“Leave,” Luca barked at Eric. “She played one of the best games of her career, and you’re making it aboutyou.”
Luca nudged me in the other direction, his chest heaving like he’d sprinted down the field, and I let him lead me. It was easier than trying to think. If I allowed my mind take control, my fists would be in Eric’s face.
I growled, my entire body overheated and angry and hyped up from the game. “I hate him.”
“Hold it in, your coach is still here. Once we put some distance, you can let it loose, I promise.”
I nodded, my emotions all over the place. Why was I suddenly thankful and happy that it was Luca who was with me right now?
CHAPTERTWENTY
Luca
“I’m going to kill him.”
“I’d suggest refraining from murder,” I said.
“Wouldyou? Would you suggest that? Helpful, Luca. Helpful.” She shook her head, mumbling under her breath. We walked for ten minutes and were enough distance away from the stadium that it felt safe to let her unleash. I texted Dean I’d take her home. It was the two of us now, for better or worse.
“Want to talk about what happened?”
Please say yes.
After hearing her come to my name yesterday, then watching her on the field, which…. Fuck. She was divine. Her focus and muscles, the way her body moved and her hair going everywhere. Lorelei on a normal boring day was incredible, but seeing her on the field sparked a new longing for her. I wanted that passion, that spark just for myself. She was addictive, and despite the warning bells going off in my head that it was a bad idea, I couldn’t stop being drawn to her. This electricity between us would destroy me if I didn’t do something about it. That much was clear.
I knew after last night that this tension and attraction between us would bubble over. I came up with a terrible, disaster-promised plan, but it was the only thing I could do. I wouldn’t be able to stop thinking about her or wanting her, so why not find a way to make it fit in my carefully crafted life?
If she’ll be up for it.
But then her dumbass ex wanted to talk to her, wearing her number like he cared for her. And she went with him! My own irritation threatened to ruin the moment. She needed a friend, not a guy obsessed with her. Jealousy ate at me when Eric spoke to her but then she yelled, and I knew it was time to step in.
So yeah. I needed to know what he’d said.
“He missed us as friends and had the audacity to say he missed us talking in class! You damn well know he wanted to pry about my project since we’re in competition for the internship. The bastard used my emotions to try and get information. I’m so pissed I could spit!” She growled and kicked the air.
I almost laughed but refrained.Not the time.“Why did you talk to him then if you knew he was a rat bastard?”
She stopped as we neared the front door, and I unlocked it, gesturing her in. She went in and tossed her bag against the hall closet, then stomped up the stairs. I followed because where else would I go? I wanted to orbit around her. I’d worship her like the sun if I had a different life, one where I could be a normal person. Once she got to the top floor, she spun around and pointed at my chest.
“I keep thinking he’ll provide closure or a reason why everything happened the way it did. My poor heart needs an explanation, like what if there was a noble reason he played me that way? Or what if I misread the entire situation? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have feelings for him anymore. Not like that. Do I have leftover hurt? Yes. But my foolish ass hoped, for the last time, that he’d share something meaningful.”
“Mm.”
She pinched the bridge of her nose, closing her eyes. “I sound dumb, don’t I?”
“No.” I shook my head. I had to touch her, show her that she was the opposite of dumb. She was incredible and trusting and kind. “Not foolish or dumb for hoping for an answer. It’s not the same but… I can relate. People make decisions that don’t make sense, and sometimes, there’s a reason. Other times… there isn’t, and it’s hard to live without one.”
She nodded, her eyes opening and swirling with emotion. She couldn’t read my mind, but she had to understand how fast my heart beat near her or how I wanted to breathe her in. Her lotion smelled like peaches. And my mouth watered with hunger. “I never found out the reason my parents didn’t want to raise me. They left me with my grandma one day and never came back.”
“Luca.” She squeezed her eyes shut, closing down the window into her soul. I was never a huge fan of brown, but her eyes were beautiful. So many different shades and hints of other colors.
She chewed her bottom lip as her face fell. “Your parents abandoning you is mountains worse than my dumb heartache. They aren’t even comparable.”
“When people you love treat you differently than how they should, it’s all comparable.” I shrugged, glad I could read her emotions again. “I never got an answer and probably never will, and it sucks. I choose to let that go because what I have with my grandma is a love and trust some people never get with their own families. Bad things happen, but that doesn’t mean good isn’t right around the corner.”
She shuddered, a line forming between her eyebrows. She fisted her hands and groaned, loudly. She raised her arms over her head, walking away from me. I immediately felt the loss of her heat, her energy, and panic clawed up my throat.Did I say something bad?
“Where are you going? What’s wrong?” I asked, hoping she didn’t hear the desperation on my throat. I wanted to keep talking to her, standing by her. Maybe she needed space. While I hated it, I accepted she could need time alone. “Do you… did I upset you? I was trying to help.”
