm looped through mine. We were both a little tired, him especially considering how often I’d been keeping him awake lately. Sleeping for me was becoming a challenge, and I had taken to tossing around at night until I finally succumbed to my fatigue. Luka would never admit to it, but I could tell he was starting to become a little frustrated.
He grabbed my hand and we dashed up the stairs to the El, thankfully making the first train we saw. I glanced around the train, finding a seat close to the front and gesturing to it. He nodded, and we both sat down.
Slowly, I felt his arm snake around my shoulders. He ran his hand across the small of my back, rubbing it soothingly. “You,” He muttered tenderly.
I furrowed my brow in confusion. “Me?”
He nodded, his hand traveling around my back to rest on my middle. “I hope our baby looks like you.”
I blinked, a small smile playing about my lips.
Did he really just say that? Deciding that my own words simply weren’t enough to appease his own, I leaned into him, resting my head on his shoulder as we sped through Chicago.
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I’m actually almost finished with Chapter Five, so expect to see that in the next couple of days. Hope you’re all enjoying this as much as I am.
xx Laurie
