Chapter 41
Forty-One
Somehow, weeks and weeks go by of Lucca and me not dating. There’s plenty of hanging out. Plenty of kissing. Plenty of Wyatt time. Plenty of playing with Nanners. But no actual dates. The man does not take me dancing. We never go to fancy restaurants. We don’t even go bowling.
It’s the best time I’ve had not dating someone. Ever.
Sometimes I think I could not date Lucca forever.
I sit on the floor of Callum and Fran’s living room, trying not to stare at Lucca, who sits across from me.
We’re all on the floor, Fran and Callum to my left.
Rosalie sits between Zev’s legs, leaning back against his chest, her legs stretched out beneath the coffee table between us all.
Stella’s on the couch, her feet in Roman’s lap, her hand on the tiniest baby bump known to man.
I stare at Fran after Zev told us the most insane story about a fishing trip and a movie scene and crazy Fran stunts—I’m not believing any of it. “You didn’t do that,” I say.
She shrugs. “I’m pretty serious about my romcoms.”
Rosalie reaches out a hand to her friend. “That’s true. First thing you need to learn about Fran is to never underestimate her.”
“Without a doubt,” Roman says, then he leans over and pecks Stella’s lips.
My stomach stirs with the affection and with the burning sun of Lucca’s eyes on me. I can feel him watching me. Maybe sitting across from him wasn’t my best idea. But we’re with his friends. We’re not dating. There will be zero PDA here. Which means he had to sit at least an arm’s length away.
Will I let him kiss me for an hour after we’ve said goodnight? Sure. But that’s different. We will be alone, in our mutual understanding, not-dating world when we’re on that front porch.
“Maggie,” Rosalie says. “You should come with us. The guys are always so busy working in the summer, so we’re going on a girls’ vacation without them.”
Stella beams. “Before the baby comes and before the NextGen championships.”
“One week in Florida, baby! You have to come.” Fran claps her hands like it’s a done deal.
“I’ll have to work, too. I’m in season as well,” I say, offering her a grateful smile. It was kind of them to invite me.
“Oh, crap,” Rosalie says. “That’s right.”
“Well, that sucks.” Stella frowns. “It’s going to be epic.”
“Only not too epic.” Roman rests his hands over Stella’s feet.
Zev’s brows lift. “Yeah, what Roman said.”
“Are you worried?” Rosalie asks him, tipping her head to peer up at him. I have to look away when he leans down to press a kiss to her lips.
“Nope.”
“Next board game,” Fran says. “Lucca’s pick.”
Lucca jumps to his feet. “Five-Card Draw,” he says. “I need a drink first.” Then he holds a hand toward me. “Maggie, come help me?”
I look around the group, but Callum’s shuffling cards, and Fran’s got her hand on Stella’s stomach.
Rosalie and Zev are a little too caught up in one another to notice the rest of us.
“Um. Sure.” I set my hand in his, and he pulls me to my feet.
“What do you need help with?” I ask once we’re alone in Fran and Callum’s kitchen.
Lucca snags a finger around my front belt loop and yanks me toward him—in a way that makes me believe this isn’t the first time he’s done so. My palms slap to his chest and Lucca hugs me close, resting his forehead on mine.
He presses a quick kiss to my lips, then another. The third time, I wrap one arm around his neck, forcing his lips to linger on mine a minute longer.
When he pulls back, a heavy breath falls from his chest. “So,” he says. “Water or tea?”
“Don’t worry, Maggie. The men will be back in twenty minutes—thirty tops,” Fran says. “We’re only ten minutes from Stella’s, and it’ll only take them five minutes to help Roman with that crib and dresser.”
“I’m not worried,” I say. Why would I be worried? Do I look worried? My pulse thrums, calling me the liar that I am.
“Frankly, I’m glad they’re gone. I need more information. Lucca’s been tight-lipped lately.” Rosalie leans close—though I have no idea what she means.
“Ooo.” Stella sits up straighter on the couch. “Me, too. How are things going with you two?”
“Uh—” I force out a laugh. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“So, you weren’t kissing in the kitchen half an hour ago?” Rosalie’s brow furrows like the words “I KISSED LUCCA” are stamped on my forehead.
Crap.
“I—” I cough. “We’re friends.” Friends who occasionally kiss in the kitchen. “We aren’t dating. That would be against every ethical rule in the book.”
“No one here believes that Lucca cares about the rules.” Stella looks at me expectantly.
I swallow. “Well, he may not. But I do.”
“Huh.” Fran’s forehead wrinkles. “I really thought you were into him.”
Oh, I am very much into him.
“It’s against all the rules.” I clear my throat. “No dating allowed.”
But it seems as if the three of them read right through my denial.
“Rules don’t dictate feelings, though,” Rosalie says.
“So, you do like him?” Stella peers at me, even though I’m not the one who talked about rules dictating feelings. That was Rose.
“I—” I deflate. “Yes. I like Lucca. But I’m not supposed to and… it’s Lucca.”
Rosalie shrugs one shoulder. “She’s got a point there. Playboy Lucca isn’t exactly one to risk your career on.”
Oof. That’s what I’ve been telling myself, but man, it sounds harsh coming from his friend.
“She does not have a point,” Fran says. “This is completely different.”
“I agree,” Stella says. “Lucca is different with Maggie. Besides, I am certain all the playboy stuff was a cover for something. Lucca’s a good man.”
I’m not sure if she says it because she believes it or to convince me. Maybe both.
“Yeah.” Fran sips from her drink. “Remember last year, he brought that girl to the Christmas party?”
“Candy?” Stella says.
“I thought it was Mandy.” Rosalie looks at Fran to confirm.
“Either way,” Fran says. “He made this big deal about bringing her, and then we never saw her again. We never heard from her again. He’s like the connoisseur of first dates. He never goes back for more.”
“And yet—” Stella grins.
“We’ve seen a whole lot of Maggie.” A smile forms on Rosalie’s once cynical face. “He can’t seem to get enough.”
I scoff out a laugh. “That’s because we’re—”
“Friends?” Fran says.
“We know.” Stella sighs.
Rosalie clicks her tongue. “Friends who kiss in the kitchen.”