(Sapphire's POV)
I couldn't believe my eyes.
Or even my ears for that matter.
"Bestie!" Luke squealed. "Your husband likes me and doesn't see me as a threat anymore."
That was a very good thing. But was it that simple?
"I guess so." I was still skeptical, but really hopeful.
If Damian actually didn't see Luke as a problem, it would mean a lot to me and it would also make my life easier.
I was really hoping that would be the case, but was too pessimistic to be fully excited.
An hour later, after Luke had disturbed the housekeeper so much and made her laugh to the point of tears, and charmed her into making us more snacks than we could actually finish, we went to the studio and checked it out.
He didn't see the painting because I didn't allow him to.
Damian had said he didn't want anyone else seeing it, so I respected his decision.
Now we were in my room.
"This is huge. Looks like my entire apartment." He groaned as he plopped on the bed.
I stared at him like he was mad. Luke was just as rich as myself. We had been classmates since kindergarten, so what was he talking about?
"I meant my college apartment, silly." He clarified.
That was Luke. It was always as if he could read what I was thinking just by looking at my face.
"Oh, but that's because you wanted to live like that, bro. So stop bothering me." I warned him.
He laughed. "Whatever."
We both laid down quietly without saying a word. A very comfortable silence.
"I've missed this. Us staying together and gossiping about our boyfriends or men we had crushes on. Oh, the good old days." He whispered.
"I've missed those days too." I replied quietly.
There was a knock on the door and in walked my husband.
"Ah, thank goodness you're here, I wanted to ask a few questions." Luke spoke without opening his eyes.
I sat up and watched as Damian sat on my dresser.
"Go ahead." He was looking beautiful. He had showered and was wearing sweatpants and a T shirt.
Very casual, but fine as hell.
What was wrong with me?
"So," Luke's voice snapped me out of my head. "Why aren't you both sleeping in the same room?" He asked.
The question caught me by complete surprise and left me without words.
"Because we are getting to know each other." Damian replied without blinking.
"Hmm." Luke was not convinced. "So, have you guys fucked?" He asked again.
I almost fell from the bed.
I stole a glance at Damian, and he was trying not to laugh.
"Please answer your friend, wife. Have we fucked?"
Was he enjoying this?
"I…um…of course, yes…we have." I stammered. "Why in heaven's name are you asking such personal questions, Luke Ferguson?!" I yelled in embarrassment.
"Well, duh. I need godbabies!" Luke yelled back at me. He wasn't feeling remorseful about his questions at all.
Damian chuckled, and stood up.
"Welcome to the family, Luke. You can come visit anytime you want. But never hit on me again. I am your best friend's husband, so have some respect. But most importantly, I do not swing your way, do you understand?" He said with a hint of playfullness and warning.
"Okay! Of course, Sir." Luke sat up and smiled politely at him.
Then he turned to me, "see you in a few hours, blue eyes. I had come to inform you that I will be going out as I have business to attend to before he started with his questions."
I nodded as he walked out of the room and shut the door behind him.
"I have a free pass!" Luke yelled.
He pulled me up and we started dancing.
I felt so happy I could cry because Damian had fully welcomed my only friend into his house without stress.
"I'll be leaving soon, blue eyes." Luke informed me after we had stopped our happy dance and were both sitting on the bed again.
"You're not normal." I knew he called me blue eyes as a way of teasing me, because that was Damian's nickname for me. He grinned. "But okay! Thank you for coming when I called, Lu. Means so much to me." I said and hugged him tightly.
"Aw, don't be so soft, babes. You know I'd do anything for you in this world." He smiled softly at me. "And if you ever feel lonely or sad or just need me, all you have to do is text, and I will be on my way in a blink of an eye. You're my sister, remember?"
I nodded. "I know."
"Great!" He stood up. "So I will go downstairs and go straight to the kitchen, then beg Sophie for as many edibles as I can possibly carry, then I'll be off."
I laughed and shook my head.
"Foodie."
"Keeps this body working, baby!" He said in a singsong voice.
I laughed at his silliness and allowed him to pull me out of the room and downstairs with him.
Sophie was more than willing to pack a bag for him. It was obvious she liked him. Luke had that kind of hold on people.
Even the guards were more relaxed as he was leaving.
"Bye, Fernandez, call me if you need some of this fine stuff." He grinned as he pointed as his own body.
Fernandez chuckled and shook his head.
"I'm married, Sir." He answered gently.
"Too bad." Luke laughed and walked out.
"You need a man, Lu. Go find him elsewhere and leave the men of my house alone!" I warned him.
He stuck his tongue out at me. "You never know where the love of your life will come from, bestie. So leave me alone!" He laughed and entered his car. "See you soon! I love you! Now go get some of that… I need a godchild or two!" He yelled over the loud speaker.
"I love you too, Luke. Bye." I laughed.
"Byeeeee." He honked and drove off.
I stood there staring at the road even after he left.
He was a ray of sunshine in my life.
Not understanding the sudden heavy feeling that came over me and the urge to run after him to tell him I loved him again, I walked back inside.
Looking at the time, it was already past ten pm.
Luke had stayed the entire day!
Since we had eaten dinner together, I just walked upstairs.
It was time for bed.
But just as I was beginning to doze off, the smoke alarm went off.
My eyes flew open, and for a moment I didn't understand what was happening.
Then the smell hit m.
Smoke!
My heart dropped.
The house was on fire.