“No, he can’t do that,” I said, staring at Luca. His entire body stiffened, and his face had red splotches on it. “He can’t risk getting injured for football. My brother would kill me if I caused him to get hurt.”
“Dean should also beat Eric’s ass.”
“He doesn’t know the whole story,” I fired back.
Luca craned his neck to look over his shoulder, his jaw tensing. “Lorelei,” he said.
He pronounced each syllable with intention and a deep, gruff voice that sent a burst of heat through me. Ilikedhim saying my name like that. “Hm?”
“Eric looks like someone who doesn’t know how to please a woman, and if I ever were to punch anyone in the face, it’d be him. He has my top spot.” His dark stare met mine, the absolute seriousness of his words plastered on his face.
I nodded, my own face tingling with warmth. “Good to know.”
“He’s also on my punch in the face list, followed with that beezy from Indiana.” Mack pounded a fist into her palm.
My lips twitched. “You’ll carry a grudge until you die.”
“Hell yes I will.” Mack hit her fist on the table, her face paling as she looked over Luca’s shoulder.
“Lo?”
Shit.
My ex appeared right next to us. Eric O’Shea, the face of the baseball team with his pitching arm. Blond hair swooped to the side and the charisma people would kill for. Heartbreak and anger fought for control, and I opened my mouth to say something, but no sound escaped. It had been a month since we were face to face, and my stomach bottomed out with nerves.
Luca wrapped his beefy arm around my shoulders and nuzzled me into his chest before positioning us to face Eric. Time slowed down as I stared at my ex. He looked good. Dark blue shirt and jeans, the damn hat I bought him, and no girl on his arm. There definitely had been one though. I saw her.
“The ex, right? Derrick?” Luca asked.
I wanted to laugh and thank him profusely.Derrick.Classic. My lips curved up even though my insides were a war zone. “Eric, but yes.”
“Close enough.” Luca left no room between our sides, our bodies pressed so tight together you couldn’t fit a penny there.
Eric ran a hand over his mouth, his eyes bouncing back and forth between us. “Are you with Monroe?”
“She is, yes.” Luca answered before I could, and I nudged his side.
“I can speak, you know.”
“Right. I forgot.” He playfully rolled his eyes, and my smile grew. I was aware, deep down, that this was an act, but I kinda liked this version of him. Goofy, territorial, decisive. Getting Eric to plananythinghad been exhausting.
“But yes.” I held Eric’s gaze. “Luca and I are…what are we doing?”
“Besides fucking?”
Oh my god.
My face heated, and my thighs tensed. It was hot in the bar. Like, had their air broken suddenly or had they accidentally turned the furnace on? I laughed, nervously, and Luca’s stoic face broke out in a huge smile. “God, don’t be an ass.”
He faked a wince. “Might be too late. Derrick might be upset.”
“Eric, come on.” I nudged my hip into his, and he did it right back. Eric cleared his throat, and I glanced at him.
His frown deepened, the familiar curve of his lips not quite as pleasing as it once had been. He cleared his throat and shifted his weight from left to right. “How long has this been going on?”
“Mm, it’s recent.” I shrugged. “We’re keeping it casual. Sports will always come first. You know how that is.”
“Now, what do you want? We’re busy, and you interrupted for what?” Luca asked.
