19. Luka
Luka
I can tell by the look Adrianna is giving me, she isn't happy with me. But there was no way I was going to get pulled from the game because someone bumped into me.
"Why is Liam so pissed?" I lean into Jake as we are getting off the ice.
"Because it looked like Tucker slammed into that guy on purpose. Making him hit you." Jake is pissed. I don't know if I have ever seen him so mad.
"I am sure that isn't what happened. That doesn't make any sense."
I changed as quickly as possible after talking to a couple of the reporters.
Most wanted to ask about the hit, but I kept focus on our team and how close we are to the playoffs.
We are on the road for the next few days.
One of those games is against the DC Stars.
Maverick Miller is a killer on their team, and we need to focus all our energy on that game.
I am worried that by the time I get out these doors, Adrianna will be gone again.
"Are you boys coming out with us tonight?
" Grady slides between Jake and me throwing his arms over our shoulders.
I look at Jake. "Come on, you guys never go out.
We are on the road for the next three days.
You guys can hang out in the hotel then.
Come out tonight." Grady sticks his bottom lip out as we walk out the door.
"Zio! Jake!" Gio and Layla bound down the hall toward us.
Before they can get to us, Grady scoops them both up into his arms and swings them around.
While he has them laughing, I scan the end of the hall.
Finally, I take a breath when I see Adrianna talking with my Ma.
Grady walks toward my family with the kids over his shoulder.
He walks up to Penelope, who has her back to us while she is talking to Lacey.
"Nice jersey." Grady leans over her. She spins around so fast I think she is going to knock him on his ass.
"Nice game, " she says and smiles at me. She steps between me and Adrianna. "Hi, I am Penelope. We met for a second at the coffee shop, but now you are trying to date my friend. There is a different criteria now."
"Trying to date your best friend?" I look at Adrianna and raise my eyebrow. "I thought I was dating your best friend."
"Tomato, Potato," Penelope says and turns toward Jake. "Hey, Jake."
"Hey, Penelope." Jake takes Layla from Grady's arms and bends down to talk to Gio.
"I thought the saying was Tomayto-tomahto," Grady says, looking at Penelope. She doesn't say anything but raises her shoulder at him and winks. Going back to her conversation with Lacey.
"I think I am in love," Grady whispers to Jake loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Hi, Ma." I kiss my Ma on the cheek and shake my Pop's hand.
"Hell of a game, Son." My Pops says and turns to talk to Jake. I love that my parents have taken him in like he is another one of their sons. His parents are real assholes and don't come around often.
"Hey, Baby." I nuzzle my head into Adrianna's neck and take a deep breath. She wraps her arms around me and squeezes.
"Are you okay?" I can barely hear her muffled voice.
"Yeah, Baby. I am fine." I pull away from her so I can talk to the rest of the family while they give me the third degree about playing after I took the hit.
"Our boy has a hard head." Grady taps my head and starts laughing. "He and Webster are coming out with us tonight. You guys wanna join?" He looks at my family and Liam is already shaking his head.
"I think we will pass. Thanks for the offer, Grady." CeCe smiles at him and Romeo places his arm around her shoulder and pulls her closer to him. I laugh because the thought of CeCe doing anything with anyone besides him is mind-boggling. She has loved him since she was a kid.
"Yeah, I think Penelope and I are going to call it an early night. But go have fun with your team. You can call me tomorrow before your flight." Adrianna leans up on her toes and kisses me. Like I would ever leave her to go to some bar.
"Come on! I know that look. Rizzoli, you have to come out with us!" Grady looks at me and then at Adrianna. "Please come out for a little bit so the Caps will come out with us." He sticks his head between mine and Adrianna's and smiles at Penelope. "It will be fun!"
"Come on, Addy. Let's go for just a little bit." Penelope grabs her jersey and starts pulling on it.
"Fine, just for a little bit and this counts toward the New Years dream board." Adrianna pins Penelope with a look.
"Fine, Fine. It counts." Penelope says as she says bye to everyone and slides her arm into Grady's. "Let's go, Addy."
We walk into the bar and Adrianna turns around, eyes wide. "I am definitely underdressed."
"What are you talking about?" I am genuinely confused. She looks amazing.
"Luka, all the other girls in this bar are wearing dresses and Penelope and I are in jeans and jerseys.
" I look up and scan the bar floor. She is right.
All the damn puck bunnies are here. They have already turned and started their whispering.
Most have made their way over to where the team are stuffed into a few tables. I look down at my girl.
"I haven't been able to take my eyes off of you since you walked into that locker room with Liam.
All I want to do is fuck you with you wearing just my jersey and those heels.
The jeans you are wearing look like they were painted on your body, Baby.
I might have to kill any man that looks at you.
So no, you are not underdressed. If anything, I want to turn around and take you home to show you how turned on I am by what you are wearing.
" I see her eyes light up and she lifts the corner of her mouth.
She turns back around and walks a couple more feet into the bar and then stops again.
She is looking around and fidgeting with her clothes.
I take my hand, run it up her back, and grab her around the nape of her neck.
As I tighten my hold, I can feel her start to relax.
I lean into her ear, "You are perfect, Baby.
Come on." I leave my hand where it is, guiding her through the crowd and over to where the team is hanging out.
Tucker is at one table and I can feel Adrianna tense under my hand when we get close to him.
Grady yells at some of the guys to move over at the other table.
Jake pushes Grady in first, then Penelope slides in.
Jake goes in afterward, and I sit at the end with Adrianna between Jake and me. My phone vibrates in my pocket.
Mr C:
Got cameras set up outside Adrianna's apartment. When you aren't with her, one of my guys will follow her. Let me know if you want cameras inside the house.
I think about it for a minute. I know she will be pissed if I put cameras inside. I hate that I won't be with her all the time. The guys watching her will have to do.
Me:
Thanks Old Man. No cameras inside.
"Can I get out? I am going to run to the restroom, and then I am going to get some drinks.
Do you want something?" Adrianna looks from me to Jake.
We both shake our heads. I stand so Adrianna can slide out of the table.
Penelope doesn't wait for Jake to move; she crawls over his lap.
Jake's eyes are wide and they go from Penelope's ass to my eyes as she slides out of the booth.
It's a few minutes before I see the girls come out of the hallway where the restrooms are.
I think I was holding my breath the whole time.
I tried to go with them, but Adrianna told me to stay and hang out with the guys.
I clock at least five guys who watch my girl walk from the hallway to the bar.
I am about to get up and storm over there.
I blink for a second and realize a blonde head is blocking the view of my girl, and something lands on my lap.
"Where have you been, Rizzoli? I haven't seen you out in forever.
" A whiny voice echo in my ears, and I look down to see the damn bunny that CeCe almost killed a while ago sitting on my lap.
My eyes snap up to see Adrianna looking at me.
I can see the hurt in her eyes from here.
Before I realize what I am doing, I grip the knife that came with the silverware that one of the guys got with their food.
"If you do not get off of me, I am going to stab you." I stare into the girl's eyes so she understands I am not joking.
"What?" She looks at me, shocked, but doesn't move to get off of me.
I stand up and she slides onto the floor. I make sure my voice is loud enough for every fucking bunny in this bar to hear. "If you, or anyone other than my girl, touches me again, I will stab them. Understand?" I slide the knife off the table and Jake grabs my hand.
He helps the girl up and loudly says, "I am so sorry you fell. You better watch your step next time. We don't want you to get hurt." She wipes her dress, spins, and runs away.
"Why did you do that?" I turn toward my friend.
"Because there are cameras everywhere, man. You think you can threaten people like that. With who you are? You can't threaten to stab someone, Rizzoli."
Fuck, he is right. But right now, I need to make sure my girl is okay. I scan the bar and see her and Penelope walking toward me. Every guy's eyes are trained on their asses, and I really, really wish Jake didn't take my knife away.
"You okay, Baby?" I grab Adrianna by the back of her neck and pull her toward me. "I am so sorry, Gattina. That won't happen again." I stare into her beautiful green eyes. "Please know I will never let that happen again."
"I believe you, Luka. It's okay. You can't control it." She smirks at me and rolls her eyes. "You are just soooo hot." She fans her face, and Penelope laughs. She crawls back into the booth and across Jake's lap. He raises his hands so he doesn't touch her as she does it.
"If you want to sit on someone's lap, you can sit on mine." Grady winks at Penelope.
"I'm good." Penelope raises the beer to her lips and takes a drink.
After a few rounds, the scene with the blonde is long forgotten, and we are having a blast with the guys.
Tucker left shortly after we got here. I think he thought some of the guys would leave to go with him somewhere else.
Everyone stayed with us instead. A few notes hit over the speakers.
"Oh shit." Adrianna's hand goes across Jake and latches on to Penelope's arm.
"Pen, No." She is shaking her head so hard that I think it might fall off.
Penelope just smiles at her. The song continues and Penelope stands on the fucking bench.
Jake's arms wrap around her legs to make sure she doesn't fall as she belts out the words to a song.
I try to listen for a second to see what it is.
Penelope reaches down, grabs a discarded spoon and holds it to her mouth.
"It started with a whisper, And that was when I kissed her.
And then she made my lips hurt. I can hear the chit-chat.
" Pen belts the words to a Neon Tree's song.
"Take me to your love shack" She moves her arm in and pushes her hips forward in a humping motion.
"Mama's always gotta backtrack When everybody talks back," She continues to sing as I look at a laughing Adrianna.
"Is she drunk?"
"Nah, she is always like this. She loves this song." She laughs and Jake turns to her even though he still has a hold of Pen's legs.
"She is always like this?" His voice is full of concern. Grady stands on his seat next to Pen and sings with her. "Jesus." Jake rolls his eyes.
"Yep. She is the crazy I always needed in my life." Adrianna laughs again and I love seeing her so carefree. I lean in and whisper to her.
"You are a little crazy too, Baby." I nip her ear and she turns toward me.
"Take me home, Luka." She grips my shirt and I smile at her.
"With pleasure, Gattina." She rolls her eyes but doesn't yell at me. "Get Pen home, okay?" I look to Jake, but Grady is the one who responds.
"I will get her home safe." Grady holds up his hand with three fingers raised. "Scouts honor."
"Fuck you will." Jake grips Penelope's leg tighter as she starts to sit back down. "I got her." He nods to me and Adrianna.
"Bye, Pen. Love you." Adrianna waves at her friend as I drag her out of the bar. She is moving too slow, so I scoop her up and toss her over my shoulder. "Put me down, Rizzoli." She yells, I slap her ass and continue out the door.
"Love you too, Addy!" I hear Pen yell as we walk through the bar door.