Chapter 16
Sixteen
Luca
My bed feels lonely this morning, and I awaken at dawn, which is far too early. I reach for my phone; there’s no new messages yet from Harper.
Harper and I agreed that the night before the wedding, we’d spend it apart. I’d stay at my parents, and she’d come up with Kensley and Zeke on Saturday morning.
I offered to pick her up, but she insisted that she wanted us to follow the tradition of the groom not seeing the bride before the wedding.
I never knew Harper was superstitious.
It seems there’s a lot to learn about her. And while I’ve been doing my best not to keep her at a distance, we haven’t exactly seen each other much lately.
That’s both of our fault.
Harper has been busy with schoolwork and her son, Zeke.
Zeke is a full-time job when it comes to evenings and weekends. When I do get the chance to spend a few minutes curled up on the sofa with Harper, Zeke is always stealing her attention from me.
I never knew I’d have to compete with a two-year-old for attention.
But I get it, Zeke is her son. I’m trying not to feel jealous, but sometimes it’s hard when she spends more time with him than me.
That’s not all on her. I’ve been busy with the hockey team, my father’s business, and schoolwork.
I hate that we don’t have any classes together this semester. Our schedules are all over the place, in opposite directions on campus. There’s no walking her to class this semester, not that I don’t want to, but I haven’t been able to find the time. I can’t be in two places at once.
I’ve tried spending a bit more time with Zeke, but he’s always choosing his mama over me.
Not that I blame the kid, she is a prettier choice.
She always knows how to make him laugh.
I love his laughter. It actually makes me think that one day, maybe we could have a kid of our own, a little sibling for Zeke.
But not today.
After college.
When we’re both ready for that type of commitment.
The marriage thing is enough to jump into headfirst when we’re both not ready.
But I’m doing it for her.
Every waking moment, I’m thinking about Harper, wondering if I can truly keep her and Zeke safe from my father, from the world out there.
I may even be falling in love with her, but I’m not sure.
I’ve never actually been in love.
I’ve lusted after girls, but love, I can’t say I know one hundred percent what that feels like.
But I can safely say that I’m in the blossoming stages of love. That without Harper, I would feel empty. And that while I’m nervous as hell about our wedding today, I know without a doubt that I’m doing the right thing.
I need to keep her and Zeke safe.
I glance at my cell phone. The last text from Harper was last night, when she texted me.
Goodnight. See you tomorrow.
It’s a simple text. There was even a heart emoji, which brought a smile to my face because the girl has a way of making my heart soar.
Love, though, I’m not sure.
I’m definitely falling for her.
Without a doubt, I’m happy that she’s the girl I’ll be marrying. If it had to be someone, I’d rather it be Harper.
I force myself out of bed, knowing it’s going to be a long day. Hopefully, a good one.
I text Harper. She’s probably busy with Zeke this morning, or if she’s lucky, she’s still asleep.
Can’t wait to see you, wifey.
I hit send and then regret the choice of wifey.
I’m teasing her.
Being playful.
I hope she sees it that way and doesn’t get nervous.
It’s too late, the text is already sent.
There’s no read receipt yet, so I pull on a pair of sweats and a t-shirt and head downstairs to grab breakfast and much-needed coffee.
I don’t exactly need the jolt of caffeine with the way my heart is already galloping, but it’s the familiar that I’m craving, and without Harper here this morning, it’ll have to do.
Ashton spent the night last night, and though I want to hate him for trying to steal my girlfriend, I’m angrier at Dante.
My best friend never would have suggested marrying Harper if Dante hadn’t given him an order, and Ashton is all about following the chain of command.
Well, fuck Dante.
I’m marrying Harper.
Last night, Ashton offered to take me to a strip club for my bachelor party, but the thought of a strange woman grinding against me, dancing provocatively, didn’t stir any hint of desire.
Unless that girl is Harper, but Kensley spent the night over at our house, and there was zero chance Harper was going to show up at the compound and give me a lap dance and strip show.
So, we spent the evening hanging out, drinking and swapping stories.
Moreno and Dante joined us for beers around nine o’clock last night, the mood much more chipper than I might have expected with those two.
And while I’d love to have snuck up from behind and slit Dante’s throat for fucking with my love life, I give props to the man for actually giving a shit about me.
I suppose there’s a first for everything.
But that was last night, and now the house is relatively quiet as the sun rises over the horizon.
Sleeping in wasn’t going to happen this morning, not with thoughts of the wedding and Harper flickering through my mind.
I left my phone upstairs on the bed. If Harper texts me, I won’t see it.
Dread is like a giant stone in my stomach, worried that something might happen to her on the way over.
I want to pick her up, drive her here, to know that she’s safe, but she insisted that we don’t see one another until we walk down the aisle.
I fucking hate that she’s superstitious, but it’s just a few hours until we’re married.
Mr. and Mrs. Ricci.
She will take my last name.
The sound of it makes my heart beat faster.
I pour myself a cup of coffee, and Ashton comes stumbling down the hallway toward the kitchen.
“Morning,” Ashton mutters, half-asleep.
He looks about how I feel, like he didn’t get enough sleep.
I kept having dreams about the wedding, about Zeke, about Harper, and the mafia. I felt as though I didn’t sleep at all, but I’m sure I managed a few hours of shuteye.
I sip my coffee and step aside so Ashton can grab himself a mug.
“Do you know if Harper’s parents will be at the wedding?” Ashton asks.
I frown, unsure why he’s asking me about her parents. “I’m not sure. I don’t think she knows. She mentioned to me the other night that she left them a message, but they didn’t call her back.”
“They didn’t RSVP?” he asks.
I rub the back of my neck. “Mom dealt with the RSVPs, so I’m unsure.”
“Your mom planned your wedding?” Ashton smirks, pouring his mug of coffee. “Wow. You really are a mama’s boy.”
“I’m going to kill you,” I growl, lunging at him, and Dante stalks out from the basement and rounds the corner into the kitchen, hearing me.
“You won’t,” Dante says matter-of-factly. “You two ought to be getting along.” He wraps one arm around my shoulder and the other around Ashton’s.
I swear my father sees Ashton more and more as a son. Probably why he suggested that Ashton marry Harper.
My shoulders tense with his arm around me. Everything about it is unnatural.
“It’s going to be quite a day this afternoon with the wedding. I’m looking forward to it,” Dante says, and a wry smile crosses his face.
I just bet he’s looking forward to it, thinking Ashton will marry Harper instead of me.
Fuck Dante.
I force a smile, not letting him know that I’m well aware of his conniving little plan. I’d rather see the look of horror when Harper and I exchange vows.
I’ll be fucking gleeful, just to spite my father.
Ashton looks slightly aghast and puts his mug that he just poured down on the counter. At least I know he hasn’t told my father that he’s spilled his secret to me.
Dante wouldn’t be so forgiving. Probably why Ashton will keep his mouth shut. He’s smart enough to know not to piss off the don, especially on the morning of his son’s wedding.
Dante forces a smile before wandering out of the kitchen. “Stay out of trouble, you two, and no killing anyone before the wedding.”
Ashton mutters something that sounds like a threat to Dante, which surprises the hell out of me, but maybe he’s still cursing me for threatening him.
I ignore it as I sip my coffee and watch as he takes his mug and pours it down the sink.
“It’ll be fine,” I say, staring at Ashton.
“Yeah, well, I just lost my appetite,” he grumbles.
I sip my coffee, the extra boost of adrenaline keeping me alert after a tough night’s sleep without Harper beside me.
I never realized how much I’d depend on anyone else, and I don’t dare want to admit it, but I’m falling in love with her.
There are worse things in the world than loving the person you’re about to marry.
I’m dressed in my tux at my father’s insistence. I’d have been fine wearing a suit to the wedding. The tuxedo is a bit confining. It doesn’t help that I had to give measurements, but I didn’t actually try it on until today.
It fits, better than I thought, but it doesn’t mean I’m comfortable in it, either.
Ashton is keeping me company as I glance at my cell phone, yet again.
“Still nothing from Harper,” I say.
My stomach is doing that tumbling motion, and I loosen the bow tie, finding it constricting.
I need to breathe.
I hurry toward a window, opening it, letting the cold February breeze into the bedroom.
“Give me that,” Ashton says, taking my phone away from me.
“What if she tries to get ahold of me?” I glare at him, reaching for my phone as he shoves it behind his back.
“I’m sure she’s already here, probably getting her gown on or her makeup done.” Ashton is the voice of reason.
We’re less than an hour until we’re supposed to be walking down the aisle.
“Can you please go check?” I’m crawling out of my skin with worry.
I haven’t heard a peep from Zeke. He hasn’t even barged into the bedroom playing his own variation of hide and seek.
Although Harper is probably keeping that from happening after what she witnessed under my parents’ roof.
“Yeah, just stay here. Okay?” Ashton tells me, and I nod, chewing on my bottom lip with worry.