Chapter 5 #3
“Enough about me, please?” I’m practically begging Mom to shut up. I don’t need her embarrassing me in front of Harper. Next, she’ll be pulling out baby pictures and comparing them to Zeke.
“Fine, fine. You’re right, dear. We should be talking about the real reason we’re all here this evening, the upcoming nuptials,” Mom says.
Jack’s fork drops from his hand, hits the porcelain plate and then clammers to the floor. “Excuse me?” His voice is like thunder, completely caught off guard by my mother’s comment.
Can’t say I’m surprised, since Harper didn’t mention it to her parents.
Catrina’s eyes are wide, and she reaches for her water glass, bringing it to her lips for a second, startled as well by the mention of nuptials.
Dante remains calm as he doesn’t so much as face Catrina and Jack. His stare is entirely on Harper. “My son and your daughter have decided to wed.” There’s no emotion in his voice, and for once, I can’t get a read on him.
This marriage was his idea.
Well, technically, it was mine, in order to save Harper after what she witnessed and had done, but he went along with it.
It never would have gone this far if he hadn’t ordered me to execute her.
“Harper?” Catrina puts her fork down. Her hands remain in her lap while the news dawns on her. “Do you care to explain yourself?”
Harper smiles, and while I know she’s entirely faking the ever-present happiness, I can’t help but fall for it too.
“We’re both incredibly happy dating, and we want to see where this next stage of life takes us, together,” Harper says.
Okay, not the best line to convince her parents of our engagement.
Jack turns to face Dante. “Did you know about this?”
“They announced their engagement last weekend,” Dante says. “It’s why we insisted that you join us for dinner this evening.”
“You’re engaged?” Catrina balks, clearly hurt. “We didn’t even know you were dating anyone! You talk to us every week, you talk on video chat with Zeke, you never thought once to tell us about Luca?”
“It all happened quite so suddenly this semester,” Harper says. “I care about Luca immensely.”
“And if he cares about you,” Catrina says, “then he’ll wait to marry you. There is no reason for the two of you to rush into such a life-long decision.”
Harper glances at me, her breathing slightly erratic. I can hear the first telltale signs of her panicking and want to embrace her, hold her tight against me, and let her know that we’ll figure this out together.
But Zeke is still situated on her lap, and somehow, I’m mindlessly feeding him bite after bite of chicken. He doesn’t seem to notice or at least understand what is happening at the table.
To him, it’s just more yummy food time.
“We could certainly wait,” I say and feel the wrath of my father’s stare. “But when you love someone and you know that they’re the only one you want to spend the rest of your life with, why wait?”
“Because there’s a child involved!” Catrina says. “Are you telling me that you’re honestly ready to be a father?”
I stare at Zeke, and while I know nothing about two-year-olds or what it means to raise a child, I know that one day I do want to become a father. I just vow never to become my father.
“I’m not asking him to be a father,” Harper says before I have time to answer.
“Well, you ought to be,” Catrina says. “Because if you’re marrying Luca, then Zeke is moving in with you. I don’t need to be taking care of your son if you think you’re ready for marriage.”
“Mom,” Harper whispers, realizing what that means about her pursuing her education.
“We’ve thought about that as well,” Mom says, glancing at Dante. “We’ve procured a place on campus that meets the requirements of Harper’s scholarship and isn’t part of the dorms. Harper and Luca will be able to have Zeke living with them beginning in January.”
Jack frowns, shaking his head. “So, you’re in agreement with the two of them getting hitched? My daughter is eighteen. She has her entire life ahead of her.”
“Your daughter is a mother,” Dante says curtly. “I’m giving her the opportunity to raise her son and go to college. It’ll build character.”
“Don’t tell me how to raise my daughter,” Catrina scoffs and stands. “It’s time to go,” she says to Jack.
“Gladly.” Jack scoots his chair back and gets to his feet.
“Mom,” Harper’s voice trails off, “can we please sit back down and talk?”
“Absolutely not.” Catrina strides to the other side of the table. I think she’s going to take Zeke from Harper, but I’m not sure exactly what will happen.
This whole dinner went exactly how I’d expect an epic disaster to go.
“If you think you’re ready to be a wife, then you’re clearly ready to be a mother.” Catrina leans down and kisses Zeke’s cheek. “I’ll retrieve the car seat so that you can take him home with you.”
“I’m taking him back to the dorms?” Harper’s voice catches in throat. “Mom, I can’t do that.”
“Perhaps your boyfriend’s parents can help. If you’re getting married, then you don’t need our support,” Catrina says.
“But that’s exactly what I need,” Harper whispers. “It’s why we told you and didn’t get married behind your back.”
Jack scowls at me. “And we’re ever so grateful for your honesty.
But we raised you better, Harper. At least we thought we did.
First, you get pregnant in high school. We tried to be understanding.
We thought sending you to college would help both you and Zeke.
And now this? It’s like a slap in the face to us.
If you want to be married, then it’s time you step up and be your son’s mother. We’re done raising him.”
Jack escorts his wife down the hallway, back toward the front door.
Harper is hurrying after them, Zeke in her arms. I’m right on her heel, whether they want me to follow or not.
“Mom, please, at least give us some time,” Harper is begging her mom for help and I’m just standing there, unsure how to make any of this right.
It’s not like we want to get married, but the fake relationship seems to have just backfired in our faces.
And honesty won’t save us.
I can’t tell her parents we’re doing this because I’m protecting their daughter.
“I love Harper,” I say, trying to find the right words to fix this as best I can. “I realize you don’t know me yet. I’m sure this all seems sudden, but I want to be a father to Zeke, a husband to Harper, and I vow to protect them until the day I die.”
Jack pauses at the front door. I think for a moment I might be getting through to him, and then I realize he’s getting his shoes on, and then he helps Catrina with her shoes and coat.
“You kids are jumping headfirst into a lifelong commitment. If you invited us to dinner for our blessing or our approval, you’re not getting it,” Jack says.
Catrina buttons her coat, and the frown at the corner of her lips is pale compared to her watery eyes. She leans down, kissing Zeke’s cheek. “Be good for your mama,” Catrina says to her grandson.
“Hate me all you want, but don’t do this to your daughter. Don’t freeze her out of your life,” I say.
“You don’t have to worry about us pretending, Luca. We don’t like you,” Jack says, making his opinion quite clear. “We would never disown our daughter, but we won’t be attending the wedding. If you both decide to go through with marrying one another, you’re on your own.”
“Mom, please. I’ll take Zeke as soon as I’m in the new place in January. But I can’t just bring him into the dorms, can you help?” Harper is practically begging, and I rest a hand on her back.
“It’s okay. We’ll figure something out,” I say.
Catrina stalls by the door and holds out her arms to Zeke. “Until you move in together. Unless you both come to your senses.”
Harper grabs Zeke’s shoes and coat, bundling him up before walking him outside to their car and putting him into the back, in his car seat.
I hold the umbrella over Harper, keeping her dry while I watch her say goodbye to Zeke, but at least I know the goodbye isn’t forever.
We head back into the house, Harper looking dejected, and I wrap my arms around her, embracing her in a hug.
She buries her face in my neck, and I can feel the soft sobs wrack her body. Soothingly, I rub her back, trying to comfort her as I feel my father’s stern gaze on me.
“Luca, a word,” Dante says.
“I’ll be right back. Stay here,” I warn her as I untangle from her embrace and leave her in the foyer.
She doesn’t move as I approach Dante. He keeps me out of earshot, but we’re still in sight of Harper. Can’t say I’m surprised that he doesn’t trust her.
Trust has to be earned.
Those are his words that ruminate through my head, a phrase he repeatedly told me throughout my youth.
“It’s late. You should take Harper back to campus, and I’ll see you next weekend. When is your next game?” Dante asks.
“Thursday night.” I wish it were Friday or Saturday, so that I wouldn’t have to spend another minute under his roof.
Dante’s eyes tighten, and he nods. “Good. Then you’ll come on Friday after your classes are finished.”
“I have practice Sunday,” I remind him.
“You’ll leave before the hockey team even notices that you were away.”
Somehow, I doubt that. Ashton will know, and surely Liam will notice. And that’s assuming Ashton doesn’t throw a party at our place, which he’s known to do.
“Say goodbye to your mother before you leave,” Dante reminds me.
“Let me grab Harper’s clothes from the laundry,” I say. “Then we’ll be on our way.”
Within fifteen minutes, we’re back in the car, heading back to campus.
“Thanks for the ride,” Harper says, glancing at me. She reaches for my hand on the steering wheel, and I oblige.
She’s been quiet since we left.
Too quiet if you ask me.
“You really didn’t have to drive me all the way back home and then have to go back—”
“I’m not going back,” I say, glancing at her for a brief moment. “And you still need to study. Any chance you brought the notes for class?”
“You told me not to bring it with me,” Harper says and untangles her hand from mine. She shifts in her seat.
“I can’t tell if you’re mad at me,” I say.
Her leg bounces restlessly. The girl can’t seem to sit still in the front seat. “I’m mad at myself, and I don’t want you getting into trouble with your dad. You can’t just avoid going back there because he has men—”
I rest my hand on her knee, trying to calm her. “Dante spoke with me before we left. He told me not to worry about staying this weekend, but I’ll be there starting Friday through Sunday.”
“Oh.” She exhales a soft breath.
“Is that relief or more concern?” I ask.
“Can’t it be both? I’m glad you don’t have to go back there tonight, but I really don’t like the idea of you going there at all…”
“I know,” I say. It’s not like this is the future I envisioned for myself, either, but I’m doing it for her and, now, for Zeke as well.
Silence fills the space between us, and I squeeze her thigh before returning my hand to the steering wheel. “Any chance you remember any concepts from our economics quiz?”
“Supply and demand curves,” Harper says.
“Oh, that’s an easy one.”
Harper laughs. “I know, that’s why I remember it. That’s the only concept I grasped, and it’s because you and I went over it a couple of weeks ago. The rest—” she gestures from her head to the window, “flew right out the moment it was explained.”
“Okay, when we get back to campus, you’ll come over and study with me for an hour or two before I drop you off for the night.”
Harper is silent.
“Does that sound okay to you?” I ask.
Her silence has me concerned.
“I was thinking maybe I could stay the night with you. Just for tonight,” Harper says. I feel her gaze on me, watching me closely.
My body craves her company, her warmth, the feel of her skin on mine. I’ve been having dreams about her but just for tonight is nowhere near enough.
And then there’s Zeke.
Aside from the obvious, that she lied to me about him and kept him a secret, I can’t let her get too close to me, to us becoming real. Not if I’m forced to work for my father.
Zeke deserves better.
So does Harper.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I say, and my heart hurts when I answer her.
She sighs ever so softly. “You’re never going to forgive me, are you?” Her question is hardly above a whisper.
Harper will never understand where I’m coming from, the things I’ve seen as a child of the mafia, and I don’t want that for Zeke.
Anything I can do to protect the family, my family—Harper and Zeke—I will. Even if that means breaking hearts.