Page 105 of Please Open Me
Lucian’s arm tightened around my waist, and he promised I’d get just that. I nudged him with my elbow, intentionally trying to annoy him while ignoring how goodthisfelt.
By the time we reached his Jeep, the asphalt glistened with mist. I reached for the door, but Lucian swatted my hand away.
“I told you, you’re not going to have to lift a finger, not while I’m around.” He pressed his lips to my temple and reached around me.
His thumb depressed the button on the handle, and Lucian started to pull the door open. But the second he did, I heard the slight slap of plastic on pavement.
Instinctively, I bent down to grab whatever fell, but so did Lucian. Our fingers nearly collided, but he was slightly faster. He snatched the ziplock bag off the ground with one hand, slipped it back into his pocket, and offered to help me up with the other.
I looked up at him, but stayed close to the ground.
“What was that?” I asked, already fearing the answer.
“Vitamins,” he mumbled before shaking his hand at me.
“Vitamins?” I echoed, making a point to stand up straight without his help.
Lucian nodded. “I’ve been working long hours between doing shit with music and running the shop. I thought they’d help keep me healthy.”
He sniffled and rubbed a finger across his nose as if he were itching it. I took a step back.
“Whattypeof vitamins?” I folded my arms tightly across my chest.
Lucian’s jaw bunched as his eyes flicked between me and the ground. His tongue swiped across his chapped lips as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
“Oh, you know, the normal kind?” he ventured. “But it’s nothing you need to worry about. Come on, you said you’re hungry.”
Lucian tried to force me into his passenger seat, but I kept my feet planted on the ground. The heat of suspicion crawled up my spine, shielding me from the chill of the mist seeping into my clothing.
“If they’re just vitamins, maybe I should take one,” I extended a hand toward him.
Lucian froze.
“Mason,” he said my name slowly, as if I were holding him hostage. “They’re not for you.”
“I know, but they’re just vitamins.” I shifted around for a moment before resting a hand on my back, trying to ease the dull ache that had decided now was the perfect time to pop up.
“I, uh, yeah,” he swallowed hard and fished the bag out of his pocket.
His hands trembled as he pulled it open, and I placed my other hand on my stomach.
“Sorry,” I explained with a dry laugh. “I’msouncomfortable right now.”
Lucian’s eyes darted from my hand on my stomach back to the open bag in his palm. For a split second, I thought he might actually hand one over. Instead, he pinched the opening closed again and shoved it back in his pocket.
“You don’t want these,” he said quickly, voice too bright, too thin. “They’ll, uh, they’re not good for the baby. Here, if you’re hurting, let’s get you inside. I’ll pick up food and come back.”
I narrowed my eyes but let the silence hang. My belly cramped again, and I winced, trying to breathe through it. His hand was there instantly, rubbing circles low and careful, like he could knead the pain away.
“Okay, inside. Now.” He tried to command, but I couldn’t bring myself to listen.
“Lucian?” I asked, looking at him as if this were the first time I’d actually seen him in forever.
“What, Sweetheart?” Those words sounded incredibly annoyed, but I ignored them.
“Those aren’t vitamins, are they?”
Lucian’s hand froze against my stomach. For the first time all night, he didn’t move, didn’t try to soothe me, didn’t even blink. It was like he was weighing all his options as fast as he possibly could.
