“No.” Luca stepped forward and picked up a piece of my hair. The sensation of his fingers twisting my long hair gave me shivers. He touched it for a few seconds before lifting my locks from one shoulder and smoothing them down the center of my back. It both tickled meandgave me goose bumps. My nipples tightened from his touch, and I crossed my arms to hide them.
He moved his large hand from the ends of my hair to the base of my neck, gripping it to the point his finger almost wrapped all the way around it. Words escaped me. The feel of his rough hands on my skin, his soapy scent filling my nose, and the way he gently massaged into me? My stomach flip-flopped.
“I heard you talking to your friend. You’re doing this. One drink,” Luca said, his voice low and soft.
Every nerve was on edge, either from knowing I’d see Eric or from the fact Luca’s hand was on me. My tongue swelled, if that was even a thing. Speaking became increasingly difficult from the adrenaline rush. I couldn’t decide if I liked Luca’s hand on me so much I wanted him to dip those long fingers down into my shirt or if I should slap him.
I was discombobulated.
“Come on, Lo.” Callum nudged me, and that got me moving.
I wished for a lot of things in the short distance from where we stood to the bars front entrance. One, I wished I had a drink at the house before leaving. Two, I wished I’d seen Eric’s red flags earlier. Three, I wished I understood why I was reacting so much to Luca’s body being so close to mine. Sure, he was hot, but the dude wasn’t for me inanyway.
We crossed the street, a part of me watching the scene unfold like a movie. Me, sandwiched between two football guys, walking into a bar with my head held high. Eric sat at a high-top table with a girl perched on his lap. His arm was around her, his classic grin stretching across his face. He wore the hat I’d bought him, ugh, and twisted it backward.My weakness.
The DJ played some house tunes, and a few couples danced off to the side. The place was known for being low-key and for cheap drinks. It smelled like stale beer, weed, and cologne. Mack waited for us outside the entrance, her eyes as big as saucers once they landed on me and Luca. She arched a brow, and I subtly shook my head.
Questions later.
“Hey y’all,” she said. She eyed Callum up and down. “Didn’t realize the footballers were joining us? Is your brother coming too?”
“Just us, baby.” Callum winked and put an arm around her.
Mack blushed but leaned closer to him. “I feel like I’m joining a conversation late, but I’m down for whatever is happening.”
“Good girl,” Callum cooed.
The four of us walked into the bar after showing our IDs to the security guard. My skin prickled with heat—either from the fact Eric was there with another girl or the fact Luca touched me so gently. For a large guy, his hands were soft on me.
“Hey,” Luca said, his voice coming directly next to my ear. His lips brushed against my hair. “What do you want to drink?”
He placed both hands on my shoulders, pulling me tight against his chest. His warmth and strength surrounded me, and I gulped. Goose bumps exploded down both arms, and god, when was the last time I’d felt that?
Focus. Make Eric regret what he did.I let my gaze move slowly toward where he sat, but he still hadn’t seen me. He once told me he could feel the air move when I walked into a room, but I was calling bullshit on that. Here I was, ten feet away, and he was face-first in a girl’s neck.
Mack frowned at me over Callum’s shoulder, her eyes worried. A few months ago, this sight would’ve gutted me. But it was relieving tonothave a punch of jealousy go through me. If anything, it was more hurt that I thought we had something special, when we never really did.
“Whatcha want, girlies?” Callum slapped the bar and whistled at the bartender. “Love your hair, gorgeous.”
She winked before shifting her gaze to me. “Wow, Monroe is blessing us with his presence tonight. Football fans will go wild to see you out.”
Luca stiffened next to me, and his hand moved from my neck to my lower back. “Wanted to hang out with my girl here.”
The bartender’s attention moved to me, curious and assessing. “Your girl, huh?”
“For the night,” I blurted out, regretting it instantly. “You know how he is.”
“That I do.” She licked the side of her lip, then studied Callum. Her nostrils flared. “I’ve already been with two guys on the team, can we make it three?”
“Doll, please.” Callum smirked, leaning onto his forearms. “I don’t want to embarrass my teammates with my superior skills.”
Her gaze flicked back to Luca. “Eh, one knew what they were doing.”
That’s when it hit me. Luca hadsleptwith the bartender. A gross, jealous-like feeling squeezed my chest, which it had no business doing because, um, hello, it was Luca Monroe? The grumpy guy who kinda hated me but was making it up to me by helping me and confusing me? Also… hearing Luca call memy girlsent a flurry ofohmygodsthrough me.
I was a hot mess express of emotions and feelings, and I hated it.
“Jesus, Tamara,” Luca huffed.
