“Barf. Dad, help us out. I see food!” Lil says as she and Ariana wait by the side of the pool, their hands out.
Marco smirks. “No, I’m not falling for that again.” He and Mia walk to the table.
“Boo. You’re no fun, either.”
“I beg to differ.” Mia grins at her husband. Lil groans, and Ariana chuckles. Then Ariana dunks Lil’s head back under the water and swims away to the stairs before Lil comes up for air.
“I’m going to get you back for that, Ariana Ray.”
“You can try, Lilith May.” Watching Ariana step out of the pool is like a slow-motion scene from an old Baywatch episode. I groan silently as I sit quickly, trying to hide just how much I like it.
“Are you two sure you don’t want to invite more kids from your classes to the party? You only invited the girls you’ve known since high school,” Mia says as the girls join us.
A little smirk appears on Ariana’s face.“We don’t like anyone else there, Mom. And no one else likes us.”
Mia scoffs. “Who wouldn’t love you girls?”
“What, like a list? Ohhhh, we should make a list!!!” Lil claps her hands.
“We did once. I bet it’s longer now.” Ariana muses. “We’ve pissed off more people since then.”
Chapter 25
Real talk
Ariana
I’m so embarrassed about last night that I can’t look Luca in the eye. I mean, I had a panic attack and stopped breathing, and then threw up on him. And he took care of me.
Because apparently, I didn’t like him enough before, freaking last night had to happen. So naturally, I’m avoiding being alone with him as much as possible.
The three of us are hanging out in our living room after dinner. I can tell he’s frustrated that we haven’t had a chance to talk. I’m trying to read, but I’m not getting anywhere because I glance at Luca’s back every fifteen seconds while he plays another video game. Or the same video game. I have no idea, honestly.
After a few hours, Lil yawns and stretches as she gets to her feet. “Okay, I’m tired as fuck. Shower and bed for me.” She throws her blanket over my head and closes the bedroom door behind her. I debate hiding under the blanket until Luca goes to bed, but that lasts about forty seconds before I get claustrophobic and too fucking warm. I drag it off of my head and immediately see Luca staring at me.Shit.
He drags himself up off the bean bag chair as gracefully as a 6’7” tank can, which is not at all, and sits a few feet away from me on the couch. I focus on my hands and pick at my nail polish. My hair falls over my face, and he brushes some behind my ear.
“Are you okay?” His voice is barely more than a whisper.
“Yeah.” Mine is definitely a whisper.
“Then why won’t you look at me?”
I sigh. “I’m embarrassed. I don’t embarrass easily, but last night, that was some embarrassing shit.”
This time, his hand goes under my chin and gently raises it so I have no choice but to look at him. God, those blue eyes. They’re filled with concern, and I feel like a dick for putting it there. “Nothing to be embarrassed about.”
“I mean it,” he continues when I scoff. “I don’t know the details, Ari, but I do know you’ve been through some shit. The kind of shit that leaves emotional damage behind. You’re fucking amazing, the way you’re so strong and bright most of the time. Don’t be embarrassed by those moments when the shit drags you down. They don’t mean you’re weak. They mean you’re human.”
“I hate those moments, Luca. I hate letting them get to me, letting the past take over the present. I hate letting them win.”
“You might never be able to keep those moments from happening from time to time, Ari.” His hand moves to cup my cheek, and I lean into the touch. “But you have people here who want to help you fight those demons.”
“What about your demons? Are you going to let us help you fight yours?”
“I’m trying. I’m not used to people wanting to help.”
“No one?”
