Hey everyone! Thanks again for all the lovely comments. I love reading them Here's the new chapter. Let me know what you think. And please tell me if you find it too confusing. I'll stop rambling now...
Nina xx
Abby was still clueless about Luka’s feelings for her and had no idea how to find out if he liked her. To add to her desperation, Julie’s birthday was on Sunday and she was in no mood to put up with Richard and worry about Maggie and Eric – they had been on their meds non-stop since Julie was born but she was still concerned that something could go wrong and ruin her baby girl’s 7th birthday party.
She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t hear Frank calling her name the first three times. She almost fell off her chair at the admit desk when he yelled at her:
- Abby!! Phone!!
- Okay. I’m coming, I’m coming.
- This is Abby. – She said picking up the phone.
- Oh, I understand. I’ll figure something out. Fell better. Bye. – With that she hung up the phone.
- Shit! – She said, resting her head on her hands, thinking of what to do.
She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder and without looking up she knew who it was: her best friend. The one who always made her smile, even when everything went wrong: Luka.
- What happened? Who was that on the phone?
- That was my sitter, Emma. She’s got a nasty stomach flu and can’t pick Julie up from school and stay with her till I get off.
- When is your shift over?
- 7. I’ll have to find a way of getting out of here to pick her up and bring her here. Argh!
- Don’t worry. I get off in half an hour and I’m picking up my kids, anyway. I’ll take Julie to my place and you can pick her up when you get off. I can make them lunch and dinner, grab a movie on the way. I bet she won’t mind.
- Thanks, Luka. I owe you one. But how about you guys go to my place instead? I went shopping yesterday, there’s plenty of stuff to eat there. Here’s my key. – She said, taking the key from her lab coat pocket and placing it on his hand.
- Okay. That’s fine with me. I’ll find you to let you know when I’m leaving.
- Good. Thanks again, Luka. – She said walking away with the incoming trauma.
- No problem. – He yelled after her.
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Luka parked in front of the girls’ school and let Marko out of his carseat. They sat on a bench and played waiting for the bell to ring. About 5 minutes later Julie and Jasna came running out.
- Hi daddy.
- Hi princess. – He bent down to kiss her cheek.
- Hey uncle Luka. Have you seen Emma? She’s picking me up today.
- Emma is sick. I’m picking you up today. We’re all going to your house and watch movies all afternoon and wait for your mom to come home.
- Yaaay!! – The three kids squealed.
- Come on, now. Buckle up. We’re going to the movie store to rent a couple of DVD’s.
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“This was definitely one of the most exhausting shifts ever.” Abby though to herself as she got into her car. It was almost 8:00 and she only managed to leave the ER because Susan was the one in charge tonight, instead of Kerry. Otherwise, she’d be really screwed. She couldn’t wait to get home and see Julie, and Jasna and Marko – she’d been working like crazy lately and hadn’t seen them in a while. She was also excited to see Luka outside of work (something else that she hadn’t done in a while.)
The four of them jumped excitedly when they heard the jiggle of keys in the front door.
- Mommy!
- Auntie Abby!
She smiled the first genuine smile that day. This was one of the best receptions she had ever had.
The kids came running and hugged her legs while Luka stood back and enjoyed the scene before his eyes. She had something appealing even to the kids, and there was nothing he loved more in a woman than the ability with children – especially with his own.
Once she was done hugging and kissing them she walked into the house and saw him. Smiling that gorgeous smile that reached his eyes. The one she only saw when he was really happy. She smiled back and they kept staring at each other. Not moving, not saying a word. Just smiling and staring, each of them admiring the other. Till their moment was broken by a forced cough from Julie.
- Excuse me! I’m sorry to interrupt this lovely scene, but we’re kids and we need to eat. We’re starving here.
Abby quickly turned around, obviously blushing, saying that she was going to wash up for dinner. Luka embarrassedly went to the kitchen to fix their dinner, his mind still on Abby and how beautiful she looked even after a stressful day in the ER. He couldn’t get over how she made him feel. The way she could brighten up his day just by walking into the room. He couldn’t stop thinking about her and was beginning to feel something more for her – something more than friendship. Those new feelings towards her were starting to scare him, so he decided to push them out of his mind for now and try to enjoy dinner. He would deal with that later. He had to.