“If you say so.”
“I do say so.”
Glancing at her out of the corner of my eye, I take a shot. “Parker understands the Ariana and Lil connection.”
“I don’t like Parker that way. He collects Tamagotchis and wears corduroy.”
“So? You keep a running count of how many pairs of shoes I own in your head and can’t drive for shit.”
“Do you have a point?”
“You’re both fucking weird.”
“Whatever. Can we watchMagic Mike?” she asks.
“Have I ever said no to that question?”
Chapter 78
Hair gets EVERYWHERE
Ariana
Icrack my eyes open and smile a sleepy smile. “You’re home,” I whisper.
Luca gently brushes wayward hair off my face, trailing a finger down my cheek before lightly kissing my forehead. “I’m home, baby. Want me to carry you to our room?”
Glancing across the bed at Lil, my heart feels heavy at the thought of leaving her tonight. Or this morning. What the fuck time is it, anyway? I swear, these DeVille men and their middle-of-the-night shenanigans…
I don’t realize I’m chewing on my bottom lip until Luca drags it out from between my teeth with his thumb. My eyes find his again, and before I can say anything, he simply crawls in. He settles on his back and holds me so I’m pressed against his side, and my head is on his chest. I breathe him in as his right hand curls around my hip and his left covers my hand on his stomach.
“Do I pick Lil over you too much?”
His entire body tenses. “What? No. Who said that to you?” His voice is a dark rumble, like a summer thunderstorm.
“No one, Beefcake. Just my brain. I was wondering if I would be this understanding if it was your friend.”
“Baby, if I had a best friend for a hundred million years?—“
“Two hundred.”
“Two hundred million years. Even better. Twice as long.”
When a gigglesnort escapes me, his chest jumps under my head as he chuckles.
He squeezes my hand. “She’s not just your friend, Ariana. She’s your sister. Fuck, that’s not even it. There’s not a word for what you two are. For the bond you two have. And honestly, I’m thankful as hell you have her.”
“I need her forever,” I whisper.
His grip on my hip tightens. “I know. I knew what I was getting into that first night when I put you in Lil’s bed. And I wouldn’t change a damn thing about you.” He pauses for a moment. “Except I wish you would eat more fucking vegetables.”
“Hey. I ate kale that one time.”
“I know, Minx.”
“It was so gross, Luca.”
He makes a humming noise that isn’t agreeing or disagreeing. I snuggle into him more and drift back off to sleep.
