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I wrap my arm around her waist as we walk into the house, trying to push down the weird unease and nervousness churning inside me.I shut the door and walk Mama toward the kitchen.If any of the family realize I’m off my game, there’s no telling how lunch will go.We’re all close, but we also don’t hold back when it comes to giving advice, calling each other out, or laying a truth bomb when it’s needed.We’ve all done it and had it done to us over the years, but I have too much going on in my head to deflect anything being lobbed at me today.
I’m going to blame tiredness from a long, busy shift, but considering Cohen and Marco were working alongside me, there’s no way that excuse will fly for too long.And if I know my sister Skye, if Cohen shared with her what happened last night, this meal could soon turn into a Luca and London friendship intervention.
Jesus, I’m actually nervous to be around my ownfamily.That damn Perfect Brock has infected my brain with his insinuation, and now I can’t stop thinking about it.Over and over again.Why did I hate seeing my best friend on a date with him?Maybe it was him in particular—not the fact she was on a date ...Yes, that must be it.And then Cohen laying it on me, too.Of course my mind can’t forget about it.
Liar.
I can’t think about it now though because as soon as we enter the kitchen, I see I’m the last to arrive.My eyes go straight to London, who’s at the dinner table with Renee, Skye, and Val.They’re all sitting around her, leaving no room for me to take my normal place next to her.It’s like they’re closing ranks and protecting their own.
Never one to be afraid to run the gauntlet of Rossi and soon-to-be Rossi women, I move toward them, greeting Renee, Alex, and Skye, then stopping to blow a raspberry on Austin’s chunky baby cheek before moving onto London.
She looks up and meets my eyes, but instead of that mood-lifting, breathtaking smile she usually greets me with, her gaze is shuttered, and I hate it.
“Hey, beautiful,” I murmur, leaning down to kiss her temple, remembering her words from last night.
“I’m not a child, Luc.”
“Never said you were, Lonnie.”
“I prefer being called beautiful,” she grumbled.
Her breath catches as my lips brush against her skin.My mouth still tingles as I move away.Weird.A sigh that’s not necessarily good escapes her and when I straighten, a quick nod is all I get.Her big blue eyes seem cautious, unsure, and not at all happy with me.I’m craving that sunshine smile of hers and the warmth it gives me.I can have a horrible, gut-wrenching shift and just seeing her smile on our breakfast dates at the diner can make it all fade away.And right now, I wantthatLondon back again.
Maybe she’s hungover, I tell myself, but there’s no way that’s the only reason.The sinking feeling in my gut tells me that I not only fucked up last night, but that something has changed between us, and that something isn’t good because her body language is all wrong.
I’m compelled to pull her out of the room and give her a hug, make her yell at me,anything.But now is not the time.Maybe tonight I’ll order takeout and we’ll watch a movie—one of her favorite go-to ones—and then we can chat about what went down and I can apologize.
Val is next.Her gaze is the complete opposite of London’s, and because I’ve had years of experience, I can read her like a book.“Hello, my favorite sister,” I say, smirking at Skye’s disgruntled huff behind me.
“Hey, Luc.How are you?”Val asks, her tone even but her eyes skeptical.She definitely knows what happened then.
I sigh.“Good.Tired.It was a busy shift.”
“I bet it was,” she replies coolly.The temperature in the room definitely drops a few degrees.
I plaster on a huge grin that I’m not even close to feeling and look around the table.“Well then, I might go out and commune with the men of the family,” I say, expecting a few laughs, but instead I get a glare from Val, a curious look from Renee, an arched brow from Skye, a clap from Austin, and a frown from London.Tough crowd.
When I get outside into the backyard, I find Cohen, Marco, and Gio standing near the grill where my dad is cooking some steaks for lunch.They all turn to watch me, Marco humming a death march under his breath and earning a chuckle from the rest of them.
“You survived,” he says.
“And in one piece too,” Cohen adds with a snicker.
“Knew I should’ve blown this off and stayed in bed,” I mutter.
Dad looks over his shoulder, his brows lifted high.“You’d risk the wrath of Mama?”
“To avoid the glacial atmosphere inside and the ribbing out here?I’d definitely consider it.”
Gio bumps me with his shoulder.“Hey.From what I hear, last night you stormed over to London like a caveman.All you needed to do was beat your chest and grunt a little more.”
“He grunted.Believe me,” Cohen says, crossing his arms over his chest and smirking.“You’d think the women would think it was chivalrous.You were simply wanting to protect London’s virtue like a good, caringfriend.Am I right?”
“Yes!I was just looking out for her.Was I an asshole to her date?Probably—”
“Mm-hmm ...”Cohen nods.
“Could I have handled myself a little better?Maybe.”
