"Lux…it's okay. They're gone." Tasha rubbed her friend's back, sitting on the edge of the bed. Her friend had let go once her parents had gone. "It's okay."
"No, Tash, no it's not! Everything's messed up!" Lux sniffled. "Tash.." She strained, " I'm—"
"I heard." Tasha shook her head, not making her friend say it. The paling of her reddened features made her follow up quickly. "I …wasn't sure if it, ya' know…was still true."
She let go of her friend, allowing her lay back down. Lux swallowed, nodding. Her hand absentmindedly went to her abdomen. "It doesn't even seem like it could be real." Tasha could only guess to the thoughts that were going through her head.
"Is…" Tasha looked around the room to make sure Cate and Baze weren't going to waltz back into the room. "Is Mr. Daniels...you know?" Lux nodded again. Fuck, Tasha thought to herself. She had doubted she'd get any other answer, but she had hoped slightly. "Does he know?" Another nod.
"We were on our way to talk to Cate and Ryan." She whispered, her eyes falling to her lap. "He…Tash, he was going to face them and risk everything –his livelihood and life Tash, just so he didn't have to leave me. So I didn't have to go through this alone."
The other girl bit her lip. At least he had the decency for that. She had to give the man some credit where it was due. He did seem to hate lying, and though she personally disagreed, he did look like he really cared about Lux. Which was more then she could say for a couple of Lux's early boyfriends. Even Bug had a way of stomping off when he didn't get his way.
"And now…" she choked up, the tears flowing freely now. "If he dies…I…"
"LUX, listen to me." Tasha took her friend's face in her hands. "He is NOT going to die. He has you, and this baby, to fight for. Minnesota might not be the most powerful dog on the team, but I'd bet his bite is worse then his bark."
"But Tash…what if it's something that the doctors can't control?" Lux looked around frantically. "What if this is this is what we get for what we're doing? What if it's something telling us that we're not supposed to be? This is my fault! I dragged him into this and—"
"NO, Lux." Tasha reinforced. "Some mechanic who should have his license pulled is to blame for this." She commanded the other's attention.
"You know I'm not his biggest fan, Lux. And yea, what you've gotten yourself into is shit. It's really not cool. But I know that it had to be some cosmic mistake because you're not that STUPID to not be safe." She wasn't about to let her entirely off the hook. "That doesn't change the fact that he's helped you. I mean would you have even considered looking for a college if he hadn't come along? Probably not."
"What you've been doing is screwed up. But it's worked for you. And maybe this isn't the universe telling you to split up. Maybe it's trying to tell you that you need to not hide from it anymore. Because the WAY it's been happening, THAT isn't healthy. Keeping all of this from Cate and Baze isn't' going to help you… but you're right… you can't worry about them right now."
She reached down to brush Lux's hair out of her face. "What you need to worry about is getting better. And keeping that baby safe. It's a part of him too, ya' know." She said softly, hoping that thought would calm her friend. "And I want first dibs on godmother-ship."
Lux smiled softly. "You've got it." Her eyes twinkled, mimicry of how they used to gleam.
]0[ ]0[ ]0[ ]0[
Not long after their talk Jones knocked on the door to join them. He waved at the cooped up blonde, cracking a joke about at least they'd be able to keep an eye on her for a night or so instead of her hopping from one place to the next. Lux wasn't entirely surprised to see him.
Tasha and Jones had been together since they hooked up. And while their back stories made them clash a little from time to time, they worked. He was the quarterback. She was the basketball star. She had saved the women's team from total shame. And this year they had actually been doing well. Which was probably why Tasha actually could move around circles Lux was lost to. No matter what, Jones had never stopped being friendly to Lux. To this day she wasn't sure as she often caused him more grief then anything else.
A much calmer Cate and Baze and Lux's doctor soon joined them. The man, about to leave from his shift wanted one last check in. He informed her parents that they'd been keeping her one more night, but if everything looked clear in the morning she could head home. There was a collective sigh of relief.
"I'll be fine," Lux reassured her parents. "But you should get home before Ryan dies of panic and tries to feed Alex on his own." Tasha snickered. They had seen Ryan's horrible attempts. They could win comedy video contests.
Cate nodded, not overly excited about leaving her daughter here. It was Tasha who offered to stay with her a little longer. Jones promised to bring her home before nine. After all, Tasha wasn't looking much more lively then either Cate or Baze. Accepting these terms, they departed.
Lux couldn't help how Baze avoided looking at her. Her heart twisted. She didn't like fighting with him. He had always been the one she was able to talk to. But she couldn't back down from this. She wouldn't.
]0[ ]0[ ]0[ ]0[
"Hey stranger." The voice called to her as Cate slipped her key into the front door and wearily pushed the door open. Her feet felt like lead. The last time she had slept more then ten minutes felt like so long ago now.
Kicking off her shoes she headed into the kitchen to be greeted with the sight of her husband over a pot of…well whatever it was, it smelled heavenly. Her son, droopy, cheered up in her presence, cooing happily. With a halfhearted peck of a kiss, she took her son away from her husband who instantly latched onto her.
"How is she?" Cate just shrugged, overwhelmed. She didn't want to delve into it right now. She need a moment of calm, a moment with the rest of her family.
"Hey there, Al…" She smiled down at him, her weariness disappearing at the now familiar weight. "Oh I missed you." She kissed the top of his forehead.
"And he missed you too." Ryan looked just as tired. "Took me two hours to get dinner into him. Hey! It's not a laughing matter."
Cate grabbed a spoon from the drawer with one hand and dipped it into the cooking pot despite Ryan's protest. Barely cool enough to not scald, she plopped it in her mouth and moaned with delight. Alex was as amused by her sound as she had been with Ryan's difficulties. "It's not my fault he's a momma's boy! Is it sweetheart?" She wrinkled her nose at the baby, tickling his feet causing him to howl with delight.
"Yea yea… Now, Momma should go relax before dinner." Ryan offered, taking Alex and setting him back in his highchair where he preoccupied himself with the two toys that lay on the mini counter.
"Why don't you go get a bath, I'll have the wine ready when you're out. We can talk after?" He suggested. Cate was more then gleeful to accept the proposition.
Running the bath water, she threw on a couple candles. Part of her felt guilty for taking time out like this when her baby girl was stuck in a place she hated and her godsend of a husband was taking over baby duty for her other one. But the warmth of the water and the rolling steam allowed her to breath, and her head to mull over the questions that had been going through her head.
She wanted to trust Lux. She didn't want to invade her privacy. So when was it okay to cross boundaries? She was pretty sure this would be considered an extenuating circumstance. Still, she doubted that Lux would easily forgive her for snooping around. Maybe she'd be lucky. Maybe Lux would be too preoccupied with trying to get Baze to get a head on his shoulders. Not that she liked the thought of using Lux's father as a scapegoat. At least, not anymore.
The water was growing cold by the time she finally stepped out. She slipped a nightdress over her head and a robe around her shoulders. Taking a seat on the lid of the toilet, she looked down at her purse that had come in with her. In it was the bag containing the personal effects they had taken off Lux. From this jumble of change and random things she pulled her daughter's cell phone.
She looked at it for several minutes. Inhaling sharply, bracing herself for the violation she was about to cause, she flipped it open and navigated her way to the contacts list. She saw herself and the usual family. Jamie and Math were there in addition to Tasha and Jones. She recognized most of the names, but one in particular stood out.
"Minnesota?" She said under her breath. She didn't know anyone from the state. The number wasn't one she had either. It could have been an old contact of Lux's. Who knew where the kids originated from she ended up staying with? Switching to the history she saw the number of calls to that particular contact almost doubled the collective of others. Cate's heart pounded.
That has to be him. Her head rang. In a moment of impulsiveness she hit the 'call' button. Two rings later a mechanical female voice spoke back at her, telling her the number she had dialed was out of service. That in itself was strange. The last time she had called the user was yesterday afternoon. It had been working then.
A light knock on the door told her that dinner was ready. Hurriedly, Cate shoved the phone back into her bag and stuffed the purse into one of the shelves on the bathroom stand. With a tired smile she exited the steaming room into the equally warm arms of Ryan. He squeezed her tightly, kissing her forehead contently before heading her towards dinner and the dreaded conversation where she'd have to relieve all of today's doubts and questions.
]0[ ]0[ ]0[ ]0[
"I just don't get it, Emma." Baze flopped down on his couch pulling her toward him. They had overcome a lot together. The fact that he was dating his father's former lover was just a little weird. But, we all made our mistakes. And there were some things you could forgive. Baze was shocked to find out that he could get by this one.
"She's a good kid. And the only time she lied to us—I mean really lied to us… I can see why she did that." He sighed, feeling her arms wrap around him.
"Has Sam said anything about her? Like if she's been acting weird or anything?" He tried.
"He hasn't said much of anything to me lately." She said with some regret.
Baze leaned his head back against the couch. Maybe he had overreacted. He just couldn't imagine what she couldn't trust him with. Sure, he had a bit of a temper at times. But she had to know it wouldn't be directed at her. She was the one thing he was unconditionally proud of. What was happening to her broke his heart because he knew that the perfect life he had wanted her to have since she walked into his life was over.
"Nathan?" Emma tried drawing him out of his trance, sliding her arms along his chest.
"You don't think…She won't tell us because she doesn't want someone else to know?" He asked. "It… It couldn't be Jones could it?" Emma laughed. "Well, he's the only guy she hangs out with. Well, other then Sam. And I'm pretty sure blood relation negates teenage hormones. And if she didn't want to hurt Tasha, she wouldn't tell us."
"I suppose it's possible. I don't think Lux would ever do that to her. And Jones seems way too caught up in Tasha for that matter." Emma reasoned, much to Baze's frustration.
"I don't know. GAH!"
"Then maybe you're not supposed to. " She offered, kissing his temple. "Maybe you need to just rest up, and take care of that little girl of yours.
Baze heaved in a breath again. That's what everyone kept telling him. It didn't calm the itch that made him want to do something. But his brain was too tired. And her ministrations weren't waking him up any.
"Come on, come to bed." She whispered into his ear. "Maybe things will be better in the morning." He groaned a half response, giving up, and letting himself be dragged away.
]0[ ]0[ ]0[ ]0[
When his cell had started vibrating in middle of intro to philosophy the last thing Grant Monroe had expected was to be thrown on a plane. Six hours and some change later, with cramped legs and a hand dead from his mother's worried squeezing, he found himself at the doorway to a foreign hospital. His mother had latched herself onto his father's arm. It wasn't until that she saw the brother of her first husband in the lobby that she let go and flung herself at him, her eyes puffy.
"Milly, it's okay." George rubbed her back. Whatever falling out she had had with her ex, they had and would always remain close. He'd stay if only because George was Eric's favorite uncle.
"How is he?" She choked.
"He'll be better once he sees the three of you." He said gently, showing them all the way towards the elevators.
Seeing them was a figure of speech, Eric's brother soon found out. His brother wouldn't be seeing anyone for quite some time. The monitors that attached to him showed a pulse. The mechanical whirling set a rhythm. But his eyes were closed shut, as he lay in dreaming oblivious to the map of bandages and wires that covered his torso.
The doctor had been with them almost immediately upon their arrival. It hadn't been the one who had been there when he was admitted, but she had been briefed on the situation. It wasn't until seeing the bruised and swelled version of their relative that the extent of his injuries fully set in.
According to the doctor the initial crash had bruised two of his ribs at least and fractured another. The fractured one had pierced his lung. Luckily, the EMT on site had been able to see the complication and was able to inject the decompression in a timely manner. Additionally, there was a sign of some swelling in the brain that they believed to be moderate too severe. A recent scan had seemed promising. But with such a set of problems and his lack of consciousness, which medication most likely also contributed to, it was important to keep him under critical care.
"When will he wake up?" His mother had asked.
"That's up to time and him. If the swelling comes down, we might decrease his meds. See if we get more of a response. Since we've had more time to monitor him his progress has been promising. But, the longer the swelling stays up and he stays under, the longer recovery will be. And I have to warn you that any type of brain injury, the aftermath is unclear."
"We won't be able to judge what real damage has been done until he's with us again. He has a series of scans scheduled tomorrow with our hospital's best neurologist." She added on. "He could be out of here in a few weeks if he wakes up soon. He may be a few months. I have to stress the if there."
"What do you mean IF?" His mother snapped. Usually, Melinda Monroe (nee Daniels) was the calmest and most endearing person you could meet. But Grant had seen her more frazzled then a lose electrical wire in the past day. He could understand why.
"Mom, you know they have to say that stuff. Suing and all." He put a hand on his mother's shoulder.
"My baby is going to be FINE." She told the doctor, flatly.
"We hope so." The doctor added, having a lot of experience with hysterical family members. "Even still, while we're hopeful, I do have to inform you that with this kind of injury the longer someone's under the longer the chances of them staying unconscious increases. We shouldn't worry just yet. But it is a possibility." The words almost sent Mrs. Monroe into another state of frenzy.
"Would you mind leaving us for a few minutes?" Grant's father stepped into the conversation, laying a firm hand on his wife's shoulder in the process. The doctor nodded adding that they could have one of the nurses page her at any time.
It was hard to look at his brother. He was about six years younger then the teacher. So his earliest memories always included him as his hero. Eric hadn't been a large or intimidating boy. But he had been compassionate to his younger brother's constant tagging along. He was always there whenever he needed him. He seemed to get along with almost everybody, and managed to keep an upbeat sense of humor. To be honest he had always wanted to be like his brother. Even if their interests diverged and Grant found himself to be a little sharper tongued.
But he wasn't confident here. Here, Eric was a shadow. He was defenseless. Grant watched as his mother took his hand, talking to him. Their father –as they both called him as their mother and him had been married since Eric was three – stood quietly behind her. He was a man of few words; which was probably why when he spoke people listened. And now, all he could do was physically be there to help his wife and their eldest.
That pissed Grant off. He was never good at waiting. He wasn't patient, and he didn't like not having anything he could actually do. His fingers itched. He pushed back the urge to find something to punch.
]0[ ]0[ ]0[ ]0[
"Sleep well?" Cate asked as she pulled up to the teen's apartment. Luckily, it was a Saturday. Tasha had agreed to meet her outside so that they could go together to check on and hopefully pick up Lux. Ryan had stayed behind to get the downstairs couch area all prepped and ready to go. They didn't want her to have to lug herself up and down the stairs all the daylong.
"Like a log." Tasha said truthfully. The events had caught up with her. And by the time she had crawled into bed she was half alive as it was.
"Lucky." Cate smiled, trading horror stories of Alex's now delightfully skewed bedtime schedule.
Tasha smiled, half paying attention. A silence fell between them. What she had said was only half true. She had been up half the night worrying about what she had found, or what little she had that was more like it. Chewing on her lip, Cate decided to take the plunge.
"So, Tasha," She started pulling up to a red light. "Do you know who Lux has been hanging around with these days?" Tasha snorted.
"Really, Cate?" She rolled her eyes over at the older woman who nodded, realizing how tactless she was. "It's not like I could really tell you anything."
"Can't or won't?" Cate demanded, sending a look to the passenger seat. Tasha looked out the window, avoiding looking at the older woman.
"We're just worried you know. And I want to make sure she's really okay. But if she hasn't told us about someone so important, what else could she be hiding? And…who the heck does she know from Minnesota anyway? I mean… didn't the Canadians like, adopt that state already or something?"
"You have been hanging around Baze waaaay too much." Tasha grinned.
"I'm serious though, Tash. Lux has been through a lot. And she's smart. But I don't want anyone taking advantage of her because of that." She tried not to let the humor that had passed them take over.
"Look, Cate…I know this is bad. I get it. And as screwed up as this whole thing is…and as messed up as this is going to sound…. Minnesota's been amazing for her. You've seen how much she's taken a charge of her life lately. Yea, we helped. But mostly? It was him. So just… don't push her. Or him. He's probably the one man in the world who wouldn't abandon her on sight."
Cate almost slammed on the breaks. "Then he IS the father?" Tasha looked over her at wide eyes.
"She didn't tell you that?" The shock on Cate's face was all the answer she needed. Tasha groaned, slamming her head against the back of the seat. "Oh Lux is going to kill me. How…did you even KNOW that name then?"
It was Cate's time to shy away. "I may…I may have found her phone."
"CATE!"
"I know, I know!" She countered quickly, turning into the hospital's parking lot.
"Look, I won't tell Lux that you said that. She doesn't need to know. We'll keep that between us, alright?" She promised Tasha. The seventeen year old looked like she was about to bury herself underground. But at confirmation she agreed.
]0[ ]0[ ]0[ ]0[
"That's it, Lux. Just take it easy." Cate helped her daughter onto her feet, watching her flinch.
The doctor had been right. She felt like she had fallen down a flight of stairs gotten up and done so again. But she had been given a clear. She would have a check up on Monday, and depending on her progress from there could return to school on Tuesday or possibly Friday. Until her Monday appointment she was to slowly return to movement. She wasn't to overdo it.
It had taken her three times as long as normal to get dressed. But once on her feet, she was doing all right. It made her feel just a slightly in control again. That was something she didn't think she'd have for a long time.
"Listen, I'm going to go sign her out." Cate offered. "Do you guys want to stay here or go out to the car?"
Lux breathed in. She could feel Tasha squeezing her hand. It was like her friend to know what she was thinking.
"Actually, Cate," Tasha spoke up. "Do you think maybe we could go up and check on Mr. Daniel's?"
"Oh my gosh! Of course." She had forgotten about their teacher. "I'm not sure if he's still where he was, but I'll meet you up there okay? If he's alright tell him thank you for me, okay?"
"Sure! Come on Lux, I'll help you." Tasha offered.
Once out of Cate's sight Lux breathed in relief. "Thanks, Tasha." She smiled. She had slept just about as well as Cate had the night before. Except her thoughts were centered on how much she despised hospitals. And a certain other current resident.
]0[ ]0[ ]0[ ]0[
He needed a break. Grant had had enough. He couldn't stand here anymore. He needed air. Excusing himself he asked his mother if she needed anything. She shook her head. So he was off to find air, and something to drink, and possibly inquire about local hotels.
What he hadn't expected was to exit and see two girls who definitely weren't hard on the eyes looking around as if they were trying to avoid the nurse's station. One looked a little worse for wear and the other looked a little uncomfortable. But where there was distress, there was a chance to help. And where there was a shoulder to cry on was a good sympathy point or two.
"It's a little bit of a mess here, isn't it?" He walked up, smiling his best at the girls. He was sure he wasn't that much of a looker with his plane ride and sleepless night. But she smiled thankfully anyway.
"Was just trying to look for someone I know. They never told me what room he was put in, but I don't want to bother the nurses. I'm sure they've got their hands full here." The blonde tried to cover –or at least he thought. But the smile would have worked on a grinch, he thought.
"Maybe I can help?" He offered. "I've been up and down these halls enough I could probably see the nameplates in my sleep." If he got any, that was. "I'm Grant."
"Lux." The blond offered. "This is Tasha."
Lux? That sounded really familiar. Too familiar, in fact.
"Oh come on, bro. I know you don't hop through them every week, but there's got to be at least one chick that's caught your eye. They can't all be half bad. It wasn't like Laurie was a looker." He had teased his older brother when he had said he wasn't seeing anyone.
"It's not all about looks." He had responded.
"So she's ugly?"
"No, she's gorgeous." The response was instinctual.
"OH! I knew it! Come on man, you got to tell me something. A name, anything." He begged.
"Okay, okay." His brother sighed, caving in. "Lux. Her name is Lux."
"Oh SHIT." He slipped out a little too loud the connection clicking. "You're Lux? Eric's Lux? Well not shit, how many Luxes are there?" He corrected himself. "You must be here to see my brother." A wave of recognition floated over Lux's face.
"Uh yea. We are."
Grant looked behind his shoulder. His mother was still in there. She wasn't really willing to see company right now. It was likely that it wouldn't go over well. But, hell, Lux looked like she was about to fall over. He didn't have the heart to give her the round about.
"Okay, then uh…follow me. But, I warn you, mom's a little shaken up. She's not really herself." Lux nodded in understanding and with Tasha's help followed him back.
Arriving back at the room he knocked on the door to alert his parents of the newcomers. Defensive and her nerves shot, his mother instantly stood up, coming to the door to block their way in or their line of sight. She gave Lux and Tasha a hard once-over that read loud clue: and who exactly are these two?
"Um, Mrs. Daniels."
"Monroe."
"Oh, um, I'm sorry Eric never told me that." She said, blushing a bit. "How is he doing?"
"How does it LOOK like he's doing?" Her voice was less bitter and more broken. Her husband patted her shoulder, attempting to maneuver her out of the way but she stayed still. Despite their straining, all either could see was the tips of the monitors and a corner of the bed.
"I'm sorry. It's just… I was in the truck with him. I've been worried…" This was obviously not the right thing to say to the hurting mother.
"Oh, and exactly how were YOU so lucky then?" She snapped. "You're up and about and FINE! And my baby…."
"MOM." Grant snapped loudly seeing the plowed looked over on the blonde's face. Her darker haired friend was scowling, obviously not that pleased with the woman. "It's not her fault, okay?"
"Not her fault? Then WHO'S FAULT IS IT, that my SON is in there DYING while SHE is dancing around?" She choked.
"Hey, Hey, what is this about dying?" Tasha turned to see the gray-eyed man that she and Jones had instructed last night. "I don't see anyone dying here."
"Oh! Hey there! You must be the good luck charm!" He smiled down at Lux and winked at Tasha.
Mrs. Monroe started to speak but was held back. Grant's father said his name, and he knew. Bad timing. She could see the sparks flying between his mother and his uncle. Clearing his throat he gently touched Lux's arm to lead her and Tasha away from the room. Cate was standing close to the door.
"Lux are you okay?" She asked, worried, looking between the strange boy and her two girls.
"Yea, I'm fine. His mom's just been through a lot." She said, obviously shaken.
"I can understand why." Cate said truthfully, looking at Grant with an expectation.
"Yea, sorry about that. Mom can get a little emotional when it comes to Eric. Well, me too I guess." He laughed nervously. "Plus the long trip here...short notice doesn't mean great flight selection."
"Oh? How far did you come from?" Cate's question made Tasha freeze, and instantly try to silently signal 'no' to him. He didn't get the message in time.
"Minnesota. Little place, Scandia, you wouldn't know it. We flew out of Minneapolis." He said casually. He also seemed to notice the instant shock that flashed across Cate and Tasha's faces alike.
Hearing his uncle George call to him, he had to make quick of the conversation. Apologizing again he offered for them to come back later. He promised to try to get his mother calmed down a little bit. Tasha told him not to worry about it. They'd catch up with him at some point.
]0[ ]0[ ]0[ ]0[
Lux knew something was wrong. When Cate was in mother hen mode, she couldn't be stopped when it came to chattering. And Tasha, who was usually up to par in conversation with quips, was trying to instigate it. Had something happened while she was away?
Fortunately the ride home wasn't as tortuously long as she had thought. Lux couldn't believe how awesome the sight of Cate's house was marvelous. As was the open door and Baze and Ryan both waiting for her. Tasha smiled as she helped her friend out of the car and up the stairs. Lux had almost told the doctor he was crazy about the limitations. But from the short trip up to ICU to up these stairs, she found herself wiped out.
"Hey there beautiful." Ryan greeted her. Alex cooed seeing his sister, grabbing at her hair playfully as Ryan gave her a hug.
Baze was even, making a good attempt to be warm. Lux appreciated it. If it was Tasha's presence or Ryan's, he seemed willing to drop his accusations for the moment. It probably helped with Cate ushering them towards the living room. Lux went wide-eyed. In just a short amount of time it had been transformed into a mini room.
"Seesh, Ryan. Is there anything left in my room?" She laughed, plopping down on her comforter. Tasha sat by her instantly, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"You gals just relax. We've got to get some food into you. Whatever they put on the trays in hospitals is not food." Ryan said pointedly. "And I don't want to hear a thing about me feeding you too much. Cate gave me hell when I made her eat right for Alex. She looks fine. You're younger, so no ifs ands or buts!" He pointed a finger at her.
Lux smiled appreciatively. He had been the first one to talk about the baby in a way that wasn't chopping her down three feet. She didn't have to say it. He caught how she felt. Somehow, she couldn't enjoy it, knowing that Baze had read it too and flinched in neglect. He also was three shades of awesome for cooking up things that wouldn't make her jaw hurt for a week—it was one of the few things that didn't feel bruised all to hell.
The afternoon passed pleasantly. Tasha tried to talk to her about what little she had picked up in the classes they had together. Jones had given her the work from World. Baze must have asked a dozen times if she was okay, and said he wanted her over when she could if he was going to give his weekend to Cate this time around. She smiled and nodded, but didn't make a promise. Cate stayed mostly quiet. She was in her own little world.
When everyone had left, and Cate had watched her take the vitamins and medication the doctor had prescribed her, Ryan took off to give Alex his bath –something Lux usually did. He made sure she knew he owed her. Lux chuckled.
Once alone Cate folded back the comforter, making chitchat about having enough room and space. Shooing Lux off to the rest room to change when Ryan and a squeaky clean Alex came back the radio producer breathed out. She could do this. Ryan looked at her quizzically but she smiled him off, accepting his goodnight kiss and promising to be in soon.
Lux returned to find her mother looking at her feet, sitting on the edge of the couch. "Okay I don't know how you snagged Ryan, but after this even I would have married him." She tried to joke. It didn't go over well. "Oooohkay." She said slowly, taking the cushion beside her mother for her own.
"Lux?" Her mother turned to her.
"Yea?"
"You weren't walking home last night, were you?" She said plainly. She caught the quick flash in Lux's face.
"What are you talking about?" She gave her a confused smile, but her voice betrayed her.
"Lux." Her mother's voice stiffened. "How long have you been seeing Mr. Daniels?"