Chapter 18
Over the next two weeks,Chloe and Luke spend a lot of time studying for Luke’s GED test. There have been no more almost-kisses (thank God), but Chloe always feels just a little on edge every time. No matter how much space she puts between them at the start of their prep session, they inevitably slide closer and closer, so they can both see the worksheets and practice tests properly, of course.
And Chloe pointedly ignores the little sparks that erupt every time Luke’s leg brushes hers.
‘That makes sense,’ Luke says one night, leaning back with a sigh after Chloe explains a new concept to him. He picks everything up really fast. More than once, Chloe wonders if his experience learning new songs quickly has so drastically improved his memorization skills.
‘Here, try this last problem and we’ll call it for tonight,’ Chloe says, pushing the practice book his way. Luke takes it without complaint and begins working.
There’s not much for Chloe to do while he works. She swipes open her phone, but nothing really holds her attention. Her eyes keep flickering to Luke. His tongue pokes through his lips when he concentrates, which is just very distracting. So is the way his muscles move as he writes and how he ruffles his hair while he thinks.
Lukeis just very distracting.
The only sound in the room is the scritch-scratch of Luke’s pencil on his paper, but Chloe doesn’t even notice when it stops.
‘Uh, Chlo?’ Luke asks, pulling Chloe back down to Earth.
She blinks. ‘Huh?’
‘I’m done,’ Luke tells her. She can tell this isn’t the first time he’s said it. ‘You wanna check it?’
‘Yes, absolutely,’ Chloe says quickly. She sits up straighter and grabs the book and his paper from him, pretending she was not just ogling at him like some lovesick weirdo. The smirk on his face tells her it did not go unnoticed.
God, she needs to get it together!
It’s easy to check his work, and there’s really nothing there for Chloe to correct. For all Luke’s insecurity about his intelligence, he’s a quick study and is able to apply concepts very easily.
‘This is really good,’ she tells him after she explains the one minor mistake he made. ‘You’re getting through the material really quickly. I’m impressed.’
Luke rolls his eyes, but looks pleased by her praise. With a cheeky smile and a wag of his eyebrows, he asks, ‘Do I get a reward for being such a good student?’
Chloe flushes, her mind immediately going back to their almost-kiss. ‘What kind of reward?’ she asks.
Luke leans forward like he’s going to steal a kiss, and Chloe’s breath catches in her throat. She stills, not leaning in but not moving away like she knows she should. Her heart is practically in her throat and her cheeks must be glowing bright red for all they burn. She has to resist the urge to clap her hands over them.
Luke pauses a few inches from her face, tilting his head as he looks at her, his eyes searching. For what, she doesn’t know. She drops her gaze to her lap, where her hands are twisting against each other like pretzels.
Luke sighs and turns his head from hers, standing. He says quietly, ‘Ice cream would be a good reward.’
And Chloe has to pretend she isn’t disappointed.
The next morning, things are still a little weird between them. There’s a line drawn in the sand. Luke seems to be waiting for Chloe’s invitation to cross it, but she just can’t make herself do it.
It makes the doctor’s appointment a tad awkward.
Chloe fidgets with her paper robe, leaving small rips littering the hem as they wait for the doctor. When Luke made the appointment, he told her he’d done his research and this was the best OBGYN in Los Angeles. Given the upscale design of the lobby, the sleek computers and monitors, and the surprisingly well-dressed patients waiting their turn, Chloe was inclined to believe him.
Mostly because she feels wholly out of place.
Everyone seems to be moving at a brisk pace around here, nurses popping in and out to get Chloe’s vitals and ask her all sorts of questions. One nurse grabs her arm to get her blood pressure, and is done and out the door before Chloe can even say ‘hello’.
After only a few minutes of this in-and-out, a nurse in pink scrubs tells them their doctor will be in to see them shortly. The door shuts behind her with finality, and Chloe feels like she can finally breathe again.
‘Busy place, huh?’ she comments, glancing next to her. Her examination table is high enough that she has to look down to meet Luke’s eyes. He nods, letting out a breathless laugh.
‘I guess bedside manner isn’t a priority around here,’ he replies, with a shake of his head. ‘I don’t think I got any of those nurses’ names.’
Chloe snorts. ‘I don’t think they ever said them. I guess being efficient is a useful skill, but it kinda seems like overboard.’
Luke quirks his eyebrow. ‘Five bucks says the doctor’s the exact opposite,’ he says. ‘I bet they’re all so quick because she takes her sweet time with patients and they have to make up for it.’
Chloe’s jaw drops open, and she leans forward to smack Luke on the shoulder. ‘We’re not betting on our doctor!’ she protests.
Luke makes a face at her, scrunching his nose until she can’t hold back her laughter.
God, it’s so easy with Luke. When everything else just goes away and it’s just the two of them, it’s as easy as breathing.
If only it could be just the two of them all the time.
Chloe sighs, but doesn’t have time to wallow. The doctor knocks on the door and lets herself in before they can say a word. Dr. Lippton comes in like a storm, just as quick-moving and efficient as her nurses.
‘Chloe Cameron, yes?’ she asks, barely looking at Chloe as she plops onto the rolling stool and reaches for the box of latex gloves.‘I’m Dr. Lippton; I’ll be taking care of you today. I understand this isn’t your first doctor’s visit?’
The look on Dr. Lippton’s face when she glances over Chloe’s chart probably isn’t meant to be judgmental, but Chloe still cringes under the doctor’s pursed lips and narrow eyes.
‘No, we, um, we were on the road for a month or so,’ Chloe stammers, glancing at Luke. ‘Dr. Adams, in?—’
‘I see it here,’ Dr. Lippton interrupts, flipping a page in Chloe’s chart. The corners of her mouth tug downwards. ‘How far along are you?’
‘Twelve weeks,’ Luke answers, sliding his chair closer to Chloe. Maybe he can sense her nerves or maybe Dr. Lippton is a little off-putting to him too. Chloe resists the urge to grab his hand, and rips another piece of her gown instead.
The questions speed by, and soon Dr. Lippton stands, instructing Chloe to put her feet in the stirrups and scoot to the end of the examination table.
‘I’ve got to make sure everything’s alright with the baby,’ she says when Chloe hesitates. Almost kindly, she adds, ‘We’ll do the ultrasound next, alright?’
Chloe nods and takes a deep breath. She scoots down and sets her heels in each of the stirrups, which force her knees open and leave her feeling extremely exposed. As Dr. Lippton begins the physical examination, Luke pulls his chair closer to Chloe’s head and holds out his hand. With just a tiny hesitation, Chloe pushes any residual awkwardness and takes it, grateful for the comfort he provides.
Dr. Lippton isn’t exactly a chatty person, only speaking to ask pertinent questions, so Luke fills the silence for her. He talks softly in Chloe’s ear, telling her a story from his latest songwriting session with Maverick and Quinn.
‘Mav made the mistake of suggesting Quinn replace one of the lines in the song she’d been working on,’ he tells her. His thumb brushes the back of her hand lightly as he talks, creating almost a rhythm with his words.
‘I thought songwriting was supposed to be collaborative,’ Chloe says. Luke scoffs lightly.
‘Not if you’re Quinn Seong,’ he tells her. ‘I feel like everyone should know by now to just let Quinn’s songs be. She’ll bite your head off if you try to edit her work. Mav’s lucky to be walking right now.’
‘Which R3 songs are hers?’
Luke lists off a few of the band’s most well-known songs, and Chloe understands why everyone allows Quinn to be so territorial over her work. Even someone like her, who never listened to Reckless 3’s music by her own choice, knew the words to Never Let You Go and Just Saying.
She’s about to say as much, but Dr. Lippton clears her throat. Chloe and Luke both look at her and realize she asked a question that they both completely missed.
‘Let’s keep the chatter to a minimum, if you don’t mind,’ Dr. Lippton says, not unkindly. ‘This doesn’t hurt, does it?’
Chloe shakes her head, and the appointment continues at Dr. Lippton’s preferred quick pace.
Soon, the sonogram is done and printed (Chloe hardly even cried this time when she saw her little baby on the screen!), and Dr. Lippton is removing her gloves.
‘Diane will schedule you a follow-up appointment for four weeks from now,’ she tells them. She gives them both a quick, too-firm handshake and then she’s out the door in a flash. Chloe and Luke share a look.
‘She’s, well, she’s something,’ Luke says with a breathy laugh. Chloe joins in, shaking her head as she climbs off the examination table. She’s careful to keep her robe closed, but it’s kind of a struggle not to accidentally flash Luke as she slides down.
‘Here, let me…’ Luke mutters, standing up and grabbing her arms. Chloe bites her lip, but allows him to help her to the floor. He holds on for just a second too long after she gains her footing, but steps back and clears his throat. ‘I’ll let you change.’
Chloe is a little slow as she gets redressed, her fingers fumbling over her zipper. She manages to get everything on, careful to tuck the new sonogram into her bag, and heads out.
Luke, of course, manages to look cool even in the middle of an OBGYN office. He’s leaning against the wall, fiddling with his keyring as he waits. Chloe’s heart catches in her throat, and she tightens her grip on her bag to ground her.
‘All set?’ Luke asks, catching his keys in his palm when he sees her. Chloe nods and allows him to lead the way out of the office. The six inches between them feel like an ocean, and Chloe has to resist the urge to hold his hand.
So, she nudges him in the ribs instead. ‘You owe me five bucks, by the way,’ she says lightly. Luke scoffs, looking extra pouty as he slides his sunglasses back on.
‘You didn’t take me up on that!’ he argues. Chloe tilts her head, pretending to think.
‘Pretty sure I did,’ she says cheekily.
‘You did not!’
The air feels lighter as they bicker back and forth, before Luke generously offers to buy Chloe an ice cream with “her” five dollars.
After their appointment, Chloe and Luke find themselves curled up on the living room couch, wrapped up in the kind of soft, fluffy blanket only rich people have lying around their houses. Some Netflix movie, who’s title Chloe’s already forgotten, is on the TV.
Luke’s phone rings for the third time since they started the movie and, for the third time, he declines the call. The two of them aren’t cuddling, not quite, but even as close as they are, Chloe can’t see who’s calling.
The ringtone isn’t his usual one. This is a high, shrill sound that Chloe’s heard only a handful of times since she joined Luke on tour. And every time, Luke either leaves the room to answer it or silences the call, like he’s doing now.
‘You can answer that, you know,’ Chloe tells him. She pauses the movie, snorting at the unflattering image of the main lead it pauses on. ‘I can wait.’
‘No, it’s okay,’ Luke dismisses. ‘I don’t want to deal with them right now.’
Chloe can’t help herself. ‘Who?’
‘My parents,’ Luke answers shortly. Chloe waits a moment, but she can tell he doesn’t want to talk about it. Come to think of it, he hasn’t mentioned his parents much at all in the time she’s known him. All he’s been willing to say is that they don’t get along.
Chloe nods slowly and unpauses the movie. They make it about ten more minutes before the phone lights up again, practically vibrating off the couch. Luke curses under his breath, stabbing at the screen until it stops. Then, he turns it off and shoves it away from him.
Chloe pauses the movie again. ‘Whatever they want to talk to you about, it seems like it’s important. Maybe you should hear them out?’
Luke sighs, dragging a hand down his face. ‘I know what they want to talk about, but I don’t want to hear it. They, my mom, really, think they can just keep at it and I’ll give in.’
‘What do they want?’
Luke hesitates, then says, ‘They want to meet you.’
Chloe’s got to admit it; that stings. The idea that he doesn’t want her to meet his parents feels like he’s saying she isn’t good enough to meet them without actually saying it.
‘Oh,’ she says, her voice quiet. ‘I didn’t realize you…didn’t want that.’ She tries to keep the hurt out of her voice, but doesn’t do a very good job.
‘Because of them, not you!’ Luke explains quickly. He leans closer, grabbing her hand. ‘They’re not nice people, Chloe. My mom is really judgemental and isn’t afraid to be rude to people’s faces. You don’t need to deal with that; I know I don’t want to.’
Gently, Luke pulls her chin so she meets his gaze. Chloe can see he’s telling the truth, but that doesn’t make it much better.
‘Isn’t this part of the reason I’m here?’ she asks. She squirms until he allows her to drop her gaze, and picks at the fluff in her blanket. ‘Your parents are a part of your life, right?’
He doesn’t answer, which is answer enough.
‘So, if they’re in your life, then they’re going to be in the baby’s life, at least some. And they deserve the chance to meet me at least once before then.’
‘They don’t deserve anything,’ Luke says gruffly. ‘They’re not going to be doting grandparents like your mom and step-dad. This isn’t happening. We’re not meeting up with them.’
Chloe bristles. Her glare is cutting, yet less effective due to her cozy setup on the couch. ‘What’s the point of all this if I’m not involved in everything too? I’m sure your parents would love to see a sonogram picture, and I’d like to meet them. Once.’
‘Chloe—’
‘Luke.’
The hard look on Chloe’s face must be enough to tell Luke that she isn’t budging on this, no matter how nervous the idea makes her. She’s never liked meeting new people, especially people as important as Luke’s parents. But still, it feels like a win when Luke sighs and digs his phone back out.
‘One dinner. One. And we leave the second Mom starts insulting us, okay?’
Chloe nods. ‘That’s fair. I’m sure it won’t be as bad as you think.’