‘She loves me really.’ He headed in and Holly pulled Rebecca in for a hug.
‘I think you do! Look at you!’
‘Shut up, I know Hans has been telling you every little detail.’
‘I know you know. The tag team beating you gave him was a little harsh I thought, but Hans can take it. And I told you so too! Thanks for all this. You shouldn’t have.’
‘Luke helped. He’s a great ribbon curler.’
‘I bet he is,’ Holly smirked, waggling her perfectly shaped brows and giggling.
‘Shut up, or I’ll take my cake back.’
Holly pursed her lips together. It was good cake.
‘Okay, I’ll button it for now. Come see everyone.’
It all looked great, all set out in their home. People were milling around, plates and glasses in hand, having a go at decorating money boxes and making onesies. Luke was sat making one, chatting to others at the table. The women were eating out of the palm of his hand, and he didn’t even realise. Typical Luke. He looked up, winking at Rebecca when he caught her eye. She smirked at him like a schoolgirl.
‘You sure you’re ready for all these people in your house, and tonight?’ she asked her friend. Holly waved her off.
‘Listen, it’s nice to not be stuck on the couch watching Friends reruns on Netflix. I need the company.’
Holly led her over to Luke, saying hello to people as they milled through.
‘Listen, the most interesting thing that’s happened to me since this baby is Luke coming, so having a party to celebrate it all sounds pretty amazing. Ladies, Rebecca’s here!’ Rebecca felt a shove, and she fell forward. Luke caught her and pulled her onto his lap.
‘Like it?’ he said smoothly, showing her his handiwork. On the onesie was the café logo for Alpine Bites. ‘Thought the little bugger should earn its keep early on. Bit of free advertising.’
He flipped the material around. In black writing on the back it read I was conceived here. He put it onto the pile of finished outfits.
‘I’ll let them enjoy that later.’ He wrapped his arms around her, and she kissed him without even thinking about who might see. His eyebrows shot up. ‘Look at you, all nonchalant.’
She kissed him again, and he kissed her back, lifting her up. ‘Come on, let’s go get a drink. Either that or find the make out station quick.’
‘Damn, missed opportunity. Did the cake get here, did you check?’
She still couldn’t believe that they’d made it and kept it secret. Luke had got one of Hans’s friends to collect it and stash it there earlier. Another thing they’d done together. Luke’s competition date was coming closer, but it still seemed a way off. She had plenty of time to enjoy things. Today was about being here and having fun. Tomorrow she could let her mother know she wasn’t entering yet again, but at least a new boyfriend might cushion the blow back home. She could at least tell her mother that she filled the forms in this year, and maybe next year would be the one. She was feeling different lately. That new resolve could get on the plane with Luke though, and fly away from me. Just like him.
‘Yep, all stashed in the back. Stop worrying now. Come on, let’s get a drink.’
‘Can I just ch—’
‘Before you ask to check the c—’
They both laughed. Luke tapped her on the nose with his index finger.
‘I knew it. I checked the cake, it’s all intact. It looks amazing. Drink?’
Rebecca rolled her eyes at him.
‘Drink.’ Luke winked at her, and her anxiety just fell away. Today was a good day.
*
Later that afternoon, when the baby things had been cleared away and the caterers had taken over, Hans and Holly’s place looked so different. Lit up, showing off the homely feel of the modern space, the atmosphere was more relaxed. Mina was sitting talking to Holly, and as Rebecca took a drink from Luke, she knew that they were talking about her.
‘My ears are burning.’
‘Mine too,’ Luke came and sat next to her on the sofa. They had a good view of the front door, and the whole room. She was still a little on edge, although everyone had been nothing but happy to see her. A few raised eyebrows and shocked expressions, sure, but after hiding away for so long, she had to expect that a little. Hans had kept to his word, only people she still had in her life were there for the most part, and none of her old Robbie crew.
‘No nasties lurking though, eh?’ Luke said it as though he’d read her thoughts. ‘I had a word with Hans.’
She shook her head. ‘No, just friends. A few old acquaintances. What did you say to him? Did you threaten to kick him in the ankle or something?’
Hans was sitting at the other side of Holly, talking to some of his friends. From the movements he was making with his beer bottle, he was telling one of his terribly longwinded and incredibly boring jokes.
‘No, I just told him that I didn’t want anything to spoil the night. He feels the same anyway. You want any food? The rabbit is gorgeous, and the mini burgers? I’ve had about twelve of those suckers.’ Luke scanned the room. ‘I’m pretty sure the waiter’s avoiding me.’
‘I’ve had some.’ She hadn’t, she felt a bit too jippy in the tummy area to trust herself to eat yet. ‘I’ll eat more later.’ That was in response to Hans’s raised brow. He knew her too well.
‘Listen,’ Luke started. ‘I actually did something a little stupid the other day, and I wanted to talk to you about it. It’s been playing on my mind.’
The front door opened in front of her, and Rebecca choked on her drink.
‘It’s not that bad, it’s totally fixable. I just saw it, and—’
‘Robbie.’
Luke frowned, his eyes darkening. ‘No, this has nothing to do with him. Not
