when to let go | l.h.

thirty four

the meeting with the band ended up going really well and i couldn't be more excited to work with them on this new project. there was a downside to my success however; i now had to switch my flight and arrive two days later than expected to australia. luke insisted on staying here with me, but i didn't want to cut his family time short so i finally convinced him to go.

mr. roberts insisted that i stay and get the first phase of the project planned out for the band because they wanted to start as soon as possible. i couldn't tell my boss no, especially when i'm really trying to show him i want this promotion. luke was very understanding and supportive although hesitant to leave. i promised him i would let him know how everything goes and not stress myself out too much while he was gone.

the different time zones didn't make it easy to talk, but luke insisted even if it meant he lost some sleep. it was around four pm when i got a call from luke and i was sure i felt my heart skip a beat. it was odd here with out the tall boy.

"hi lu," i hummed sweetly into the phone excited to hear his voice.

"hi baby, i miss you." he didn't sound too tired like i imagined he would, but i assumed it was because he wasn't used to the time change yet.

"i miss you too, how's your family?"

"oh they're great! excited to see me, they can't wait to meet you in person either." i smiled to myself at this, glad that they weren't annoyed with my late arrival.

"do tell them i apologize for arriving late."

"oh they understand bub, but i'll tell them if that will make you feel better." i heard his deep chuckle from the other line.

"thank you." i hum, letting out a soft breath of relief. "today went well by the way. peter helped me start the planning and today i made a bunch of appointments for the band, tomorrow i'm just meeting with them once more to finalize everything and go through their schedule. then, i'll be on a flight to you."

"i'm so proud of you laila. i hope you're not too stressed though?" the last part came out more of like a question as if to verify i'm okay. i smiled to myself and nodded even though he couldn't see me.

"i'm okay luke, i promise."

"okay good, i just want to make sure my girl is okay when i cant be there to check on her. i'll see you soon okay? i'll text you when i wake up."

"sounds good, goodnight lu."

"bye baby." i smiled to myself as he said his goodbyes, but my smile faltered slightly at what i heard on the other line before he ended the call.

maybe i was just hearing things or it was the sound of the tv in the background, but i could've swore i heard a girl sigh in the back ground.

"finally." followed by luke's laugh. then the line went dead. i had no reason not to trust luke, so i wasn't going to jump to conclusions. i couldn't say it didn't make my stomach churn just the slightest bit, but i wasn't going to be upset with him. maybe it was his mom or someone talking in the background.

i decided just to send him a quick text that he would see when he woke up to calm my nerves. i was truly trying to not let my past relationship affect this one. luke isn't like daniel.

me
sorry to keep your from your family while we were on the phone. sleep well. 💕
read 4:24 pm

i furrowed my eyebrows as he didn't respond, but i put my phone down and decided to make some dinner. i spent the rest of my night cleaning up the apartment and finishing my packing before i left tomorrow night.

i woke up in the morning to see luke had responded sometime while i was asleep.

bub ❤️
morning baby, you didn't keep me from my family.
why would you say that?

me
sorry, i just thought i heard someone before you hung up.
just seemed like they were relieved that you ended the call.
i can't wait to see you again. 😍

bub ❤️
there's my girl! i can't wait to see you too.
and that was just jessie last night, she wanted to finish the movie we were watching before we fell asleep lol.

me
jessie?

bub ❤️
yeah, i've told you about her before. she was friends with us in high school.

me
right, then i can't wait to meet her :)
i'll call you before my flight, it shouldn't be too late there.

i put my phone down after luke responded and pushed myself out of bed. i really hadn't remembered hearing anything about jessie from any of the guys, but maybe he just thought i had. i figured i could just ask calum on the way to the work since he was picking me up and taking me to the airport afterwards.

it didn't take long for me to shower and change before doing my hair and applying light makeup. i wasn't really in the mood to do much, but considering i was meeting with the band again, i figured i'd look try and look acceptable.

not long later there was a knock on the door, signaling to me that calum had arrived. i grabbed my purse and suit case and hurried to the door, revealing a smiling calum who held a coffee in his hand.

"i stopped on my way so i got one for you." he nods and hands me the cup. i thank him with a warm smile as he grabs my bag for me as we head to his car.

"so are you excited to go to meet luke's family?" calum laughs as we both get in the car to start our journey to work.

"a little, i mean i've talked to liz plenty of times, but in person will probably be different." i shrug.

"oh liz is the sweetest lady." he gave me a reassuring smile and i nodded.

"can you tell me about jessie?" i ask, pulling my lip between my teeth suddenly feeling nervous. i didn't want calum to think i was doubting luke. i watched as he furrowed his dark eyebrows slightly.

"um i haven't talked to her in years, but we all used to be really close in high school until her and luke broke up. why do you ask?"

looking at him intently, i respond. "oh, her and luke were hanging out last night i guess, but he wanted to call me and she just seemed really excited for him to hang up the phone." i chuckle slightly to make it seem as if i'm unbothered, but calum does laugh.

"they were hanging out?"

"that's what he told me this morning?" i mumble trailing off a bit.

"weird, i didn't know they were talking again. but, luke loves you, you have nothing to worry about." calum shrugs and widens his eyes at the words me just said. "you did not hear that from me!"

i bit my lip to hide my smile as i felt a blush rise to my cheeks. "my lips are sealed." i mumble and sit quietly for the rest of the car ride feeling excited yet confused about all the information i just received.

{author's note}
hello everyone! sorry this update is a little all over the place, but i felt like i needed to move the story along a bit and i just wanted to get something out there.
let me know what you think!
ALSO, i just wanted to thank everyone who reads, votes, and comments on my stories. it really means so much to me!
please please check out my other story english love affair because i will hopefully be updating it more often!
love you guys!
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