I smirked at her as I unwrapped my present, discovering a Live Trepidation CD. “I love it! Thank you.” I really did love it. Now I could cruise around in my car and listen to my sensationally talented sexy rock god, play his guitar chords. I looked up at Bryce with a big smile. “You didn’t tell me you had a CD.”
“We’ve only just recently produced it. It appears you would be one of the first to own a copy.”
“Oh, lucky me. Can you all sign it?”
“I think track four already has your name on it,” Matt said, as he took hold of a beer from the tray a waiter before us was balancing.
“A track that has my name on it?” I repeated, confused.
The buzzer to the door sounded again, and this time the people entering seemed to be never ending. Bryce quickly interrupted my train of thought and excused us.
“Your family is here.” He gently guided me toward to apartment entryway door.
***
I spent the first part of the evening as a tour guide, showing my friends and family around the apartment, Tash being the only exception to the welcoming expedition, having already visited after taking Bryce up on his offer of a job at the hotel. She was due to begin her first shift as an event supervisor starting this coming Monday.
Lil, Jade, and Steph, together with their husbands also seemed quite impressed with my new home. Honestly, how could you not be, this place is a palace. I still feel like royalty when I am here and I love it. I might make all my friends curtsy upon entering.
My brother Jake playfully tutted every time I showed him a new room, and Jen...well she was just about ready to move in, having taken a liking to Lucy’s room with the cot.
The evening had gone rather smoothly, with every one happily talking amongst themselves to low volumed background music. The kids were having a great time at the arcade, allowing us parents to relax and enjoy each other’s company together with food and drinks. Rick was even contentedly mingling with our mutual friends, however, he was clearly avoiding my family—especially Jake. Even Gareth had gladly arrived with Samantha by his side and appeared to be enjoying his surroundings and company. Seeing him and Sam look somewhat jovial eased my concerns in regards to their relationship. However, I still felt Sam deserved to know the truth about Gareth’s diagnosis, so that she could decide for herself if his condition was one she could overlook. I knew deep down I had to tell her. I think I had made that decision the moment I became aware that Gareth suffered Dissociative Identity Disorder, having had an apprehensive notion in the pit of my stomach that told me one way or another I would enlighten Sam. I just hoped it didn’t reverse Gareth’s clear positive progression of late.
I knew the time to make a speech and deliver our exciting news was fast approaching, so I decided I would take the opportunity to speak with Rick privately on the balcony. He was in deep discussion with Dean, Tash’s husband, about the Grand Prix when I politely interrupted.
“Excuse me, guys. Sorry, but could I talk to you for a moment, Rick?”
He looked at me sceptically. “Sure. I’ll be right a back, Dean.”
I motioned him to follow me out onto the balcony and around the corner to where the Crow sat silently in the night’s darkness. I led us both to the balustrade, hoping the twinkling city skyline would provide a calm and serene atmosphere. It didn’t seem to work, because I suddenly felt nervous as fuck, knowing the news I was about to deliver was going to hurt and anger Rick. And regardless of what he had put me through, I didn’t want to hurt him.
“Um...so are you having a good time? I know coming here, especially on your own, could not have been easy. I appreciate that you did decide to come, though. It means a lot to me that we can still share these types of moments in our lives together, regardless of what has happened.” I had made it clear that Claire did not form part of the invitation and that his ‘plus one’ could be anyone else but her.
“Yeah. Although Jake keeps giving me a death look, but apart from that it’s been alright. No matter what we’ve been through, Lex, we were friends before we became lovers then enemies, and friends are something I want us to go back to...no matter what. I don’t want us to be bitter anymore.”
“Good. I’m glad you think that, because I don’t think you are going to like what I’m about to tell you,” I looked at him as I bit the inside of my cheek. He turned to face me, a look of unexpected angst on his features.
I closed my eyes for a split second to muster the courage, then opened them and let it out. “Bryce and I are having a baby. I’m due in November. We are announcing it tonight...shortly. I wanted to tell you in person rather than spring it on you in front of our family and friends.”