Chapter 3 #2
“We have Catan, Dominion, a bunch of other non-party games. I hate those shitty card games,” he mutters.
“Probably because you’re bad at them,” Kensley quips.
I can’t help but laugh, enjoying that she’s dishing it out at Ashton.
“I’ve got to head to class,” Kensley says. “But text me the address and we can all hang out this evening, that’s fine.”
My stomach somersaults at the idea of hanging out over Ashton’s place. “Will Luca be there?”
He doesn’t want to see me. At least that’s all I can assume, based on him not answering my texts and not showing up in class.
He’s avoiding me.
Maybe it would be good to see him, to try to talk with him and figure things out. If not for my own sake, then for Zeke’s.
Ashton shrugs. “I’m not his babysitter. You guys coming, or what?”
“You don’t have practice tonight?”
“We’re meeting up in the gym in an hour, but after dinner, we’re free. Come over around seven this evening.”
“We’ll be there,” Kensley agrees as she hurries off to class.
I glance at Ashton, rolling my lips together as we walk. I head back to the dorms to study, I’m not sure where he’s heading, but he’s following me.
“What?” he asks, sensing I have something to say.
“You’re really not going to tell me how Luca is doing?”
Ashton exhales heavily and glances around. It’s just the two of us on the pavement, no one within listening distance if that’s what he’s worried about. “I’m not sure what there is to tell. He’s pissed as shit.”
“At me,” I say, not really asking.
“At you, at the universe. I’m not his biggest fan at the moment, either, it turns out. He threw a knife at me on Saturday when he came home.”
“Holy shit.” My breath catches in my throat as I stop walking and glance him over. “Are you okay?”
Ashton beams. “I’m fine. I know how to duck. He, though, clearly isn’t okay. You and he need to figure things out. Have you told your parents yet?”
His question catches me out of the blue, and I walk away, continuing to the dorms.
Ashton takes two quick steps to catch up with me.
“Why are you asking about my parents?” Shivers run down my spine, and while it’s chilly outside and the slight breeze tickles my skin, this feeling is beneath my jacket.
“It’s common knowledge from the weekend that you’re bringing your parents to meet theirs. You do have a wedding to plan,” he says and nudges me.
“Fuck off.” I quicken my pace, the dorms in the distance.
Why is he still walking with me? His place is in the opposite direction, and there’s no reason for him to have parked all the way out here, assuming he has a car. I’ve never seen him drive.
“I’m trying to help you,” Ashton says. He’s taller than I am, his long legs easily striding to keep up and match my pace.
It sucks being average height right now. I never cared much, either way, but how easily he walks alongside me while I feel like I have to speed walk to get away. “I don’t need your help.”
“Fine,” Ashton says and stops walking.
Is he finally backing off?
“I’ll see you tonight,” he shouts at me as I keep hurrying toward the dorms.
“Sure, fine, whatever!” I shout back at him.
He’s right, though, at least about the part regarding my parents. I do need to reach out to them, and not just to have a friendly little chat.
But how am I going to break the news of my engagement when they don’t even know about Luca?
They’re going to be so pissed and so disappointed.
Maybe I wait to tell them about the upcoming wedding and stick to the basics, at least as long as possible. If I can make them realize that Luca is a great guy, assuming he’s willing to go along with it, we can have a nice family dinner with both of our families.
Who am I kidding?
A nice family dinner wouldn’t involve the mafia.
Kensley and I wander up to Luca and Ashton’s place for game night. Kensley has a bag slung over her shoulder with a bunch of games.
I’m feeling less than prepared, since I didn’t bring anything with me. It’s not like I have a stack of board games in my dorm room, which, apparently, Kensley keeps housed under her bed.
I knock on the front door, waiting for Ashton to let us in.
Shivering, I shove my hands back into my pockets to keep warm.
Luca tosses open the front door, glares at us, and then slams it in our faces.
“Jerk!” Kensley shouts.
There’s a rumbling of voices on the other end. Clearly, Ashton and Luca are fighting, probably about me.
A few seconds later, Ashton yanks open the door and steps aside. “Sorry about that. My roommate got up on the wrong side of the bed this week.”
Luca’s glaring at me and then at Ashton. “What’s going on?” Luca asks, noticing that it’s not just me showing up, but Kensley too.
“Game night!” Kensley says, grinning. She holds up her bag of assorted board games. I swear she’s trying to help break the tension. She’s a good friend, I’ll give her that. And she doesn’t even know why things are so tense right now with Luca and me.
“You invited her over?” Luca groans, gesturing at me.
Ashton waves us into the living room, and the entire time, Luca is glaring at Ashton, not even hiding his disapproval. “I’m going to kill you,” he mutters under his breath.
“Doubtful.” Ashton smirks a little too boldly, and Luca lunges at him, grabbing him by the lapels.
“I’m going to fucking end you, Ash,” Luca growls.
Ashton doesn’t fight back. They’re wrestling around, no punches being flung, at least not yet, but Ashton knocks Luca onto the ground and Luca takes him down with him.
“Enough!” I shout at the two of them on the floor.
Luca grumbles and releases his grip on Ashton, getting up and taking a step back. He runs a hand through his hair, and I can see the fog of confusion in his gaze, like he’s not sure what just made him attack his friend.
“Kensley, can you and Ashton set up a game?” I ask while I grab Luca’s arm, dragging him down the hallway.
“Get off me,” Luca grumbles, shaking my arm off him, but he obliges, leading me into his bedroom.
I step in first, him quickly behind, and then he slams the door and the walls shake.