“We were just talking about the two of you,” Dante says.
It’s not much of a greeting. Not that I’d expect much from my father.
My mother, Nikki, gets up from her seat on the sofa and embraces me in a tight squeeze before untangling her grip and giving Harper a much gentler hug with Zeke in-hand.
Harper’s parents are both nursing a beer, and I have a feeling we’re going to need something far stronger to deal with tonight. Her mother is standing near Harper, keeping a close eye on Zeke while her father sits beside my old man on the sofa up against the wall.
“Hi, I’m Luca,” I say, introducing myself to her mother first, as she’s a few feet closer to me. I hold out my hand to properly introduce myself. Her gaze tightens, but she forces a smile.
She has Harper’s eyes, the same dark, mysterious gaze crosses her features, and I can’t tell if she already hates me. I get the distinct impression that she’s made up her mind about me, perhaps before even meeting.
I glance at Dante, hoping he didn’t mention the engagement.
Perhaps we can skirt through dinner with zero mention of it.
“I’m Catrina,” Harper’s mother says and gestures toward her husband, “and that is Jack. He’s enthralled in a heated business discussion on stocks, bonds, and gold as an asset. They’d be putting me to sleep if it weren’t for this little one—” She runs a hand through Zeke’s dainty brown hair.
He reaches an arm out for Catrina before Harper manages to recapture his attention.
It’s hard not to stare at the bond between Harper and Zeke.
She’s completely immersed in his little world, cooing and talking to him, as she covers him with kisses. “Do you want to meet someone special to me?” she whispers in the sweetest and most precious voice.
Zeke doesn’t seem to care much either way. He’s squirming and probably wants to run around like a maniac. I’m sure my parents would love that. Another McKenna to discover something they shouldn’t in this place.
Except he wouldn’t be able to spill any secrets, given that he doesn’t seem to be talking much. It’s a lot more like babbling.
Every so often, I can make out a word he’s trying to say, like mama, but mostly it’s nonsense to my ears.
Harper steps closer, bringing Zeke right over to me. “Luca, this is my son, Zeke. Zeke, can you say hi to Luca?” She takes Zeke’s hand, which is wrapped around her thumb, and bounces it up and down in a wave-like gesture.
Zeke looks at me curiously, his wide eyes enraptured with me.
“Hi, buddy,” I say, unsure what to do.
Zeke immediately buries his face in her neck.
Did I say something wrong?
“You don’t have to be shy,” Harper says and rubs her son’s back. “Luca is a very special friend.”
Zeke glances up briefly from Harper’s chest before meeting my stare and then hiding again.
The kid already hates me.
Great.
I force a smile and then stalk across the room to properly introduce myself to Harper’s father. “Hi, I’m Luca,” I say, holding out my hand.
“I’m Jack,” her father says, his gaze tight. There’s no smile, no hint of happiness. He already doesn’t like me and we just met. “How about you and I take a walk outside?”
“Okay,” I say with a nod, but my insides are warning me not to do it.
Jack puts his beer down on a coaster on the end table and stands, stretching.
I glance at Harper, and her brow pinches, clearly worried as well. “Hey,” she says, bouncing Zeke in her arms as she approaches Jack and me.
I press a chaste kiss at the corner of her lips, trying to make our fake relationship believable. Actually, kissing her would be better, but she does have a toddler in her arms, and that’s the excuse I’m going with for not making out with her, because in reality, I’m still pissed and hurting about her betrayal.
