“Yeah, because we drove to see my grandma together, like we’ve done a handful of times for her project. She needs to kick her ex’s ass, and she’s helping out my family in the process.” My pulse raced.
“Wait, what about this ex?”
I held up my hands. “You can’t sit there and ask me questions about your sister when you clearly aren’t in the right headspace. Something’s wrong, I can feel it. If you wanna talk about it, I’m game. If not, that’s okay too. What do you need?”
Dean closed his eyes and pulled the ends of his hair before meeting my eyes. “I want to play beer pong and not talk about a goddamn meaningful thing.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do.”
“You’re the best type of person, Luca. I’m sorry I accused you of anything. God, I’m a dick. You’d never do that to me.” Dean leaned in for a bro hug, and I swallowed down the lie and guilt.
He needed me. I just hoped Lorelei understood why I bailed on her for the night.
CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN
Lorelei
When I said to come find me, I didn’t think I’d be waiting over two hours? A dull ache throbbed in the base of my head, a sure sign of stress and overthinking. Had something happened from the conversation in the car to now, hours later where I lay waiting for him in my room?
Yawning, I didn’t have many choices. His room was empty. A party raged on downstairs. Callum was definitely down there, so it was just me, alone on the third floor. I had zero desire to party, not with having a big game tomorrow. Even if things weren’t in this strangewhat are we doingwith Luca, I’d just hang out in my room and keep busy.
So that was what I’d do, or I’d obsess about the reasons why he never showed. He’d gone hot and cold on me before, and people rarely changed. That I knew. Frustrated, I redid my ponytail four times before accepting defeat. I should take a hot shower and work on more posts for Heath’s Lodge.
Or respond to Eric’s text…
I’d successfully avoided responding to him due to not having the mental capacity to worry about my project, Luca,andhim all evening, so now that Luca had left me worked up, I could focus on my ex.
Eric: I owe you an explanation. One that makes sense. I’m so sorry about everything. Call me when you can.
One that makes sense. Closure. Did I even want it?
Yes. I was human. Needy about my emotions. Who wouldn’t want to learn the reason why someone they trusted hurt them? Would an explanation take the hurt away? No. But would it settle my imagination?
Lo: I don’t know, Eric. What good would it do?
Eric: Stop you from hating me.
Eric: Maybe… I hate knowing I disappointed you. So, can I call you?
Lo: Not tonight.
Eric: when?
Groaning, I tossed my phone on my nightstand and grabbed my robe. My well-intentioned brother put up cones and tape,andphysical barriers that prevented anyone from going upstairs.
It was overkill to say the least, but it reassured me no one was gonna sneak up here when I was in the shower. I still couldn’t believe Luca had done what he did in his car. And I’d let him! And it was freeing, hot, andwere we done?This was new territory for me, this land of gray area.
Starting the water, I waited for it to get hot before hanging up the robe and getting in. The bathroom had two stalls for toilets and three showers on the other side. I figured it’d be disgusting sharing it with two dudes, but it wasn’t bad. They took care of their things. Plus, having my own shower stall was perfect. I could line my products in a row, and no one yelled.
The steam calmed me down as I scrubbed my body and hair, not caring that it wasn’t a wash day. The heat beat against my neck and nerves, and I massaged the spot behind my neck and groaned.
That felt good.
I repeated the process when thuds alerted me.Someone is in the bathroom.Muscles tensed, eyes alert, I waited as the footsteps neared me and the curtain pulled back. “Ah!”
“Lo, it’s me, hey,” Luca said, his voice in a whisper. He was naked, completely, and now wet.
God he was large.
