After a quick pit stop at the shops to grab the groceries I should’ve bought yesterday – thank God no one relied on me to keep them alive – I made it home and got changed. Throwing a load of washing in the machine, I tossed the heat and eat meal in the oven and stripped my bed. I was on a mission. Actually, I was scared that if I stopped, I wouldn’t move again. When my phone buzzed, I assumed it was Jax and ignored it. I’d deal with him later. I was on a mission.
By the time my dinner was ready, I’d worked up a sweat, but my apartment was sparkling and smelt lemony fresh. I plated up, took a bottle of water from the fridge and flicked on the TV. With some reality trash show playing, I ate my boring chicken and vegetables, wishing it was a taco. I only ate half before I gave up and scraped my plate into the bin. Dragging my heavy work bag across the room, I dug out my program and tried to figure out where I was up to. When my eyes went blurry and I couldn’t stop yawning, I gave up, setting it all down on the coffee table.
Not even bothering to clean up my mess, I got ready for bed. Twenty minutes later, I was lying in my queen size bed feeling entirely too lonely. Most nights I slept alone. Actually, every night I slept alone, with the exception of the last two, so I was beyond confused why I was feeling so small in this big bed.
Needing to exhaust myself, I unplugged my phone and started scrolling through my social media accounts. Seeing the message icon with number three showing, I logged in. As expected, Jax had his knickers in a knot about something. Dana was blaming me for her hangover, which was complete bullshit. It was totally her fault. Then there was a message from Luca, which surprised me. I hadn’t been expecting to hear from him so soon, let alone via messenger. Just seeing his name there had the butterflies in my stomach starting to stir.
Luca: How was your day?
How could four innocent little words have my palms sweating and my pulse racing? Seeing that he’d sent it over two hours ago had me wanting to vomit. Even though it was after ten and I wasn’t expecting him to reply, I tapped out my own reply, not wanting to be rude.
Elise: It was a long day. Who knew kids could bleed so much?
Luca: Bleed?
His answer was almost instant.
Elise: Kid fell and cracked his head open. Great start to the morning
Elise: Not
I hit send and regretted it instantly. Luca was a nice guy. I mean he was hot, fun to be around, and a genuinely all-round nice guy. I couldn’t believe I was so dumb to dump my crap on him. Why couldn’t I have just said, I had a great day. You know, like any normal person would’ve.
Luca: Kid OK???
Elise: Yeah
I watched as those three dots danced, holding my breath. When it appeared, it wasn’t what I was expecting.
Luca: You OK?
Elise: Yeah. Just tired. How was your day?
I needed to direct this conversation away from me before I said something stupid. The last thing I wanted to be was one of those girls who was so focused on herself she forgot about the other person. One-sided relationships, or even one-sided friendships, sucked arse. I’d been there, done that. I wasn’t interested in trying again.
Luca: My day was busy. Good but busy
Elise: I should let you get some sleep
Even though I was saying what it was I thought he wanted to hear, I didn’t want to stop talking to him. After the exhausting, craptastic day I’d had, just messaging back and forth with Luca had me smiling again.
Luca: Sleep tight, pretty girl
His pet name made my heart soar. Suddenly Wednesday couldn’t come soon enough.
Elise: Good night, Luca xo
Not wanting to see what he replied,ifhe replied, I silenced my phone and flicked the light off before rolling over and trying to get some much-needed sleep. Tomorrow was another day and being Tuesday, it meant it was going to end with tacos, tequila and, undoubtedly, more of Jaxson’s infinite wisdom.
Chapter Thirteen – Luca
It was almost midnight and I was still lying outside on the lounger, staring at the night’s sky, tossing the soccer ball up in the air before catching it again and repeating. Over and over again. I don’t even know how long I’d been at it. All I was sure of was that right now, I needed the distraction. I needed to take my mind off everything that was coming. I was well aware that I was the one setting everything in motion, but in a million years I’d never dreamt it’d become such a production.
This morning, after I’d fed my nephews bacon and eggs – something they were raving about; apparently week day breakfast normally consisted of vegemite toast or some cardboard health cereal, according to Rohan as he stuffed his fourth slice of bacon in his mouth – I woke the sleeping pregnant beast, and they headed home, leaving me in silence.
Part of me had been convinced that when I woke up this morning, the phase would’ve passed, and I’d be back to my normal self. It hadn’t. If anything, I was more determined than ever. With a plan forming, I hurried through my own morning routine, taking extra time to shave and style my hair before jumping into the car and heading to the club.
I’d already text Coach and knew he was in his office waiting for me, but my unexpected appearance must’ve caught some people off guard. There were whispered conversations and murmured hellos. With a wide, fake smile plastered across my face, I strode purposefully down the hallway before rapping my knuckles on Coach’s door.
