[This chapter is dedicated to our new top 1 reader, Ikemen_Lover! Yay! Thanks for reading. P.S. I am an ikemen lover too!]
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He woke up with something heavy across his stomach. A crease appeared on his forehead, as he pressed his temple for a throbbing headache due to the mix of alcohol he consumed at the party last night.
And the heavy log over his body was annoying him. He picked it up and threw it away from him, and he heard a woman grunted.
A warning bell rang inside his head when he heard a woman grunt. He went frigid and his breathing became shallow. 'Did he commit another mortal sin?'
His eyes were tight shut for he was afraid to open them, but he felt the woman's weight shift on the bed as she rolled over.
"Luke, can't you not -"
Little Miss Jessie's grunted, angry that he had thrown her legs off. Relief swept over his body when he heard it.
He sprung up from bed, raked his fingers on his already messy hair, and offered a silent prayer of thanks as he glanced over Jess who was plastered, face down on his bed, arms up, legs spread open.
He shook his head in disbelief how this woman, that's so regal, lost all composure of grace once asleep.
He got off from bed, walked over his balcony door, and drew the curtains to let the morning sun stream inside the room. With his headache, he hates the morning sun but Jess is a worshipper of the sun God Ra.
He stepped away from the glass door like a vampire that got scorched by the sun and made his way to the bathroom for a cold shower.
He came out of the bathroom feeling refreshed that the sweat and alcohol from last night were washed off from his body. Jess was still on the bed, but she is now lying horizontally in the middle of it, her face was buried in the mattress, plastered like a dead body on a crime scene.
"Would you like some coffee?"
"Yes, please --" she grunted.
He just started making the coffee, and opening a jar of granola when he heard a soft knock at the door. He scoffed thinking Noah is too early for a lover visit. He should have stayed the night so Jess won't crawl in his bed in the middle of the night, looking for a warm body to help her fall asleep.
He was munching an apple as he walked leisurely to open the door. He was just expecting Noah, however, Lucille was the one who caught his attention for she was like an adorable puppy, jumping in excitement in their front door.
"Sorry for an early intrusion, Lucille was insistent to visit --"
He curled his lips in disbelief and his brow shot up in mockery, if this man is not his future employer, he would love to tease him further. He instead turned his attention to the adorable little girl hovering next to her daddy, trying to get his attention.
"Uncle Luke, Uncle Luke --"
"Good morning, little miss! You are so energetic today," he cocked his head to motion them to follow him inside.
"Have you eaten your breakfast?" he looked at the girl who was gripping the hem of his shirt.
"Uh," she nodded, "Thank you for asking."
A smile escaped his lips hearing the little girl being so polite. "Coffee?", he asked Noah, who was gazing lovingly at his daughter.
"Yes, please. Thank you."
He thought as he reached into the cupboard to get another coffee mug: 'No wonder his daughter is polite. She has a good example.'
He picked up Lucille and sat her down on the kitchen stool as Noah sat on an armchair facing Jess' bedroom. He smirked inwardly thinking Noah would get the shock of his life once Jess came out of his bedroom!
He gave a plate of cut apple to Lucille, as he continued to prepare breakfast for him and Jess. A simple breakfast of yogurt, granola, slices of apple, a splash of honey, and a dash of cinnamon.
Lucille was watching him intently like she was observing a science experiment.
The quiet scene was shattered when Jess came out noisily in his bedroom. Her hair was a huge mess from rolling all over the bed all night, her eyes were half-closed as she yawned. Her hand was under her shirt, scratching her belly.
He snickered when Noah's head snapped and his eyes widened in surprise. 'What a good reaction!'
But it wasn't just Noah who got the surprise. Jess shrieked when she opened her eyes and realized Noah was sitting in their living room. Her confused eyes darted from Noah's face to Luke who was leaning casually on the kitchen island giggling.
"Good morning, Little Miss Jessie!" Lucille greeted her cheerfully.
He burst out laughing when he saw Jess' horrified expression.
Lucille heard her uncle Luke laughing when no one said a joke, she craned her neck to look at his face. She was confused why uncle Luke was laughing so hard like he heard a very funny joke when no one even spoke.
Her daddy stood up from the chair, shoved his hands in his pants pocket and he had his eyebrows knitted in annoyance. Little Miss Jess' face was so red, she wondered if she had a fever. She was about to ask if she's feeling well when she noticed that Little Miss Jessie was wearing her daddy's shirt!
Her eyes couldn't catch up with what was happening. She looked at her daddy who was staring so intently with Little Miss Jessie with a tight line on his lips. She looked at uncle Luke, who was snickering while watching Little Miss Jessie, averting her eyes from her daddy's gaze.
She wants to ask questions but she can't! It is impolite but her curiosity was killing her! She wished Soraya was with her so she has someone to ask. She wanted to know why Little Miss Jessie is wearing her daddy's shirt!
"Well, hello there, good looking," he chortled, greeting Jess who was about to combust in shame, "Go wash up, and make yourself presentable --" he dragged the word presentable and was rewarded by the sight of Jess blushing profusely. "Breakfast is ready and will be served on the balcony."
She bit her cheek out of embarrassment. Seeing Noah as soon as she woke up, looking like shit was not something she wanted, and having his daughter gawking at her in confusion was too much for her. She fled to her bedroom!
"Noah, could you help bring the coffee to the balcony, please?" His tone was still laced with amusement. This morning is an eventful one, for sure. He has to tell Ellise about it!
Noah without a word picked up the tray with three cups of steaming coffee, with one glass of orange juice, and brought it out to the balcony.
"Lucille, would you be a darling and help me carry Little Miss Jessie's breakfast?"
She nodded quietly as she accepted the bowl of granola in her small hands but he could see the shadow of unwillingness in her eyes.
He giggled inwardly as he grabbed the other breakfast bowl in his right hand as he led a grumpy Lucille to the balcony where her daddy is waiting.
Noah met his daughter halfway and reached his hand to get the breakfast bowl in her hands but Lucille turned to her left avoiding his help. She then quietly sat down in the chair after putting the breakfast bowl carefully on the table.
An awkward silence ensued between him and his daughter. Luke on the other hand was humming an upbeat song.
"Lucille, may I ask what's the purpose of your early visit?" he asked, placing the glass of orange juice in front of her.
He heard Noah's sighed when he broke the silence and he couldn't help but giggle internally. 'This is too much fun.'
"I wanted to ask you to play with the tube thingy thing again," she timidly answered his question.
"Oh! Yeah, on the North side of the resort, a lot of people were playing in the water at this hour. Let us have breakfast first, then we head out to play, okay?" he tried to coax her to get back to her bubbly self.
Even though he was having so much fun teasing Noah and Jess with their awkwardness, he doesn't want to make this little girl unhappy because of it.
Lucille's small face lit up hearing him agreeing to play. With the way Lucille gets excited about getting to play, it appears she wasn't given much opportunity to play like other kids her age.
His thought was confirmed when Noah mouthed "Thank you" over his daughter's head. He felt a pang of pity towards the little girl. He wondered what kind of everyday life she has with her mother back home.
When Jess joined them on the balcony, Lucille seemed to forget the fact that Jess wore his daddy's shirt. She joyfully announced, "Little Miss Jessie, we are going to play in the tube thingy thing again!" she said with the widest smile on her face.