22. Lucia
Lucia was beyond excited when she saw Isa bounding out of the airport toward her, dark hair flying. She’d missed her best friend immensely, and she needed her now more than ever. Luckily, both their bosses had let them take that Monday and Tuesday off so they could discover the beauty of Charleston together.
Isa jumped into Lucia’s arms, nearly knocking them both over. “You have no idea how horrible that flight was. I swear, the kid behind me wanted to be smacked upside the head.” She sighed, squeezing Lucia.
“I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve missed you so much.”
Isa pulled away, tossing her bag into the back of Lucia’s car. “I need to shower and change, and then I’m ready for drinks and views. I might need a nap, but we can remedy that with an energy drink.”
Lucia laughed as they got into the car. “We’ll stop to get some on the way home. How’s Abby?” she asked, referring to Isa’s girlfriend.
“Good. She was thinking about joining, but couldn’t get time off from work. Plus, I wanted you all to myself.”
Lucia pulled out of the pickup area. “Well, Jenna and Leigh will be meeting us later in the evening, if that’s okay. And Maya too, if her dinner with Colton and their father finishes early.”
“Good. I need to meet these new friends who are trying to take over my job as best friend. And what’s this nonsense about hanging out with Colton’s sister?”
“Nobody could ever replace you as my best friend, Is. And Maya’s a few years younger than us, but she’s in town for the week and wanted to come out. She”s sweet, you’ll like her.”
Isa grumbled something under her breath that sounded like “we’ll just see about that” before watching out the window, taking in Charleston. Isa had nothing to worry about on that front. No matter how many friends Lucia made, Isa would always be her oldest and closest friend.
“How has this city been treating you? How’ve you been feeling about the new team?” Lucia felt her friend’s concerned eyes on her. They’d tried to talk once a week since she’d left but had rarely been able to stay on for longer than a few minutes, which meant Isa only knew the highlights. Such was the way of the season.
“I—okay, honestly I like it a lot. There’s something about this place that makes me wish they’d sign me for longer than the season.”
“Mm-hmm, or someone.”
Lucia forced out a scoff, though it sounded weak even to her own ears. “Please.”
Isa let her drop the subject for the time being. When they reached Lucia’s house, she showed Isa around the few rooms and gave her what she’d need for a shower.
While her friend got ready for the evening, Lucia picked out a tight, black dress, clipping some of her hair into a small claw clip and pulling pieces out to frame her face. She did her makeup quickly, hoping to get an hour or so to go through some statistics from their previous game for a report for Tim.
She’d only managed half an hour before Isa was ready, sporting a similar dress but in dark green. When Lucia pointed out the color, which was unlike Isa’s typical palette of blacks, reds, and blues, Isa shrugged. “I figured I’d try to fit into the Sabertooths’ culture. Wouldn’t want anyone here thinking their top analyst is hanging with a Vipers athletic trainer.”
“Please, as if anybody knows who I am.” Lucia called a car with a drop-off on King Street.
“In case you haven’t noticed, you’ve been getting some serious exposure since you started this whole thing with Beaumont. People most definitely know who you are, especially around here. Half the internet wants to be you.”
Lucia grimaced. She’d tried to stay off news sites and social media since the story had broken, not interested in seeing the sordid things reporters would come up with about their relationship. She wanted to inspire people because of her career, not the man they thought she was dating.
“I try not to focus too much on it.”
The car was outside her house quickly, and they spent the ride whispering about the posts Isa kept pulling up on Lucia’s relationship. Lucia kept telling her to stop because the number of people talking about how badly they wanted to be her was incredibly off-putting. When they reached their destination, Lucia thanked the driver, and the pair located an open spot at the bar.
The marble top was cool to the touch, and Lucia rested a hand atop it as she glanced around. Jenna’s recommendation had been spot on; this place was exactly what she had been looking for. Black accented with gold everywhere she looked, even on the bar menus. Behind her was a wall of booth seating in front of small circular tables and cute, felt chairs, all of which were occupied by couples and groups of friends.
When they’d ordered—red wine for her, New York Sour for Isa, and a petite cheese platter to split—Isa turned to Lucia.
“Max has been a raging lunatic since you blocked him. He’s come in needing treatment a couple of times because he’s playing too aggressively.”
Lucia took a sip of her wine. “I don’t want to talk about Max. How’s Charlotte? How are the analysts?”
Isa shrugged. “The analyst team is definitely lacking without you, and they know it. Charlotte asks me how you are about once a week. You can tell she’s pissed at John and the rest of the suits for making her almost fire you.”
That was gratifying. A part of her was glad to hear that they were struggling without her. She wished Charlotte didn’t have to suffer as a consequence, but she hoped John saw what a mistake he’d made.
Lucia sighed. “I’m just thankful she had the foresight to look for other jobs when she heard what happened. I didn’t even think about that when I saw the news.”
“Yeah, Luc, but I think you had other things to worry about. Nobody faults you for that. Speaking of which, if you wanna hop back on the dating roller coaster, that cute guy over there hasn’t stopped looking over at you.” She inclined her head to point at a man who was indeed looking at her, a smile flashing as he raised his glass in greeting. “You should go talk to him.”
He was cute, Lucia supposed, but a far cry from the dark-haired quarterback who drove her crazy. Who, she’d begun to realize, she wanted to keep driving her crazy.
“I’m here to hang out with you, not trap a man. Plus, I have a…” She stopped herself before she called him her boyfriend. “Colton.”
“Right. Let’s talk about that absolute dumpster fire of an idea, shall we?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She smiled at the bartender as she set their drinks in front of them.
Isa’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Okay, so let’s just imagine for a minute that sleeping with someone you’re pretending to date has never, in history, ended poorly. What’s going to happen when playoffs start?”
Lucia matched the volume of Isa’s voice. “First of all, it was one time. Second of all, we’re going to break up, end of story. We’ll be friends, probably.”
She hoped they would be. Colton had quickly become an incredibly important person to her, and she couldn’t imagine what her life would look like if they went back to a strictly analyst-player relationship. It would break her heart to lose him, and the thought of only seeing him during their sessions had her taking a bigger sip of wine.
“Oh, are we just ignoring the time he wrecked you on the plane?”
Lucia slapped a hand over her friend’s mouth, a laugh bubbling out of her. “Isa! Shh, I don’t need strangers knowing more about my life than they already do. Keep whispering.”
Isa rolled her eyes but listened. “This is a bad idea, osita. What is he gaining from this? I’m suspicious. He has to have agreed to this for some reason, something to benefit him.”
The thought was a shot to Lucia’s chest, but she tried to play it off, not wanting Isa to see how it’d affected her. “I think he’s just a nice guy. He originally did it to help me because I was distraught when the news came out. And I think he likes that it gets Max mad. But, I don’t know, something’s been different recently. It feels like he wants to spend time with me, even when cameras aren’t on us.” She hadn’t told Isa about the night they’d cuddled. Sheepishly, she continued, “I even go to see him in his hotel room at away games.”
Isa sipped her drink. “Well, are you getting dicked down?”
Lucia sputtered, choking down her wine. “Not outside of the time I told you about. We just talk and watch movies and…enjoy each other’s company?” She noted the incredulous look on her friend’s face. “I don’t know, it’s weird to conceptualize, but it’s true.”
Isa just hummed.
Lucia took a bite of the cheese that’d been set down between them, savoring the flavor on her tongue. “Obviously my luck with relationships has run out, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have fun. So what if he’s just using me? Who’s to say I’m not using him too?” She wasn’t sure the words were true as they left her, but something inside her wanted to convince Isa that it was all just harmless fun.
“Just don’t get caught up in the process. Remember why you’re here. This is the job that boosts you to head analyst.”
Isa was right. Lucia had to focus on her end goal. The last thing she needed was for her relationship to become a complication.
The mildly intoxicated pair wandered down the street to Marion Square, at which point Isa tutted playfully, talking about how Richmond would always be better. They were fast approaching the time they’d agreed to meet Jenna, Leigh, and Maya at a cute little bar inside Hotel Bennett, another recommendation from Jenna.
Lucia felt warm and bubbly as they walked into the hotel, happy to be out for a night with a group of friends for the first time in a long time. When they finally made it into the bar, Lucia and Isa both looked up in awe at the crystal chandelier, marveling at the pink chairs, pink tables, pink everything.
“This may be the only champagne bar I’ve ever been to, but it’s certainly my favorite.”
Lucia smiled at that. Her smile widened when she saw her friends already seated at a table. She was excited for Isa to meet them, even if she wasn’t certain they would get along. She’d made Isa promise to be nice, especially to Maya, but nobody could get Isa to do anything she didn’t want to do.
“Hi! This is Isa.” She then pointed at each of her friends. “Jenna, Leigh, Maya.” They all exchanged hugs before sitting down.
“We ordered first rounds for you guys, hope that’s okay.” Jenna smiled pleasantly at Isa. “How’re you liking Charleston? How long are you in town?”
“It’s nice, though I’ve only really been on King Street. We’re going to Saltwater Cowboys tomorrow, hanging by the water, and then I leave late tomorrow evening.”
“Oh, Rudy and Colton love Saltwater Cowboys. I think it’s Colton’s favorite place to be, on the rare occasions he isn’t in football mode.”
Maya laughed quietly beside Lucia, though it sounded forced. When Lucia looked at her closer, she could see the sadness that’d been there at Jenna’s house still lining her face, and she wondered what might still be weighing on her.
Just as their champagne arrived, her phone buzzed. When she saw who’d texted her, the warmth from the alcohol spread through her whole body, those pesky butterflies fluttering around again.
Colton
Take care of Maya, I think she’s upset.
I’m sure dinner with our father didn’t help, even if it was her idea, but something’s been wrong since she got here.
Lucia
Always.
“Lucia?” Jenna had been talking to her and she hadn’t even realized.
“Huh?”
“I was asking how things have been with you and Colton. I remember the beginning stages with Rudy, especially with the spotlight, though I bet there’s a bit more of that for you two.”
Lucia stowed her phone, not wanting to get caught texting the very man they were talking about.
“Oh, good, good. We’re really good.”
A mischievous grin spread across Leigh’s face. “Do you get to see him when you travel with the team?”
Lucia chuckled, not sure why Leigh looked so impish. “Yes, if we get time, we try to see each other.”
“And the sex?”
For the second time that night, Lucia choked on her drink, not quite certain why her friends were so interested in her sex life.
“Ugh, gross. That’s my brother.” Lucia stifled a laugh at Maya’s words.
Jenna leaned forward toward Maya, her cheeks rosy like she hadn’t had an opportunity to talk like this for years. “What’s up with you and Cooper, anyway?”
Maya went rigid as four pairs of eyes fell on her. She downed her glass of champagne and then cleared her throat. “Nothing. He’s Colton’s best friend, and he’s like a brother to me.”
Lucia was having a hard time believing that, but if Maya wanted to pretend, she wasn’t going to out her. Later, she would try to talk to her separately.
Jenna looked unconvinced as well. “He looks at you like you put stars in the sky. The same way Colton looks at Luc.”
Lucia was startled at that. Isa tensed beside her, like she, too, wasn’t sure what to make of the comment. Did Colton look at her a certain way when they were around others? She certainly hadn’t noticed, but if Jenna thought so, he was doing a great job of acting. All those Redditors who’d made fun of his sandwich commercials were seemingly wrong about his skills.
Her phone buzzed against her chest, and she pulled it out as stealthily as she could. Which was not at all stealthy, if the displeased look on Isa’s face told her anything.
Colton
You never take care of me when I’m upset, what’s that about?
Lucia
I’ve taken care of you plenty.
Colton
Like when?
Lucia
How about the night after I met your family?
She felt her cheeks pink at the memory, knowing the alcohol was making her overconfident. She deleted the text she’d started writing, which detailed their night a bit too clearly.
Colton
Jesus.
How is that not anti-boundaries?
She smiled at his use of her words. Her friends’ laughter reminded her where she was, and she tucked the phone back into her dress.
Her friends continued talking about everything from the season to Jenna’s precious children to Devin’s wild parties—at which point Isa promised she would try to make the next one. Lucia was glad Isa was getting along with her other friends, her chest aching as she remembered that she only had her for a day.
After they’d had perhaps too many glasses of champagne, they staggered out of the pretty bar as a group.
“Everybody have a ride? Rudy’s coming to get me and Leigh if anybody needs to be dropped off.”
“Colton’s getting me,” Maya responded sleepily.
Lucia frowned a little, worried about her. Maya had barely smiled all night, and toward the end, she’d had a couple more glasses than the rest of them, her eyes closing and her head resting on Lucia’s shoulder until they’d gotten up.
“We’ll order a car,” Lucia added.
That seemed to wake Maya up. “Colton won’t like that at all. You can come with us.”
“Oh, no, it’s okay. We don’t mind.”
Maya shook her head. “Yeah, that’s not gonna work. I feel like you know my brother well enough to know he’s not gonna go for that.”
Lucia sighed, exchanging a glance with Isa, knowing Maya was right. “Okay, I guess we’re going with Colton, then.”
Jenna clapped her hands together happily. “Great! Rudy will be thrilled to see how absolutely wasted his wife is.”
“You deserve it. You take care of the munchkins more than anybody.” Leigh patted her best friend’s shoulder, though the motion was awkward since they were leaning against each other for support.
Jenna sighed happily, a loving smile on her face. “True.”
Rudy was there quickly, helping his alcohol-addled wife into his passenger seat and Leigh into the back simultaneously. He”d sat in his car until Colton”s ridiculously overpriced car found them.
If Lucia thought the alcohol had warmed her against the December chill, the feeling that flooded her as Colton’s eyes looked her up and down set her ablaze. She watched him swallow as they landed on the slit of the dress that exposed her leg, made longer by her tallest heels. The feeling that was beginning to become far too familiar found its way behind her navel, desire to feel his warm, calloused hands all over her body, caressing her in places she hadn’t even known she’d liked until him.
Isa nudged her, and Lucia realized Maya was already in the back of his car. Colton tried to help Isa into the back, but her best friend nearly snarled at him as he opened the door for her.
“I see Isa’s still not my biggest fan,” he whispered to Lucia as he helped her into his passenger seat, his hands warm on her waist, searing through the fabric of the dress.
She tried to think of something clever to respond but found herself giggling instead. Perfect. Colton had once said she and alcohol and heels didn’t mix well, but she was starting to wonder if it was actually her and alcohol and his presence that rendered her brain into mush.
The car was quiet as he drove them to her house, the only noise coming from a snoring Maya.
Finally, Colton broke the silence. “Did she seem okay? I’m really worried about her, but she won’t tell me what’s going on. And she never drinks like this.”
Lucia remembered the forlorn expression on Maya’s face at their Thanksgiving dinner, which had only seemed to vanish when she’d been near Cooper. It’d been there, subtler, all night tonight, and she wondered if maybe she did know why.
“We didn’t get to talk about it, but something tells me it’s got something to do with a guy.”
Colton’s hands tightened on the wheel, his veins becoming more prominent, sending Lucia’s heart into a jackhammer. They didn’t speak for the rest of the ride, and Lucia felt Isa’s eyes flicking between the two of them.
When they reached Lucia’s house, Colton walked them both to the door, keeping his hands on or near Lucia at all times. When she finally managed to get the door unlocked and open, Isa said, “Luc, I’ll meet you inside.”
“Huh?”
“Go inside, osita. I need to talk to Colton.”
Isa shoved her into the house. Then, Lucia watched, stunned as her friend closed her door, pushing her out of the conversation with Colton.
She heard Isa talking to him quietly. When she tried to wrench open the door to chide her best friend, she found it held tight.
When did Isa get so strong? she wondered.
Colton’s response was low, muffled completely by the door. They continued in that fashion for a few minutes, though Isa’s tone seemed to shift as the conversation went on. Finally, the door opened, knocking Lucia back.
His eyes found hers, and the sweet smile he gave her had her own lips inching up. He walked away, and Lucia closed the door and whirled on her best friend.
“Isa, what did you say? He’s doing something nice for me because he’s secretly a sweetheart. He doesn’t deserve to be ripped to metaphorical shreds for that.”
Isa wouldn’t meet her eyes as Lucia locked the door.
“You’re right.” Finally, her eyes met Lucia’s. “But I’m not the one who’s going to rip him to shreds.”