23. Luka #2
"Squish!" He drops his arm from around Adrianna and grabs Penelope, lifting her into his arms. Before anyone can say anything he has her tossed over his shoulder and is running a lap around the court.
"I didn't tell him she was coming," Adrianna says like it explains her brother's behavior.
I glance over at Jake, who has both his hands bunched into fists, clutching the bottom of his suit jacket.
Before I can tell him to chill the fuck out, he leans down to Adrianna's side without taking his eyes off Penelope, who is smacking Jackson on his back.
At the same time, he stops and talks to his teammates while she is still upside down over his shoulder.
"What the fuck is he doing." I can hear the irritation in his voice, which is shocking. He is always Mister Cool.
"Oh, Jackson loves Pen." Adrianna raises her shoulder and laughs. Jake stares at her in shock.
"He loves her?"
"Well, yeah, always has." She finishes her sentence as Jackson brings Penelope back and sets her down. He smiles at her and turns to Jake.
"Jackson, nice to meet you, Man." He sticks his hand out to Jake, who looks like he wants to rip Jackson apart.
"Jake. You too." Jake shakes his hand.
"Okay, I have to head out to warm up. Can we hang out after the game? I figure you guys can't go out the night before a game. But maybe we can get dinner or something?" He looks from Jake to me. Adrianna looks up at me and smiles.
"Sure. We can do dinner." I squeeze her hand and Jackson pumps his fist in the air.
"Good luck, Little Bro." Adrianna reaches up and ruffles his red hair. He bats her hand away.
"Kiss for good luck, Squish?" Jackson leans down and taps his cheek at Penelope. I swear I hear Jake's sharp inhale.
"You know that isn't going to happen, stud." Penelope pats his cheek with her hand. "Good luck."
It turns out Jackson didn't need the luck.
The kid is gold on the court. The whole game is intense.
The college kids in the crowd make the whole stadium feel like it's vibrating.
I try to watch the game, but more often than not, my focus goes to my girl's face.
She hasn't stopped smiling since the game started.
"Having fun, Gattina?"
"This is amazing. I have never experienced a game like this. I can not tell you how grateful I am, Luka. Thank you so much." She kisses my cheek, and I can see the flashes of camera lights go off. I catch her wincing.
"I am sorry, Baby." I rub my knuckles down her cheeks.
"It's okay, Luka. I will get used to it, I'm sure."
We are waiting outside the stadium for Jackson to come out.
His team won and the party outside the stadium is still going strong.
"Can we make sure to go grab something to eat away from the crowd?
" Adrianna leans into me. "Between my brother and you, I don't know if we will get a break from everyone. "
"I can get the hotel restaurant to set up a table for you guys so that you aren't in the city," Jake says.
Without waiting for a response, he pulls out his phone and makes a phone call.
"Maddie, can you do me a favor?" He puts the phone up to his ear and I watch Penelope's eyes follow him as he takes a couple of steps toward the SUV and away from the crowd.
He is stepping back to us when Jackson comes out the door waving to us.
"Maddie got the four of you set up with a table at the restaurant.
It will be ready by the time we get there.
" Jake says and I nod at him, silently thanking him for thinking about it.
"But there are five of us." Penelope looks at him like he is crazy.
"Yeah, I am not joining you guys." Jake opens the back door to the SUV and waves for her to get in.
"What? Why not?" Penelope stops before climbing into the car.
"I am going to head to my room and watch tapes for the game tomorrow.
You guys go and have fun." Jake puts his hand on her lower back and gently pushes her toward the car.
"I will see you guys at the game tomorrow.
" He nods to Jackson, who climbs in behind Penelope.
"See you tonight, Rizzoli." He shuts the door and steps away from the SUV.
Adrianna goes to the other side of the car to get in, but I hang back a bit.
"You don't have to look at tapes, dude. Just come out with us. Have dinner. I know you are hungry."
"I'm good. I am going to stop and get some wings or something on the way home. See you tonight."
We both round the SUV and another car pulls up next to us. I open the door for Adrianna, who looks at Jake weirdly as he waves at her.
Penelope sticks her head out of Adrianna's door. "You aren't even riding with us?"
Jake opens the backdoor to his rideshare. "No, I will see you tomorrow, Penelope. Have fun."
"That is silly. We are going to the same place. Just ride with us. Or I will ride with you." She starts to climb out of the car.
"Get back into the car, Darling," Jake says without another look, gets in the car, closes the door, and drives away.
"What the hell was that?" Adrianna whispers to me as Penelope's face goes white and she sits back into the seat.
"I don't know," I tell her. The truth is, I have no clue what is going through Jake's head, but I am going to find out tonight.
I am lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. "I hate that Coach won't let me stay with Adrianna." I plop my arms down on the bed.
"You know, if he allowed you to do that, everyone would be bringing their loved one with them. You are lucky he isn't giving you shit for having her stay in the same hotel. Now go to sleep." Jake rolls over and covers his head with his blanket.
"What is going on with you, Man? Everything okay?" I roll over toward his bed. When he doesn't say anything, I grab my extra pillow and throw it at him.
"What the fuck." Jake sits up and throws the pillow back at me. "Go to bed, Rizzoli."
"Not until you tell me what the fuck is going on with you. Do you like Penelope? Is that your issue? Nothing is happening with her and Jackson. She treats him just like a little brother."
"Nothing is the matter. Nothing is going on with me and Penelope. I am glad dinner went well, but I want to go to sleep. We have an early game."
"Nothing is going on with you and Penelope?" I shove my pillow under my head and try to get comfortable.
"Nothing." He lies on his back and I can see him staring at the ceiling.
"So, what was up with the darling thing?"
"I don't know, Man. It just came out." He sighs and closes his eyes.
"You never called Jessica anything other than her name." I watch him flinch when I mention her name. "Sorry, Man. I shouldn't have brought her up."
"It's okay. It's been long enough that it shouldn't matter. But no, I never called her anything other than her name. Don't know why I said it to Penelope, but it won't happen again."
"Why not? You are both single. She is fun. You might need someone to have a little fun with."
"Look what happened the last time I wanted to have a little fun. It's not worth it, Man."
"Yeah, but Penelope doesn't want forever, Man."
"Exactly." Jake goes to roll over, but I swear I hear him say something like, "But that is what I want." I am sure I heard wrong, though, since he swore off anything serious after Jessica.