51. Lucia
fifty-one
Lucia
“Ella!” I shriek as I pull her in for a hug. “Look at your little bump!”
She laughs and smiles. “This barely qualifies as a bump, Luc. I’m fifteen weeks.”
“And you still look fucking adorable.”
Ella bumps me with her hip. “Happy birthday, bitch.”
“My birthday was a few days ago,” I chuckle as we join our friends. This is the first off day the Stars have had since I turned thirty-two, so we’re all out at a rooftop bar tonight in SoHo.
“The Garros are here,” Ari chimes, sidling up right beside me. “You’re glowing right now, Ell. You look great.”
“Thanks, Ari,” she smiles before turning her attention to me. “Who knew Ari Morgan could be such a sweetheart?”
“I think Lucia is more of a sweetheart,” Ari smirks before winking at me.
The fucker winks at me.
Ella and Josh both attempt to hide their smiles.
“I’m gonna head to the bar and grab a beer,” Josh says, steering his wife away from us. “And a mocktail for Ella.”
While they’re talking to the rest of our friends, Ari puts his arm around me and pulls me close.
“You know they’re gonna talk after you winked at me, right?”
“Let them,” he shrugs. “I don’t care if they do.”
“Starting to think you might just be a good guy, Morgan.”
Ari chuckles against my ear. “We both know I’m a good boy.” He gently kisses my temple. “Happy birthday, sweetheart.”
“Thank you, Ari,” I smile, butterflies erupting in my stomach.
They’re always fluttering within me now, a constant presence when I’m with the man who has his arm wrapped around me and looks at me with stars in his eyes.
Ever since he showed up for me that day at Brooklyn College, I knew I was facing a losing battle.
Ari Morgan doesn’t settle down, and I went and fell in love with him anyway.
He’s the last person I expected to fall for, but being with him just feels right.
He’s starting to feel like home.
And if I’m right about his feelings for me, I’m pretty sure I’m his home, too.
“I’m going to go grab you another drink,” Ari says, tearing me out of my thoughts. “Vodka soda with lime, right?”
Apparently, he knows more than just my coffee order.
“That sounds great. Thanks, Ari.”
Ari smiles at me before disappearing into the crowd and heading toward the bar.
As soon as I’m alone, the girls all walk over to me.
“That was a cute little display,” Rory teases. “What was that all about?”
I try to shrug it off nonchalantly. “He was just telling me happy birthday.”
“Looked a little more intimate than just ‘Happy birthday,’ babe,” Harlow says, grin spreading wide.
“It wasn’t,” I lie. “He was just being friendly.”
“No, Luc,” Ella chimes in. “Ari is friendly with us. He’s not ‘friendly’ with you.”
“I don’t know what to tell you. We’re just friends.”
Olive sighs. “You’d be really cute together, though.”
We would, and I’d give anything to see that happen.
“Okay, ladies,” I say, veering us away from this conversation. “We’re here to celebrate. Let’s get drunk—not you, Ella—and have some fun! I’m ready to dance my ass off.”
I’m so thankful that works because I don’t want to keep thinking about my future—or lack of a future—with Ari. I want to forget that stress for just a night.
Sabrina Carpenter starts playing through the speakers, so that’s what I focus on. I sway my hips and lose myself in the music.
The girls are all dancing with me, but the guys are mainly hanging out to the side. I think I’ve only seen Knox dance at his wedding. Lane tweaked his knee during yesterday’s game, but I know he’d be up here otherwise. Cole and Josh are just watching their wives with rapt attention.
When Ari comes back over with my drink, I expect him to go over with his friends, but he stays with me instead. He starts dancing with all of us, having a great time.
The next time he heads to the bar to grab me another drink—I’m already three vodka sodas deep—he sneaks over to the DJ as well, requesting a particular song.
Well, I’m assuming that’s what he did because I can’t think of any other reason for Bailando to be playing.
Ari smirks and comes closer to me.
“This your doing, Casanova?”
“I’ll never tell,” he rasps. “I prefer what you’re wearing this time as you dance to it, though.”
I throw my head back and laugh, remembering the time he came home to me dancing in the kitchen while making paella. I was wearing Lane’s jersey that day.
Today’s outfit is definitely cuter. Cream-colored low-cut crop top with a matching miniskirt. I have my favorite strappy heels on with it, as well as my favorite jade pendant.
“Dance with me.” I grab his hand and pull him over to me, positioning my back against his chest as I start dancing.
And Ari dances with me. We’re not grinding, but the way we’re moving is still so sensual, and I swear I can feel the sparks blazing around us. His hands have a firm grasp on my hips, and I have my hand resting on the back of his neck.
It’s sultry and sexy, and I love the feel of his hands on me with everyone around.
The song ends, and I turn to face him, draping my arms around his neck. His gaze is heated, and I can see the lust on his face.
His voice is low and husky when he speaks. “How turned on are you right now, sweetheart? How drenched are your panties after dancing with me like that?”
“I’m so turned on, Ari,” I reply breathily. “But my panties aren’t wet.” He raises his eyebrow at me, and I brush my lips against his ear. “I’m not wearing any.”
His eyes are blazing hot, and I feel like I could combust right now.
“Lucia?” a male voice cuts through the crowd, and just the sound of that voice is enough to completely douse our fire.
Ari clenches his fist next to me as I roll my eyes and turn to face the man.
“You’re like an infection, you know?” I scold as Matt walks up to us. “You just keep coming back.”
“Jesus, Lucia,” Matt sighs.
“What do you want?” Ari demands, crossing his arms next to me.
“Nothing that involves you, prick.”
“Don’t you disrespect him,” I chide.
“Are you fucking friends now?” Matt asks, bewildered.
“Yes,” I reply emphatically. “Turned out the only reason we didn’t like each other was you. Once you were out of the picture, things between us have been great.”
“Because he wants to fuck you,” he scoffs.
“What he does or doesn’t want to do with me is none of your goddamn business.”
“For the record,” Ari interjects, “I just like spending time with her.”
When I think it can’t be worse than running into my ex-boyfriend, his oh-so-lovely mistress has to make an appearance.
“There you are, Matty!” Anna says, voice shrill.
I roll my eyes. “Why do we have to keep running into you two? I’m so tired of seeing you.”
Anna looks at me with a mischievous smile. “Aww, are you jealous, Lucia?”
I can’t hold back my laughter. “Jealous of what exactly? That you’re with a man who’s a known cheater? You can have him, Anna. I don’t fucking want him.”
“I’m not a cheater,” Matt states.
I stare at him deadpan. “You fucking cheated on me with this bitch for most of our relationship. Yeah, you’re a cheater.”
“How dare you call me a bitch!” Anna yells, creating attention.
Fucking great.
“Look, I know the blame lies with Matt. You had no obligation to me. But you also knew he was dating me and pursued him anyway. You’re as shitty as he is.”
Anna is fuming until Harlow and Cole walk up beside us, and she goes for faux-sweetness. “Hey!”
“What the fuck are you doing over here?” Harlow says, voice venomous and lethal.
Love that girl.
“What do you mean?” Anna asks, playing dumb.
“Cut the shit, Anna,” Cole scolds.
Now Matt decides to jump in and defend her. “You’re going to be that nasty to your own cousin?”
Harlow rolls her eyes. “She’s our third cousin. We’ve never been close.”
“We used to spend holidays together,” Anna rebukes.
“And?” Cole asks. “Just because you’re blood doesn’t mean we have to consider you family.”
Anna’s jaw drops in shock.
Harlow goes in on her now. “I heard about the shit you tried to start at my fucking wedding, Anna. You fucking knew Lucia would be there because you’re Matt’s mistress.”
Ari looks smug as he stares at them. “I told you that if they knew who you were to Matt, you’d never have been at the wedding.”
“He’s right,” Lo states. “I don’t care that we’re family. I would never have invited you to my wedding if I’d known you were the other woman in my best friend’s relationship.”
“W-we’re family…” she stammers, shrinking in on herself.
“And?” Cole asks again. “Consider yourself removed. Our friends are family, and you don’t fuck with our family.”
I’ve never loved my friend group more than I do right now.
I know Harlow, and I know she never would have wanted Anna there if she’d known.
But for both her and Cole to come over here and staunchly defend me? And hearing that Ari stood up for me at the wedding?
I’m not overly emotional, but I’m so fucking glad to have all of them.
“Go,” Ari demands, eyes staring into their souls. “Nobody wants you here.”
They both walk off in a huff, and I turn around and throw my arms around Harlow and Cole, tears dotting the corners of my eyes.
“Thank you for doing that.”
“Like I said,” Cole states, “our friends are our family. We consider you family, Lucia, and Lo and I were raised to always take care of your family.”
“Love you, babe,” Lo smiles.
“Love you more,” I reply with a watery laugh. I look over at Ari now. “Come here.”
I pull him into our hug, and he looks at me, confused. “Why am I in this?”
“Because I just found out you stood up for me at the wedding. We weren’t even friends at that point. That means so fucking much to me.”
“Your birthday celebration was supposed to be a lot happier than this,” he chuckles.
I gaze at him sweetly. “I’m happy right now, Ari.” He smiles softly, and I lean over to kiss his cheek. “Thank you for caring.”
We’re with our friends, but it may as well just be Ari and me right now.
He’s the only one I can see.
We’re alone in a room full of people.
I want him.
I want him to be mine.
But I don’t know if he is.