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Luca: You don’t get to make all the rules.
Me: Lose my number. I don’t want to see you again.
Luca: What, because I actually give a fuck? That’s your loss.
My hands are shaking as I set down the phone on the coffee table. How long has Luca known who I really am? And if he knows that, does he know about my past, too?Chapter EighteenLucaJonah and Lily West are holding hands as they walk into the sports bar we’re meeting at near my house. Those two are more in love than any couple I know, and they’ve been together since high school.
“Campbell.” Jonah grins at me as I stand up to give him a back-slapping bro hug. “How’s it going?”
“Good, how are you guys?”
“Can’t complain. We’re going to Europe next week for vacation.”
Lily smiles warmly and hugs me, too.
“How are the kids?” she asks as Jonah pulls out a chair for her and she sits down.
“Busy. But good.”
A waitress approaches with menus and we all order drinks. Jonah puts his arm around his wife, his expression relaxed and happy.
“So does your babysitter still help out in the off-season?” he asks.
I nod. “Yeah, she’s with the kids right now. And with all three of them involved in all different activities, there are times when I just can’t get everyone to the places they need to be when they need to be there, so she helps with that. Thank Jesus.”
“Do they play sports?”
“Yep. Baseball, softball, swimming and dance. All of them are starting hockey in the fall.” I say this with a proud papa smile on my face.
Jonah gives Lily a tender glance. “I can’t wait for those days.”
Lily smiles and leans into him. “Well, Luca, if you ever need help getting the kids anywhere or you want a babysitter for a night, you just let us know. We’d love to do it.”
“Thanks, I appreciate that. Sheila’s going on an Alaskan cruise with her sons soon, so I may need an extra chauffeur.”
“I’ll drive the kids around on my Harley,” Jonah offers.
“Yeah, you have no idea how much shit you have to haul around for kids’ sports. It’s a good thing I drive a huge SUV.”
Our drinks come and we all order sandwiches with a side of sweet potato fries, which this place is famous for. As soon as the waitress leaves, Lily gives me a tentative look.
“So…we love you, Luca, and it’s awesome to have lunch with you, but there’s actually something I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Did Jonah tell you it’s normal to not be able to get it up? That it happens to everyone?” I quip. “Because he’s lying.”
“Fuck you,” Jonah says, laughing. “I can get it up anytime.”
Lily shakes her head. “You guys don’t even need a locker room for locker room talk, do you?”
“No,” Jonah says. “We do this pretty much everywhere we go.”
She rolls her eyes. “Anyway, Luca, I asked Jonah to set this lunch up because I heard you’re seeing Abby Daniels.”
“Who told you that?”
“I saw her in the hospitality room at the charity game and I knew she looked familiar, so I asked Maria from PR if she knew who she was.”
I sigh heavily. Nothing gets by Lily. She’s not the least bit catty, but she is sort of the matriarch of the team family. And now I have to discuss Abby with her, when all I want to do is forget about her and move on.
“Abby and I were seeing each other, but we’re on the outs now,” I say.
Lily’s expression falls. “Oh, I’m sorry, Luca.”
“Thanks. Me too.”
“Do you think you guys will work it out?”
“I don’t know.” I shake my head. “Probably not.”
“Okay.” The corners of her lips turn down slightly in disappointment.
“Why do you ask about her?”
“Because I’m the chair of the Blaze Foundation, and with all the philanthropic work Abby has done…I was just really hoping to see her at some of our future events with you.”
I’m silent as I consider this new information she gave me without realizing it. Do I admit I have no idea what she’s talking about, or do I save face by pretending I do?
Jonah’s like family to me, so I decide there’s no need to play it cool in front of him and Lily.
“What philanthropic work?” I ask.
Lily’s eyes widen. “You don’t know? Abby’s company gives major money to charity through The Cypress Lane Foundation. Like millions every year. The CLF has underwritten huge projects at children’s hospitals, they fund a free car seat program, and they help pay medical bills for families with sick kids who need help.”
It hits me like punch in the gut. Another major thing I didn’t know about Abby, because she didn’t want me to know.
“Abby’s very private,” I explain. “We’ve only known each other for a few months.”
“Well, when it comes to supporting children in need, there’s no one known for being more generous than she is. I’m sure she’s very well-off, but Abby could be much wealthier if she didn’t give so much to charity.”
