49. Again, sorry, Dad
Chapter 49
Again, sorry, Dad
Ariana
W aking up with Luca’s arms wrapped around me and his morning wood pressing into my ass is officially my favorite way to start the day. I shift my hips, and his hands turn to iron, holding me in place.
“Stop that, Minx,” he whispers against my ear. A chill of desire rushes down my spine. Then my stomach rumbles.
Luca chuckles. “Come on, let’s go get some breakfast.”
“Did someone say ‘breakfast?’” Lil opens groggy eyes. “Yes, let’s go get food!” She jumps out of bed in normal Lil fashion and goes to use the bathroom. I roll over and face Luca.
“Is she always like that in the morning?”
“Pretty much. It’s so annoying.” I sigh. “I would stay here a while longer, but I need coffee.” My voice is still scratchy, my throat sore.
He kisses my nose. “I know you do. I’ll be right behind you in a minute.” When I raise my eyebrow in confusion, he chuckles. “I have to go put some pants on. I’m only wearing boxers. ”
Heat pools low in my belly. I run my hand down his back to the waistband, and his eyes turn to fire. “Why yes, yes you are.”
He makes a noise somewhere between a groan and a growl and kisses me hard. “Fuuuck… okay, later, baby. Coffee and food now.” I start to protest, but my stomach rumbles again. He rolls out of bed, and I watch his sexy ass as he walks away.
I take my turn in the bathroom. “How you doing?” Lil asks when I come out.
I sigh. “I was kind of hoping he wouldn’t ever see that.”
“I know. But he did something none of us ever could.”
“Yeah… it’s like his soul calms mine,” I say. Then I chuckle. “Maybe I’ve been reading too many romance novels.”
“Nah, I think that stuff is real. Mom and Dad always made us believe in it. Watching you two makes me believe it. Makes me think maybe there’s hope for me, too.”
I hug my best friend. “I believe there’s someone out there who can handle Lilith May DeVille.”
It’s after ten when we all make it downstairs.
“I was just about to come and wake you lazy asses up. Well, as soon as I finished this chapter,” Becca says, laughing as she looks up from the book she’s reading at the counter. Luca’s wearing a short-sleeved shirt, and there’s no hiding the scratches on his arms and face. Becca points that finger at him and makes a few circles. “What’s all this about?”
“I had the nightmare again, with the screaming.” My scratchy voice would have given that info away anyway. Her face falls and she moves like lightning to pull me in for a hug. “I accidentally beat Luca up in my sleep,” I say with my face smashed against her boobs.
“It does look like you got the best of him.” She kisses me on the top of the head, then does the same to Lil and Luca, though they both have to sit down for her to do so. “What are we having for brunch then?”
“Mimosas?” Lil asks hopefully.
“We have the stuff for that,” Becca says with a laugh.
“Do we have the stuff for caramel banana pancakes?” I haven’t had them in forever, but suddenly, they sound like the best thing in the world.
“Oh yes, we most certainly do. Either of you want some other kind of pancake?”
“Hell no, caramel banana is the best.” Lil gets up and starts making mimosas.
“I’ve never had caramel banana pancakes, but I’ll give them a try.” Luca shrugs.
After breakfast, we introduce Luca to Stars Hollow until Mom and Dad get home. With a sigh, I drag my ass off the couch.
“You want us to go with you?” Lil asks.
“No, this one’s all me.” Luca stands and kisses me lightly before I head downstairs and knock on Dad’s office door.
“Ah, Ari, did you have fun at the market yesterday? I’m sure you girls dragged poor Luca all over the thing,” he says with a grin when he opens it.
“Yes to both. But I have to tell you something.” I’ve rested my voice a lot today, but it still doesn’t sound normal. I walk into his office and he closes the door before taking my face in his hands.
“What is it, sweet girl?”
I take a deep breath and start talking, telling him about the ice neck moments and having the nightmare again.
“Last night wasn’t only the nightmare. It was the screaming, too. Luca ran in, not knowing what was happening and I scratched the shit out of him, Daddy.” I’ve never been able to stop myself from calling my dad Daddy when I’m emotional. I fight the tears with every ounce of willpower in me. They make me feel weak. “He was able to pull me out of it, but not before I hurt him.”
“Why didn’t you tell us about feeling like someone was watching you, Ariana? You promised you would.” Dad’s disappointed expression and tone fill me with guilt. I break eye contact and look down at the floor, picking at my nails. I hate breaking promises. To anyone, but especially him.
“I know. I’m sorry. I was trying to pretend it didn’t mean anything. Played it off as just my imagination for too long. I didn’t want it to be real.”
“No more, Ariana. You have to tell us.”
My head bobs as I blink back the tears. I let them down and put us all in danger by not mentioning it. And I feel like shit for it. My chest is tight and my stomach hurts.
He releases a deep breath. “I’ll have Parker see what he can find. God knows we’ll need to stock up on ramen, he won’t leave the house until he exhausts all possibilities. And I’m sure Ford will move in for the time being.”
“Uncle Ford moves in for random Tuesdays, Holidays, and when new episodes of Bridgerton drop.”
Dad’s mouth raises at one corner just slightly before his expression goes hard again. “Full security detail if you go anywhere. No exceptions.”
“No exceptions,” I agree, before taking a couple of calming breaths. “Dad… Luca needs to know everything.”
His eyes soften as he tilts his head. It’s a rare thing for us to tell anyone much at all about what happened, let alone everything. It means we trust them fully and expect them to stick around.
“You love him very much.” It’s not a question.
“Yes, I do.”
He nods. Then he rakes his hand down his face. I know it’s going to be hard for him to go through the details, but he remembers more than I do. And his nightmares stopped years ago.
His long legs close the distance between us and he pulls me in for a hug before walking me to the door. Lil and Luca are both standing nearby, and look as though they’re having a heated discussion. He’s doing his patented ‘Luca Glare,’ and she has her ‘Serious Lil’ face on.
“Luca, in my office.” Dad holds the door open and waits. Luca nods and stops to kiss me, his hand on my cheek.
I cover his hand with mine and breathe him in.
“You okay?” He asks. When I nod, he says, “I’ll come find you later.”
Lil walks up and puts her arms around me, and we stare at the door after it closes.
“Lil, distract me from the fact that Dad’s telling the man I love why I’m so damaged.”
“I’m on it.”