9. Luka
Luka
I am trying to change quicker than I ever have. I hope my family stopped Adrianna from leaving, but knowing her, she is probably looking for any reason to leave.
"Where is the fire at, Rizzoli?" Tucker, one of the guys who is on the trade list for next season, sits on the bench next to me while I put on my shoes. He grabs one of them off the ground. I can't wait for the fucker to be gone. He is a second-rate player with an I'm holier-than-thou attitude.
"I am trying to get out to my family and my girl, Man." I go to grab my shoe and he pulls it back.
"Your girl, huh?"
I try to count to 10. Hoping the asshole will be gone by the time I open my eyes.
"Is she that hot redhead that I saw with your family? Or the smoking brunette? Or maybe both?" I stand up, forgetting all about my shoe.
"What the fuck did you just say?" I am leaning over him when Jake's hand comes into my vision and presses against my chest. He reaches out and snags my shoe from Tucker's hand and gives it to me.
"Show some respect, Tucker." Jake points at him, "Go get changed and get out of here, Man."
"Whatever." Tucker stands and walks back over to his cubby.
"You can't let shit like that get to you. He will be gone soon. You don't want Coach to give you a hard time when we are so close to playoffs."
I know he is right. As alt captain, I shouldn't let the shit he says get to me. I need to keep my head on straight and be a leader. I knew I would be no good at this position. I am too much of a hothead; I don't take it seriously enough. I sit and put my shoe on.
"Don't do that." Jake sits next to me.
"Do what?" I don't look at him as I tie my shoe.
"Second guess Coach's decision on making you alt cap. You earned that spot, Rizzoli. You are damn good at it. Don't let Tucker being an asshole take away from our win. Take away from the fact that Addy came today and she stayed."
"She stayed?" I look at him and he smiles.
"I might have peeked in the hall and saw her playing some kind of hand game with Gio and Layla."
"Well, what are we doing sitting around here? Let's go." I stand and grab my duffle. Jake checks in with some of the other guys and we head out the door.
Layla and Gio come running to us as soon as we are through the door.
Layla hugs Jake's legs while I fist pump Gio and then the kids switch.
Gio is talking a million miles an hour to Jake about some kind of move he saw him do, and Layla jumps into my arms. She rests her little hand against my face as I lean in and close my eyes.
Taking in the smell I love so much. I walk over to my family with her in my arms. I scan them all before I realize that Adrianna and Penelope are missing.
"Where is she?" I look to Lacey. Lace told me that she would make sure Adrianna was safe and had a good time.
"I am sorry, Brother. She got a call and it sounded important. She had to leave but said you should text her later. She said she had fun." Callum squeezes my shoulder and I hand him Layla. My brain is in a fog as my family congratulates Jake and me for a great game.
"You want to go out?" Jake bumps my shoulder as we are walking out with my family.
"Nah, Man. Thanks, though." I know he doesn't want to go out, but he would do it for me.
Lacey takes Layla and Gio to the Jeep. They are keeping him for the weekend while CeCe and Romeo are off doing God knows what.
My little cousin has it in her head that she needs to save the world.
Romeo just wants to tag along to make sure she doesn't need the world to burn.
Callum follows me to my car. I climb into the driver's seat and he stops me before I can close my door.
"Everything is in a text, Man. Call me if you need me." He taps on the roof of my car and shuts the door. I pull out my phone and turn it off silent mode. I didn't think to look at it when we got out of the game. Everyone I cared about was waiting for me.
My Gattina:
I'm sorry I had to leave, Luka. Something came up. Your game was great. I really enjoyed watching you play, and I'm glad you won.
I go to text her, but then a text from Callum draws my eyes. I open it up and it's Adrianna's address. She is only a couple of minutes from here. I put my phone onto my passenger seat and smile for the first time since winning the game. I am going to see my girl.