“Please, don’t say it,” I blurt.
“Say what?”
“Whatever words of encouragement you’re cooking up in your motherly head.”
Mom purses her lips, signaling I’ve guessed correctly. With a deep sigh, she returns her attention to the game withoutreleasing my hand, and we watch together as Roman’s backup takes the field to save my brother from potential injury during the final meaningless minutes of the game.
“Can I say one little pep-talky thing?” Mom says. “If I promise I’ll shut my mouth after that?”
I force myself not to roll my eyes. “Make it short and snappy.”
Mom pats my hand. “My darling boy—”
“And that’s a wrap, Mom. Thanks for the inspiring words. I’ll carry them with me always.”
“Would you listen to me?” She glances at Maverick on Iris’s lap. “For bleep’s sake, Luca. I know you better than you know yourself. Maybe, just maybe, I’ve got something to say that will help you.”
I exhale. “Fine. Go ahead.”
She inhales and exhales, gathering her thoughts. “My darling boy, I know you’re feeling devastated right now, but you’ll rise again, the same way you always do, because that’s who you are, Luca Maguire. You’re a phoenix. A fighter. Asurvivor.”
“Awesome. I feel completely better now. Thanks, Mom.”
“Oh, Luca.”
“I don’t want to talk about this, Mom. I just want to watch the game—”
“They’re three touchdowns ahead!”
“And forget about how badly I’ve fucked things up.”
“Bleeped them up.” She motions to Maverick.
“He can’t hear a word I’m saying. And even if he could, I think I’m entitled to use an f-bomb, even in his presence, considering how badly things are going for me in my life, top to bottom.”
“Top to bottom? Honey, you’re still alive! If you put your nose down and work hard, you never know—”
“You sound exactly like Chelsea. Back when she was still speaking to me, anyway.”
Mom gasps. “Chelsea’s not speaking to you?”
Fuck.Why’d I tell her that? Welp, I guess there’s no closing Pandora’s box now. I might as well tell her what’s going on. “Chelsea and I broke up. It’s over.”
“No,” Mom gasps out, looking aghast. “Why? What happened? What terrible thing did you do, Luca?”
I frown. “Why do you assume I did something bad?”
“Because she’s not speaking to you! Oh my God, Luca, this is a shocker. You two looked so in love and smitten at Roman’s party.” Mom pouts. “I’m so mad at you for whatever you did to piss her off, Luca. How could you?”
“I’m a rolling stone, Mom. A man can’t defeat gravity.”
She rubs her forehead, looking distressed. “When your Aunt Sofia told me that romantic story about you and Chelsea meeting in college, I thought for sure you two were fate.”
“What the fuck?”
“The bleep.”
“How does your sister know that story?”
