16. Adrianna #2
"I hope so." Lacey scoops Layla in her arms. They all say bye and head to the counter to get their to-go food.
"Those kids love you," Pen says as we finish our food. "I think it's worth it, " she says. I don't have to ask her what she means because I think it might be worth it, too.
I am standing in my kitchen debating whether to text Luka. He should have been done with his practice by now, but I am not sure. I don't want to seem needy. My phone vibrates across the counter, sounding ten times louder in the quiet house. I pick it up when I see Luka's name on the ID.
"I need to see you." Luka's voice sounds strained.
"I am at home. Do you need me to come to you? What is the matter?"
"I am leaving the arena now. Can I come to you?"
"Yeah. I will be here." I go to ask him what's going on, but the line goes dead.
15 minutes later, I open my apartment door. Luka's arms instantly go around me, and his face is buried in my neck. "I missed you," I hear his muffled voice.
"You were just here this morning. What happened?" His fun-loving voice is gone, and I tense up, thinking that something happened to his dad.
"Just this morning and then a bad practice and conversation with Coach.
" He keeps me in a tight hug but pats my ass.
"Legs up, Baby." He lifts me and I wrap my legs around his waist. He walks us into the living room and sits down on the couch with me on his lap.
He doesn't say anything else as I rub my hand over the back of his head and then run my nails down his neck.
He seems to like it, so I do it over and over again.
"Talk to me, Luka. What happened."
He finally pulls his face away from my neck.
Only to tip it back on the couch and close his eyes.
I listen as he tells me all about Tucker, now known as Asshole.
But, when he tells me he went in to tell Coach he didn't want to be Alt Captain, I have to stop him.
"You told him what?" I am pissed. From what I have seen and read, he is a great Alt Captain.
He balances out the strictness of Jake, and the guys all love him, well, except Asshole.
"I told him to give it to someone else next year. That I didn't want it." He keeps his eyes closed.
"What did he say?" I run my hand over his cheek. Watching as his skin jumps under my touch.
"He told me to get my head out of my ass that he doesn't make mistakes." I start laughing and Luka opens his eyes and looks at me. "I love that sound."
The word love coming out of his mouth makes my brain short-circuit. "What sound?"
"The sound of you laughing. Even though I hate you are laughing at me. I love the sound."
"So, Coach told you to stop being a dumb ass?" I laugh at him again.
"Yeah, in so many words. I told him I wasn't fit to be Alt Captain. That I wasn't good enough. That there are better people on the team for it."
"Oh, Luka." I run my hand over his face again. "You aren't just good enough. You are perfect for it."
"Well, that is what he said, and then he told me to get the fuck out of his office." He shrugs his shoulders.
"You know you are always going to be hardest on yourself. That is what makes you great."
"Yeah, I guess so." He runs his hands over my hair. "Is that why you push yourself so hard?"
I tip my head back and laugh. "No, I push myself so hard because that is what my parents taught us to do. We had to be perfect. Our family is in the spotlight a lot. We were never allowed to mess up. There are rules in place for reasons. We have to follow those rules and my parents will be happy."
"So, you have to be perfect for your parents? What happened when you messed up? Made a mistake?"
"I am not sure, I never have."
"You have never made a mistake?" He looks at me with raised eyebrows.
"Of course. They just don't know about it." I laugh. "You are a perfect leader for your team, Luka. Want to tell me what happened this morning?" I watch Luka's face pale.
"Are you sure you want me to?" He grips my hips tightly like he thinks I am going to run away.
"I think that might be a good idea. I don't want to be left in the dark, Luka."
"Okay. We had an issue at a warehouse this morning.
I guess I was the closest. I was the first one to get there, which isn't normal.
Actually, it isn't normal for me to get the notification at all.
I am not sure what happened, but I am glad I did.
" His hands start to loosen on my hips, and his thumb starts making a sweeping motion across it.
"What happened?" I whisper, hoping he doesn't stop the movement because I like it.
"Our family doesn't deal in drugs or anything.
We don't like that shit in our city. I am not sure why the men showed up there today like they did.
I don't know if they are people that had to do with the fire the other night or what.
But they showed up today and opened fire with a couple of our guys that were there. "
I tense. "Oh my God. Are they okay?"
"Yeah, they are okay now. Two of the guys had to go to Doc's because they were hurt."
"What did you do when you showed up? You said you were the first one there?" I am praying he just waited it out and called his brothers for help. I don't think that is what happened though. My worst fear comes to life when he answers me.
"I had to go in. I had to help them. My Pops taught us how to shoot when we were kids.
He wanted us to be able to defend ourselves.
I took out 2 guys and helped Tony get the other one.
" I don't have to ask him what took out means.
I can guess, and the look on his face tells me he doesn't want to have to tell me.
"I hate that." I look down and tightly grab his shirt.
"Don't say that." His hands go from my waist to my neck. He squeezes some and lifts my head. "Please don't say that. I can't lose you, Baby."
"Lose me? What are you talking about?" I stare at him and then remember what Augie said. "Luka," I wrap my hands on either side of his neck and squeeze. The tip of his mouth goes up. "I hate that you were put in harm's way. I do not hate that you did what you had to do for your family."
"You don't?" He stares at me like I have lost my mind, and maybe I have.
"Did you think about what the actions you took today might cause? Did you think for even a second that going into that warehouse could cost you hockey?"
"I didn't think about anything other than getting in there to help."
"Exactly, nothing else mattered at that moment.
You could have lost everything, but you chose to pick your family.
You will pick your family over anything.
My father is a very powerful man. He has everything in the world he could want.
A loving wife, kids, and a great job. He would NEVER give up his career for us.
Do you understand? My father would never choose us. "
I watch as he realizes that I am not leaving him. That him doing what he did today made me care about him even more. "I would never pick hockey over you, Baby."
"Good. I would never ask you to." I lean in and kiss him.
"Wanna go to my parents with me?" Well, I guess that conversation is over.
"Sure."