Rounding the corner, I spotted Mum before anyone else. I didn’t think she was here. Especially considering Dad had been messaging me including photos of the TV.
“Mum!” I called out as I reached her side. Wrapping my arm around her shoulders, I hugged her tight. I might be a grown-arse man, but there was still something about hugs from your mother that just made everything in the world better.
“Good game, Luca.”
“Thanks. I didn’t know you were coming. You should’ve told me.”
“Why? So you could stick me upstairs in one of those fancy boxes? No, I’d prefer to sit out in the stands where I can smell the grass and see the sweat. Makes it real.”
“Okay.” I was beginning to think Mum was losing it. She sure was acting weird.
“Don’t I get a hello?” Arianna asked, rubbing her belly, something I noticed she was doing more and more each time I saw her.
“Hey, baby mama. How’s my nephew doing in there?” I asked, kissing her on her forehead as she leaned against me and sighed. Looking down at her, I could see she looked tired. I don’t even know why she’d come. If anyone had the perfect excuse to sit at home, eat ice cream, and watch those crappy reality shows she loved so much, it was Ari.
“He’s been playing soccer with my bladder all week. This one is definitely like his uncle.”
“So what you’re saying is, he’s already awesome,” I offered with a wink. Ari just rolled her eyes at me. Something she did often.
“Ready for your surprise, Luca?” Izzy interrupted.
From the wicked look on her face, I knew she was up to no good. There was mischief there. I stole a glance at Ari and Mum, but neither of them were giving away her secrets. Mum just smiled, and that’s when I knew I was truly screwed. If Izzy was up to something and Mum wasn’t only in on the joke but also on board with it, I should be truly terrified.
Faking confidence, something I’d gotten sadly good at over the past couple of years, I let go of Ari and stood up straight, preparing for whatever Izzy had planned. “What are you up to, Iz?”
“Turn around, pretty boy.”
Damn I hated when she called me that. With one last glance at Mum, I turned slowly and my mouth dropped. Standing there in front of me, looking as nervous as I felt, was Elise. She looked so tiny in her jeans and jersey that hung from her shoulders. The caveman in me, the one I was barely keeping control over, wanted to spin her around and check what number was on the back of her jersey. Instead, my face split into a huge smile.
“Elise! What are you doing here?” My normally deep voice cracked like it had when I was a pimple-faced teen.
“My friend, Jax,” she pointed to the guy standing beside her with his arms folded across his chest and a smug smirk on his face, “made me come.”
Taking a step forward, part of me was testing her. Seeing if she bolted as I closed the distance between us. Surprisingly, she didn’t move a muscle. Instead, she held her ground and kept her eyes locked with mine. She was either tough as hell, or she was one damn fine actress. Either way, her confidence had my dick hardening in my jeans.
Breaking her hold, I looked over to Jax. “Hey, man. Thanks for convincing Elise to come out tonight.” I offered my hand, and he took it firmly. Behind me I could hear the snickers and didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. But I’d deal with my sisters later.
“And on that note, darling,” Mum interrupted. I was frustrated by her interruption which forced my attention from Elise, part of me was still convinced if I turned away even for a second, she’d vanish.
“Yeah, Mum,” I tried to keep the annoyance out of my voice, but it wasn’t very convincing.
“If you’re okay here, we’re going to head home.”
“Oh, okay. Thanks for coming tonight.”
Grabbing my shoulders, Mum lifted up on her tippy toes and kissed my cheek before whispering in my ear. “She’s one of the good ones. We like her.”
That was all it took and I was done for.
Elise McCoy owned me and she had no idea.
Five minutes, a dozen hugs, and a dozen more promises, and they’d left. Thank God. After waving them goodbye, I turned back to Elise who was shifting her weight back and forth looking like she was going to bolt any second.
“So, what’d you think?”
“Honestly?”
“Always.”
