LUCY
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Elena and Tella both left straight after the third period ended and the team secured their first home ice win of the season. Jade glances at me, her eyes searching mine.
“If you don’t want to wait, we don’t have to.”
This is the third time she’s said this. I’m beginning to wonder if Jade doesn’t feel like staying since she’ll see Matteo at home anyway. Exhaustion settles in my bones, but I ignore it, covering my yawn when I can’t fight the feeling.
“You look like you’re going to fall asleep standing up.”
I narrow my eyes on her. “Would you like to leave?”
She gives me a strange look, almost as if she’s caught off guard by the question. Honestly, it’s valid. I don’t know where the bite in my tone came from, although I’d imagine it has to do with the hormones rocking my body.
It’s also the fact that everyone’s been treating me like I’m fragile since finding out about my pregnancy.
“Well, no.” She shakes her head. “I told Matteo we’d see them after, and I’m sure Theo wants to see you too.”
Theo. Theo. Theo.
Tella’s voice rings in my head and I nervously shift my weight on my feet.
“That man has been hopelessly in love with you since we were kids.”
“Oh, there they are,” she says under her breath, knocking her elbow against mine. “Play it cool.”
I glance at her, laughing softly. “Are you telling me or yourself?”
“I don’t even know.” She giggles. “Is it bad I still get nervous around him sometimes?”
“No, I don’t think so.” I smile, shaking my head. “I think it’s cute.”
She lowers her eyebrows. “Lucille Taylor. No way, we don’t do cute. We’re sexy, badasses.” She pushes her shoulders back. “I never told you about Candy Stone, did I?”
My eyebrows cinch. “Who?”
“My alter ego.” She laughs with a wink, turning her head to look straight ahead. “Look who it is.”
Matty looks at her as if she’s the only person in the room. “Hey, Sunny.”
I tear my gaze away from them as Jade lifts onto her tiptoes, wrapping her arms around the back of his neck, giggling as she presses her body flush against his. I feel like I’m intruding.
Soft warm fingers touch my forearm, drawing my attention from the couple who’s clearly still in their honeymoon phase. I look to my right, my eyes flickering to his.
Theo smiles, his hand sliding down the inside of my arm, trailing over my wrist. “Hey you.”
His palm is warm, pressing against mine, his fingers filling the empty spaces between mine.
His eyes slowly search for any hint of discomfort on my end, but he won’t find any.
It’s like he just perfectly fits. The corners of my lips curl as I wrap my fingers around the back of his hand. It’s new and different.
And I shouldn’t like it as much as I do.
“Hey.” I take a step closer to him, so we’re standing toe to toe. He’s well over a foot taller than my five three frame. I lift my chin to meet his gaze. “Great game tonight. You looked good out there.”
“Thanks, Freckles.” His tongue darts out, touching the corner of his bottom lip. “I knew you were in the stands watching.” He winks.
My stomach flutters and my heart kicks into overdrive. “It was fun.”
His hand lifts without hesitation, selling the story as he pushes stray hairs from the side of my face, tucking them behind my ear. “Want me to give you a ride home?”
“Jade was going to.”
“I know.” He smiles, hues of greens swirling in his irises. “But I’d like to, if that’s okay with you.”
I glance at Jade, who’s already watching us with a playful grin as her and Matty break apart. “We’ll talk soon,” she says with a wink, giving me a wave. “See you guys later!” she says to Theo and I as Matteo slings his arm around the top of her shoulders.
“Congrats, Luce.” He smiles at me, dipping his chin. He looks at Theo. “See you tomorrow.”
“Later, guys,” Theo responds and gently squeezes my hand as his gaze finds mine once more. “Are you ready to go?”
I squeeze his hand back. “Whenever you are.”
“Let’s go.” He spins his body so he’s directly beside me and we fall in step, walking through the building with his fingers threaded through mine. He’s relaxed, as if this isn’t anything unusual. As if I mean something to him. So casual. So normal.
And so believable.
We walk to Theo’s car, stopping at the passenger side. He pulls the door open, like the perfect gentleman he is, as I climb inside. He smiles down at me, lingering for a moment, before something shifts. He shakes his head, as if it’s to himself and quietly closes the door.
I pull the seatbelt strap across my body, my eyes following him as he walks around the front of the car. He pauses for a beat outside his side. My stomach knots with anxiety. I don’t know what he’s doing out there. Did I do something wrong? Is this too much for him?
I fold my hands in my lap, wrapping one around the other to stop them from shaking. Theo’s quiet as he gets inside, putting on his own seatbelt and starting the engine. His chest rises as he inhales deeply followed by a slow exhale.
He doesn’t say anything for a bit. He drives out of the parking lot, heading down the street with one hand on the steering wheel and the other resting on the gearshift.
“Are you okay?” he finally asks, his eyes still locked on the road.
“Yes,” I say in a rush, my tone clipped.
He glances at me, concern washing over his expression. “That doesn’t sound like it.”
“Everyone keeps asking if I’m okay,” I admit quietly. “I keep saying yes because I don’t think anyone wants to hear the truth.”
“I do.” He looks at me once more. “I always want to hear the truth from you.”
I tighten my fingers around my hand. “I’m not fragile. I’m not weak. I’m still processing, but I’m okay with what’s happening. I’m okay because I have the support I need to get through this.” I look at him. “I have you.”
He lifts his hand from the gear shifter, pulling my left away from my right and weaves his fingers through mine once more. “You do.”
“I told them tonight.”
Theo doesn’t react and it’s almost as if he’d been expecting this. “The girls?”
I nod. “Yeah. Before the game.”
Theo flips on his turn signal, turning onto the street where I live. “Did you tell them the truth?”
“No,” I breathe, shaking my head. “Elena knows, but no one else other than us.” I glance at him as he pulls up in front of my building. “Unless you told someone else?”
He exhales through his nose. “I told my parents.”
My stomach tumbles to the floor. “You did what?” My heart pounds harder and I stare at him, eyes bulging.
He puts the car in park before turning to look at me. “I couldn’t lie to them, Luce. My dad gets it. He made the same choice I did.”
“I just—” I pause, swallowing hard, taking a deep breath to steady my heart. “I thought we were sticking to our story.”
“We are…” His eyes are soft and apologetic. “It just came out. I’m sorry, Lucy. If I’d known I was going to do it, I would’ve forewarned you.”
This isn’t good. Now, not only are we lying, but we have other people lying for us.
“They know what our story is and they’re sworn to secrecy.”
The muscle in my jaw tightens. I can’t be angry with him. I mean—sure, I can, but what is that going to do? It’s not going to solve our problems. It’s not going to make any of this any better. If anything, it will just drive a small wedge between us.
“It’s okay.” My throat tightens. “I’m sorry for putting you in a position like this.”
He smiles softly, shaking his head, his thumb moving along the side of mine. “This is my choice. I’m here because I want to be.”
“Okay.” I nod, my heart slowing to a normal rhythm. “Thank you, Theo.”
“Stop thanking me,” he mumbles, pursing his lips. His eyes flick to my building. “What are your plans for when the baby comes?”
His question comes out of left field, throwing me off guard. “What do you mean?”
“Are you planning on staying here?”
“I—” I turn my head, looking up at the building. I haven’t thought that far ahead yet. The apartment is small and only has one bedroom. Not to mention, being on the fourth floor is not exactly convenient. “Well, I don’t know.”
“Come stay with me.”
My heart crawls into my throat. “What?”
“We can turn one of the guest rooms into a nursery and you can have your own bedroom, too.” His eyes are back on mine and he shrugs. “You’re going to need a bigger apartment and I have the space.”
“What about my apartment?”
“Rent it out,” he says nonchalantly, as if it’s the easiest thing to do. “If you ever want to move out of my place, you can sell it and buy something else.”
I snort, shaking my head. “I don’t know, Theo. Moving in with you is… wouldn’t it be kind of weird?”
He stares at me for a moment. “I don’t see why it would be.
It’s just us, Freckles. It’s not like you’re moving in with a stranger, and if we’re telling everyone the baby is mine, it makes the most sense.
” His hand squeezes mine. “Just think about it, okay? I don’t like you being here alone and not being able to get to you quickly if something were to happen. ”
My ribs tighten around my heart like a vise grip. How dare he say something so swoon-worthy, when the last thing I should be doing is swooning over him.
“I’ll think about it.”
A slow smile spreads across his lips. “Good idea.” He releases my hand and undoes his seatbelt. “Let’s get you inside before I just turn the car around and take you back to my house instead.”
He gets out of the car and my heart flutters inside my chest as I watch him walk around the front, making his way to my side. He’s quiet as he pulls open the door, offers me his hand to help me out and walks me to the front of the building.
We stop just outside and he releases my hand. He lingers for a moment, his eyes searching mine before he leans forward. “Goodnight, Freckles,” he breathes, his face lowering, soft lips brushing against my forehead.
My eyelids flutter shut and I swear, my heart might explode. Just as quickly as it happened, it ends. He pulls away, a ghost of a smile on his lips as he stares down at me.
If I don’t force myself away from him now, I’m going to end up asking him to take me back to his house instead. “Goodnight, Theo,” I say in a rush, heat creeping across my face as I give him a stupid little wave. I don’t miss the chuckle that escapes him as I disappear into the building.
What the hell was that?