Chapter 25
Molly
Cancer.
It’s not a word many like to use, and I’m guessing my father was one of them because the kind Mama had, I have to have early check-ups, and yet he never mentioned it, not in his will or in any paperwork.
He never gave me a heads up.
My mother had breast cancer that was undetected, and her body couldn’t handle the strain when she gave birth to me.
Her heart failed her.
I swallow hard as I whisk up the cream in the bowl and try my hardest to let cooking consume me and for once, I am baking instead, but I’m struggling.
I’ve finally found the reason my mother didn’t survive giving birth to me, and I’m pregnant.
I have no idea how to be a mother. What if something happens to me? Would my child have to be stuck living with someone like Ruth?
Luca has withdrawn a little from me, and I don’t know if he realizes it, so that isn’t helping my mindset either, and even though the baby has a heartbeat, are we just better off terminating?
A sharp stab shoots through my chest, and I suck in a breath like I’ve been physically punched at the thought, and I squeeze my eyes tightly.
Shaking my head, I continue whisking the cream, check the stiffness, and sigh as the mixture sticks to the sides of the bowl.
Apparently, the customers love my raspberry and chocolate meringues, which are obviously my mama’s recipe, and we’ve run out. So, while we’re now on the slowness after the lunch rush, I decided to make some more before the afternoon rush comes into the diner.
I quickly scoop the mixture into a piping bag after lining it with raspberry sauce I made from scratch, then twist the bag and gently begin making swirls on baking paper, my eyes flitting to my phone on the other side of the kitchen.
Two days since finding out we’re pregnant, two days since Luca stopped calling me during the day, two days since Luca began distancing himself from me, breaking my heart little by little, and now I have two choices.
I either fight for him or I run like my mind always tells me to.
“Why in the fuck were you walking out of Ace’s home this morning?” a voice suddenly snaps me out of my head, making me jump and pipe too much mixture onto the baking paper, and I scowl as I look up and lock eyes with AJ, who is glaring at me full of jealousy.
“You did not just come in here and make me mess up because of your stalker tendencies!?” I snap back, and she narrows her eyes at me.
“He is mine! I told you I had dibs!” she shouts, full of anger, and I roll my eyes as I place the bag down.
I swear, I haven’t got the energy for this woman today.
I heard all about the crap she caused with Harriet over Luca because the idiot decided to screw Harriet, and AJ took it negatively, and in my opinion, even though I hate knowing he slept with her, he fired the wrong woman.
This one is stalker crazy, just like that woman, what’s her face, Pussy I think Shaun called her who was arrested for breaking and entering last month.
Apparently she was a clubwhore and thought Luca could get her back into the club house and now, she’s looking at time and a restraining order.
“Newsflash, AJ, if he wanted you, he would have made sure to have you. You can’t call dibs because he was already mine, has been since Abby knocked me into his bike,” I pick up the metal scraper and I state, “I was walking out of his home because I’m basically living there so why don’t you get lost and do your job you seem uninterested in doing and stay the hell away from my boyfriend! ”
I remove the messed-up swirl, trying to ignore my pounding heart at the fact that I’ve just claimed Luca to the biggest loudmouth in town and I pick up the bag again, adamant to get these molds done before the next rush of people come in.
Instead of leaving as I demanded, AJ sneers, “She’s all yours!” and I look at her with a raised brow. She is smirking at me with her arms crossed before a ragged-looking Abby stalks into the kitchen, holding an iron bar.
I laugh, I can’t help it.
“You think this is funny, huh?!” she snaps, “You think that my coming here to kill you is hilarious? You ruined our lives!”
“One, I find it funny you need a weapon to take me on,” I goad. “Two, I find it hilarious that AJ is going to be your little watchdog, because she can now kiss her job and possibly her life goodbye.” AJ tenses. “And three, you ruined your own life by being a spoiled, selfish, little bitch!”
My goading works. Abby drops the iron bar before she screeches and rushes towards me.
I go to dodge her but my instincts to protect the baby I just had thoughts of terminating, shock me that I don’t move quickly enough, and she manages to tackle me to the ground. I grunt at the impact on my back before her fist lands on my eyebrow, and I gasp in pain, her rings cutting me.
Holy crap.
I blink and blink again as AJ’s laughter echoes while Abby screams, “You stole my life!” and goes to hit me again, but I see it coming this time, and I block her fist before swinging my own, hitting her nose. I feel a crunch against my knuckles, and Abby screams, grabbing her now bleeding nose.
Okay, so that felt damn good even if my knuckles are now throbbing.
I hear, “What the actual fuck?!” and, “Pidge!” just as Abby’s weight is being lifted off me, but before Shaun can drag her fully off, I punch her again. This time, I hit her eye, and she cries out.
“Fuck, Pidge,” Luca curses as he gently helps me up before he cups my face and turns it, eyeing the cut just as Trigger passes him some tissue and Luca presses it against my head, making me wince.
“Are you okay?” Trigger asks, and I open my mouth, but before words can come out, AJ lies, “She attacked Abby and told me she was going to kill me because no one can have you, Ace.”
I look at her with a raised brow while fake tears coat her cheeks, and I ask, “Do you know there are cameras in here?”
Luca now raises a brow at me, but I wave my hand at him as AJ denies, “No, there isn’t,” just as another prospect comes into the doorway and grabs her arm, shocking her.
I guess Luca was watching me when everything unfolded, yet he never messaged or called, and of course, it doesn’t escape my notice that he doesn’t touch my stomach with concern for the baby.
“Four,” I choke, trying to get my emotions under control, trying to squash the thoughts wanting to take over that we’re ending, and I repeat, “There are four cameras, why do you think the brothers are in here, AJ?”
“I-I, Ace, look, I just, you fucked Harriet when you were always mine and now her…” she tries, and Luca’s muscles in his jaw tick as he commands, “Joe, Shaun, take her now with Abby.”
AJ protests, but Luca doesn’t look at her, and Trigger says, “Sweetheart, you didn’t answer my question.”
I swallow hard and, dodging Luca’s eyes, I lie, “I’m fine,” even though I am far from fine. I whisper, “I finally got my wish and hit Abby again since I was sixteen without any repercussions coming my way.”
Both men chuckle as Luca gently wraps an arm around my waist and says, “Come on, Pidge, let's get you home. Between finally finishing all your tests, being ready to graduate, and the diner, you’ve barely stopped.”
I don’t say anything and allow him to guide me out of the kitchen even though I didn’t finish the meringues and my heart drops because, again, he doesn’t ask about the baby—only focusing on getting me out of here and even though I thought it, after being attacked and after the feelings that ran through me, I know I can’t terminate this pregnancy.
But the question is.. is Luca going to stick around?
My mind spirals as he guides me towards my mustang, and I squeeze my eyes tightly, remembering every time he’s looked at my stomach with a distant look over the past few days, and a bad feeling pulls from the pit of my stomach.
He’s going to hurt me, isn’t he?
He’s going to make me regret giving him a chance?
God, I hope not. I really, really hope not.
Please don’t hurt me, Luca.