16. Adrianna
Adrianna
I stand there as I watch Luka run out the door and jump into his car. I jump when Augie's hand presses down on my shoulder.
"Shit, sorry, Addy."
"It's okay." I give him a sad smile and look back out the window.
"You know he will be okay, right?" He nods toward the window. "Liam will never allow Luka to get into trouble. He isn't allowed to touch the family business. They don't want him to risk losing everything."
I knew Luka's family felt that way. I also know Luka hates it. "You know, Luka is a grown man, Augie. I don't think it's fair to have his brothers make that decision for him." I shake him off my shoulder and walk over to my coffee.
"Well, he isn't going to do anything that will put his career or yours in jeopardy. Just know that." He goes back behind the counter, and I finish my coffee.
15 minutes later, I am sick of scrolling social media and need to head out to meet Penelope. I walk up to the counter and Augie throws a rag over his shoulder and leans against it.
"What did you mean by that?" I sit on a stool at the counter, pull out my phone, and schedule an Uber.
"Mean by what?"
"That he won't jeopardize me?"
He leans over the counter so no one can hear our conversation.
"You know what his family does?" He raises an eyebrow, so I nod my head.
"Well, how do you think it would look to a politician if his daughter is hanging out with someone like that?
Do you think your Dad would like it if Luka's name was connected with the darker side of the Rizzoli's?
" I sit back as though he slapped me. Yes, my father is in politics, but that doesn't mean I am controlled by everything he thinks.
"I don't give a shit what my Dad thinks, Augie." I grab my purse. I am done with this conversation.
"We will see. I am saying to you, the same thing I said to him. Don't hurt him, Addy."
I storm out of the shop.
I am standing on the sidewalk waiting for my Uber to show up when a car pulls up in front of me.
"What are you doing here?" I ask him when he rolls his window down.
"Get in. I will take you to your lunch." I reluctantly open the door and climb inside.
"Is Luka okay?"
Mr. C turns and looks at me. "Luka is fine. I am sure he will reach out soon. Tony is damn lucky Luka got there as fast as he did."
I am about to ask him what happened when my phone chimes.
Luka Rizzoli:
I am sorry I had to leave you. Are you okay?
Me:
I am fine. Are you okay? Everyone okay?
Luka Rizzoli:
Everyone is good. Can I see you later?
Me:
Okay.
I slide the phone into my purse. "Tell me what happened today."
"I will tell you, but I need to know if you are going to leave Luka because of it."
"What do you mean?"
"Say Luka had to do something for the family. Something he normally wouldn't do but didn't have the choice. Would you leave him?"
"I know what the Rizzoli family is. I assume you are part of that yourself, Mr. C, and I got into the car with you. With that, everyone always has a choice."
He sighs and turns his eyes back toward the road, "Where am I taking you?"
I tell him the restaurant and wait for him to continue.
When he doesn't, I turn in my seat so I can gauge his reaction.
"Is Luka safe?" He gives me a slight nod.
"Is his family safe?" He nods again. "What Luka did today, did he do it to keep his family safe?
" He nods again, never taking his eyes off the road.
"Then he made the right choice and I would never leave him for making that choice.
" I see a slight smile and then his lips press into a hard line again.
"You are perfect for Little Rizzoli."
I walk into the restaurant, looking for my best friend.
My eyes scan the booths until they land on her.
I almost skim right past her. Usually, she would be bouncing and waving me down like a lunatic.
I walk over to her, and her nose is buried in her phone.
I must have startled her when I sit down because her head snapped up, and her eyes connected with mine.
Her normal bright brown eyes are dulled and rimmed in red.
"What the hell?" I reach across the table and grab her hand. "What happened? What is the matter?"
"Nothing." She pulls her hand away from mine and wipes her eye.
"Don't lie to me, Pen. Tell me what's the matter." I grab her hand again.
"It's stupid. It is just my parents won't be able to come next week. I was looking forward to it."
"I am sorry, Pen." I know she was upset they didn't come for the holidays. They promised to come next week, and I hate it when they break their promises to her.
"Anyway," she waves her hand in front of her face and looks at me again. "Spill, lady."
"What do you mean?" I lift the menu in front of my face, even though we eat here every week and I know exactly what I want.
Our waiter comes over before I have to explain myself.
He is the one who always takes care of us.
He is young but cute. I think he has a little crush on Pen.
She loves it because he keeps the mimosas coming when we come on Sundays.
"Afternoon, ladies." He smiles at us. "Do you want the usual?" Pen reaches over and pulls my menu down.
"Do we want the usual, Addy?"
I give her a dirty look and turn toward the kid. "Yeah, we will take the usual." We hand him our menus and he walks away.
"Now, spill." Pen points to me.
"I slept with him," I say and cover my face.
"Was it bad?" I pull my hands down away from my face. I don't even pretend to hide the shocked look on my face.
"No." I shake my head.
"Then what is the problem?" She stares at me for a minute.
"Because it was amazing, he was amazing." I lean across the table and she does also. "He was pierced, Pen. Five damn piercings."
"He had a Jacob's ladder?" Pen shrieks so loud that I almost die when the waiter is standing there with our drinks.
"Yes," I whisper and watch as the waiter's face turns red. He sets our drinks down and walks away.
"I would totally break that kid," Pen says as she stirs the lemon into her tea.
"Jesus, how are you even my best friend?" I roll my eyes at her.
"Because you love me." She lifts a shoulder and takes a huge draw of her straw. "Now, give me the details and also tell me why you are freaking out."
So I do. Over the next 20 minutes, I explained to her everything that happened. I left out some details, which didn't make her happy. "So, what is the matter? Do you not like him or something?" Pen sticks her chip in the dip and then shoves it in her mouth.
"No, the problem is I like him too much. I love the way he makes me laugh. We just sit and talk about normal things. He wants to hear about my life, what I like about selling houses, what the relationship is like with my brother, how it was growing up in a politician's house."
"Is it his family? His job?"
"I am sure his job is a big portion of it.
There is a lot of stress put on him to do well.
To win the cup this year. I don't want to take that focus away from hockey.
I want him to do well. We both know about his family.
I am not worried about who they are or what they do.
I am worried he will get hurt because of it.
That one day, he would have to leave with the guys and not come home.
I don't think my heart could take that." I look up to see understanding in my friend's eyes.
I don't tell her that he got a message today and left me at the coffee shop.
"You know what I think, Adrianna?" She taps my hand. "I think it will be worth it. The way he looks at you. The way you look at him. I can just feel the energy. You two are meant for each other. I know it."
I smile at her because she is such a flower child.
She relies too much on how things feel and what aura they are sending out.
That is why, I am sure at any moment, she is going to tell me she has to leave me and go off somewhere new.
She has been here too long. I turn my palm so I can take her hand. "I love you, Pen."
"Addy!" I hear someone yell and turn my head to the door. Before I can register who it is, Gio has climbed onto the booth, and his arms are around my neck. Behind him, Layla climbs in between him and the back of the booth to squeeze her body so she can grip my neck, too.
"Hey, Gio. Hey, Sweet Girl. What are you doing here?" I give them a squeeze and look up to see CeCe and Lacey standing there.
"I'm sorry. They saw you from across the restaurant, and I couldn't stop them." CeCe tries to pull Gio off me, but he tightens his grip.
"That's okay." I run my hands up and down their backs. Catching myself leaning in and burying my face into Layla's hair.
"Come on, Layla Baby. We need to get Nonno's soup." Lacey says and Layla lets go of my neck.
"How is Matteo?" I look up at Lacey as the kids climb off of my neck.
"Better today," CeCe says and turns to look at Pen.
"Oh, sorry. This is my best friend Penelope.
I forgot you didn't meet her at the hockey game.
" I motion towards Pen, and the kids must just then realize she is sitting there because they climb up beside her and wrap their arms around her.
I watch her eyes widen. She is definitely not a touchy-feely person.
But instead of the horror I am waiting for, Pen wraps her arms around them.
"Pen." They both yell and I laugh.
"This is Cecilia. She is Luka's cousin."
"CeCe is fine." She shakes Pen's hand and the kids climb out of the booth.
"I'm sorry, but we can't stay and chat. I need to take Gio to his skate lesson."
"Luka is teaching him to skate?" Penelope asks and CeCe starts laughing.
"Hell no. Luka wants to scoop him up any time he falls on the ice. He would never learn."
"Jake teaches me." Gio puffs out his chest. "I am going to be a Goalie and Captain just like my Zio."
"Will we see you later, Addy?" CeCe asks as she runs her hand through Gio's hair.
"Maybe, I might come by with Luka later."