Chapter 4
Chapter Four
“ I heard you shut down the store today,” Shiloh said by way of greeting when she bustled in the front door later that evening.
Serenity didn’t look up from the kitchen table where she had her hands wrapped around a mug of steaming tea, but she recognized the sound of Shiloh dropping her briefcase on their coffee table and slipping her high heels off near the door.
“Ser?” Shiloh padded bare foot into the kitchen. “What happened? Someone said you had a flood, but I said nooo, I would know if there was a flood because my best friend in the whole world would let me know if something bad happened.” Shiloh huffed as she sat across from Serenity and pushed back her dark hair. “Ser?” Shiloh’s voice was softer this time. She reached across the table and gently grabbed Serenity’s forearm. “Honey, what happened? Is the store destroyed?”
Serenity’s bottom lip trembled, and she bit it to keep the tears at bay. She hadn’t been able to get a hold on her emotions since she’d discovered the water that morning. From business-ending flood to ex-boyfriend coming back to life…Serenity had rarely felt so emotionally wrung out as she did in that moment. “He’s here,” she whispered.
Shiloh frowned. “He’s here? Who’s here? What are you talking about?”
Serenity’s eyes dropped again, and she focused on the steady heat of the mug in her hands. “Luca.”
Shiloh gasped. “No. Ser, you better start from the beginning, or so help me, I’m gonna make some heads roll.”
A choked laugh broke free from Serenity’s dry throat. “The store really did flood,” she said, her voice breaking. “I didn’t know who else to call so…I called the twins.”
Shiloh blew out a breath. “Hang on.” Ripping a rubber band off her wrist, she wadded up her masses of hair and pulled it back. “There. I need to focus. Continue.”
Serenity normally would have laughed at her friend’s dramatics, but not today. “Tate promised he’d send someone to take care of.” She gave Shiloh a watery smile. “He called me Little Sis, just like he used to.”
Shiloh gave a soft smile and rubbed Serenity’s forearm.
Clearing her throat, Serenity sat up taller. “Anyway, the person they sent was none other than he-who-abandoned-me-and-shall-remain-nameless.”
“I think that’s different than last time,” Shiloh commented. “Does it matter which one we use?”
Serenity shook away the joke. “He’s been in town three days, Shi. Three days and he’s already working, and he’s the only man they have available to help me.” Serenity dropped her forehead to the table, making sure to miss the mug. “I don’t know how I’m going to do this. He’s changed. He’s bigger, and he shaves his head.”
“He’s bigger? Are you kidding me right now?” Shiloh snorted. “That means he has to be the size of a semi truck now, right?”
Serenity huffed a laugh and wiped at the corner of her eye. “Just about,” she admitted.
“So, he’s going to help you with the flood,” Shiloh clarified.
Serenity nodded, her cold, clammy hands once again wrapped around the mug.
“And you didn’t know he was back in town.”
Serenity shook her head.
Shiloh blew out a long breath. “Did he…say anything? At all? I mean…wow…” She shook her head and tucked a stray chunk of hair behind her ear. “This is just, a lot, you know?”
Serenity gave her friend a look.
“Sorry,” Shiloh said, scrunching her nose. “I know how shocked I am, I can’t even imagine how you must be feeling right now.”
Serenity pushed a shaky hand through her hair. “Honestly? I don’t know how to feel. Part of me hates him.”
“Legit,” Shiloh inserted.
“But part of me feels guilty for hating him.”
Shiloh tilted her head from side to side. “That’s probably also legit.”
“What am I gonna do, Shi?” Serenity whispered. “He’s here. He’s right in front of me. He’s changed, but he’s still…” She looked up, her eyes still watery. “He’s still Luca.”
Shiloh looked like she was on the verge of tears herself as she reached across the table and grabbed Serenity’s hands, squeezing them tightly. “I wish I had an answer for you. But I honestly don’t know what to say. If you want to eat ice cream and curse the existence of men for the rest of the night, I’ll be right here with you. But if you want to admit that you still love him…I’m still right here.” She squeezed a little tighter when a couple of tears made it down Serenity’s cheeks. “I don’t know which one is right, Ser. All I want is for you to be happy.”
Serenity nodded and sniffed, pulling back from Shiloh’s hold. “What would you do if you were me?”
Shiloh snorted. “Probably option numero uno.”
Serenity closed her eyes and smiled.
“But it would probably be followed by a terrible case of regret and then exploring option number two.” Shiloh shrugged. “He was a good guy. He’s probably still a good guy.”
“He left me,” Serenity said tightly, her righteous anger making a slight comeback. “He didn’t even explain, just quit talking to me and refused to see me.”
Shiloh tapped her fingers on the table, her eyes narrowed.
“What?” Serenity asked.
Shiloh pinched her lips together, not answering right away.
“Just say it, Shi.”
“I just…is it possible that he had a good reason?” Shiloh asked. She held up a hand immediately to stop Serenity’s rebuttal. “I’m not saying I agree with what he did. I don’t. I think it was wrong, and I’m not trying to defend him, at all. There’s no good, really good , excuse for what he did. But maybe he thought had a good reason?”
“What could it have possibly been?” Serenity demanded. “He has an eye patch, and he shaves his head, which I’m guessing has to do with some of the scarring down the side of his face, but he’s still the most handsome man I’ve ever known.” She laughed harshly. “Even with one eye, he still sent my heart racing, Shiloh.” Serenity shook her head. “I’m such a mess.”
Shiloh slapped her palms down on the table. “How long do you think you’ll have to keep the store closed?”
“He said it’ll take about a week to dry things out,” Serenity reported. “After that, it’s a matter of construction. So I should be able to reopen once that is completed.”
“Okay…maybe what you need is a project to keep you busy during that week. Something that’ll keep your mind off tall, buff, and shaved.”
Serenity made a face. “That’s not what I called him.”
Shiloh winked. “It’s what I heard.” She stood up. “I’m starving. What do we have to eat in this joint?”
Serenity blew out a breath. “I haven’t eaten yet.”
“Of course not,” Shiloh scoffed. “When you’re upset, you stop eating.” She slapped her hip. “I, on the other hand, eat my weight in ice cream.”
“At least the weight goes to all the right places,” Serenity retorted, standing up and walking into the kitchen.
“There’s a right place for weight?” Shiloh asked. “Says, who?”
“Men, I think,” Serenity responded. Her mind was wandering. Shiloh had a point about staying busy. While Serenity planned to be around to help with the inventory and see that things were done the way she wanted, she was definitely going to have time on her hands. What could she do with it?
“And we care about that, why?” Shiloh asked, putting a hand on said hip. “I thought they were the enemy right now.”
“Not enemies,” Serenity explained. “Just…not our favorites.”
“They’re nothing but trouble,” Shiloh said, going back to the fridge. “Too bad it’s so fun to kiss them, otherwise I’d write them off for good.”
Serenity put her fingers over her lips to keep from laughing, but it bubbled over anyway and after a moment, she stopped trying to fight it. There were only two ways to move forward. Serenity could either laugh it off or cry it out. She’d already spent the evening with tears, and all she’d gotten was a headache.
Maybe Shiloh’s approach was better. Stay busy and eat her weight in ice cream. At the moment, it didn’t sound so bad. In fact, it sounded downright perfect.
Luca took the time to step out of his boots once he entered the house, formulating how he was going to kill his brothers tonight. Slowly? They deserved that. Quickly? Maybe. That way it would be over with, and Luca could move on with his life.
He wiped the top of his head and straightened to his full height. He’d agreed to be the one to help Serenity, but the longer Luca had been there, the more he’d realized the terrible situation was all the twins’ fault.
They’d set him up. They knew Serenity would be hurt to have him there, and they hadn’t warned her at all that he was the one coming.
Totally their fault.
Luca kept his steps light as he walked through the front entryway, heading toward the voices in the kitchen.
“Do you think he kissed her?”
Luca froze. They weren’t talking about him. Surely, they weren’t talking about him.
“Are you kidding?” Luca was positive it was Jett that scoffed. “If she didn’t run for the hills, then I’ll bet she slapped him instead.”
“I wonder if he even felt it,” Tate mused. “He has to have put on fifty pounds of all muscle since we last saw him.”
The room grew quiet, and Luca had had enough. He walked in, and two heads whipped his direction. Cracking his knuckles, Luca raised one eyebrow. “I was going to kill you both quickly, but I’ve changed my mind.”
Tate’s eyes widened, and he stood up from the stool, backing away, hands up. “Now, Luc. You know we’re just joking.”
Jett snorted. “I guess you can answer our question. Did she kiss you or slap you?”
Luca had been prepared to pounce, but he froze as an image of Serenity’s face flitted through his mind, causing a deep ache in his heart. “Why didn’t you tell her?” he croaked.
The twins looked at each other, then came back to Luca. “Because we didn’t think she’d let you come,” Tate admitted.
“Do you have any idea how hurt she looked when she realized I was the one on her doorstep?” Luca growled, stepping forward and looming over his brother. Less than two inches separated them in height, but Luca’s bulk made him look larger than life.
Tate rubbed a hand over his face. “No,” he said softly.
“She was ready to faint,” Luca spat. “In fact, she nearly turned down the help because it was me.” He closed his eyes and shook his head. “How could you do that? Why didn’t you give her the choice?”
“Because you two need to speak to each other,” Jett said calmly.
Luca spun and turned his glare on his other brother. “That isn’t your call to make.”
Jett put his palms on the counter and leaned toward Luca. “You’re the one who ended things in the worst way possible, Luc. Don’t be blaming this on us.”
“I’m not blaming you for that,” Luca argued. “I’m fully aware of the choices I made when it comes to Serenity. What I didn’t count on was your interference. When I agreed to go work in her shop, I had no idea she didn’t know I was coming and the—” He cut off.
This conversation was getting way too touchy-feely for him. He wasn’t sure he’d ever get over the haunted look in her eyes, the shock, and the immediate pain she tried to hide.
Luca was already perfectly aware that he’d ruined things between them. She clearly hated him and would never forgive him. He hadn’t been prepared to see her so hurt, though. Angry? Yes. But hurt? Nope. He hadn’t counted on that at all.
“Has it ever occurred to you that this might be your chance to get her back?” Jett pushed. “She’s still single, Luc. That has to mean something.”
“Yeah,” Luca choked out. He stepped back, rubbing his head. “It can only mean one of two things. Either the men in this town are all idiots, or I broke her to the point that she hates everything male and won’t ever give another relationship a try.”
Jett rolled his eyes. “You take too much responsibility for others actions, bro.”
Luca clenched his jaw to keep from saying something he shouldn’t. He’d spent years at the facility in Portland learning self control. Where was it now that he needed it?
“I don’t know why I came back here,” he muttered, turning to go to his room. He had no appetite for dinner tonight.
“Because it was the right thing to do,” Tate threw at Luca’s back. “Because you owe her closure, or an explanation or…something.”
Luca stopped and let the words sink in. He probably did owe her closure. Wasn’t that what he’d decided fixing her store would be? He’d help her get back on her feet and then leave her alone?
His plan had to been to watch from the shadows. Keep her safe. Make sure she got everything she deserved.
But could he really do that? Could he watch another man come in and take his place? Luca’s hands clenched at the thought of someone else’s arms around Serenity or running through her red waves. They’d belonged to him for so long…it made him want to punch something to think of another doing it instead.
But that was exactly what she deserved. She was too beautiful, too good, too…everything…to let life pass her by without sharing it with someone who would treasure her for being what she was.
“Do you still love her?”
Luca jerked and spun without consciously thinking about it. “What?” he rasped, his throat suddenly drier than the Sahara.
Tate sighed and folded his arms over his chest. “Do you still love her?” he asked.
Luca didn’t answer right away, rubbing a hand over his head. He needed to shave it again soon. The stubble would start catching on the eyepatch in the next couple of days. “I…”
“She’s single,” Jett threw out again. “If you broke her, then fix her.” His hazel eyes were intense. “You know, I always thought you were the smart one, Luc. The big brother who took care of everyone and knew everything. But this?” Jett shook his head. “This is stupid. You love her, and there’s no way her feelings for you are all gone. If she hasn’t been able to move on, then they’re still there, even if they’re hidden behind anger or shock or hurt.” He leaned over, pinning Luca in place. “Do. Something. About. It.”
“You don’t understand,” Luca retorted.
“Of course, I don’t,” Jett responded, straightening. “How could I? I’ve never loved anyone or anything enough to give my life for them.” He shrugged. “But it seems to me that that’s what most guys want, right? To find something that means…that means that much to them?”
Tate smirked. “Since when did you become so philosophical, dude?”
Jett sneered at his twin. “Since I’ve watched you moon over?—”
“Aaand, I think we’re done here,” Tate said loudly.
Luca narrowed his gaze. “Who—” He stopped and shook his head. He wasn’t in the right frame of mind to take on Tate’s girl problems. Luca had enough of his own. “I’m going to bed,” he muttered, turning around again and heading for the stairs.
“Are you going back tomorrow?”
Luca nodded, but didn’t stop walking. “Yeah. I promised to stay out of her way, and once I’m done, I’ll make sure she never has to speak to me again.”
His brothers argued behind him, and a few non-flattering words were thrown around, but Luca didn’t care. They didn’t get it. Even if Tate had a crush on someone, he wouldn’t understand the position Luca was in.
A tiny voice in the back of Luca’s mind argued that there was a chance to get Serenity back, but Luca refused to let it take root. He couldn’t hope for that. He’d hurt her enough. It was time to let her heal, not break open old wounds.
He wouldn’t—he couldn’t—ask her to give him a second chance. She deserved so much better, and this time, Luca would see that she got it.