Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 121095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121095 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Mom purses her lips, signaling I’ve guessed correctly. With a deep sigh, she returns her attention to the game without releasing my hand, and we watch together as Roman’s backup takes the field to save my brother from potential injury during the final meaningless minutes of the game.
“Can I say one little pep-talky thing?” Mom says. “If I promise I’ll shut my mouth after that?”
I force myself not to roll my eyes. “Make it short and snappy.”
Mom pats my hand. “My darling boy—”
“And that’s a wrap, Mom. Thanks for the inspiring words. I’ll carry them with me always.”
“Would you listen to me?” She glances at Maverick on Iris’s lap. “For bleep’s sake, Luca. I know you better than you know yourself. Maybe, just maybe, I’ve got something to say that will help you.”
I exhale. “Fine. Go ahead.”
She inhales and exhales, gathering her thoughts. “My darling boy, I know you’re feeling devastated right now, but you’ll rise again, the same way you always do, because that’s who you are, Luca Maguire. You’re a phoenix. A fighter. A survivor.”
“Awesome. I feel completely better now. Thanks, Mom.”
“Oh, Luca.”
“I don’t want to talk about this, Mom. I just want to watch the game—”
“They’re three touchdowns ahead!”
“And forget about how badly I’ve fucked things up.”
“Bleeped them up.” She motions to Maverick.
“He can’t hear a word I’m saying. And even if he could, I think I’m entitled to use an f-bomb, even in his presence, considering how badly things are going for me in my life, top to bottom.”
“Top to bottom? Honey, you’re still alive! If you put your nose down and work hard, you never know—”
“You sound exactly like Chelsea. Back when she was still speaking to me, anyway.”
Mom gasps. “Chelsea’s not speaking to you?”
Fuck. Why’d I tell her that? Welp, I guess there’s no closing Pandora’s box now. I might as well tell her what’s going on. “Chelsea and I broke up. It’s over.”
“No,” Mom gasps out, looking aghast. “Why? What happened? What terrible thing did you do, Luca?”
I frown. “Why do you assume I did something bad?”
“Because she’s not speaking to you! Oh my God, Luca, this is a shocker. You two looked so in love and smitten at Roman’s party.” Mom pouts. “I’m so mad at you for whatever you did to piss her off, Luca. How could you?”
“I’m a rolling stone, Mom. A man can’t defeat gravity.”
She rubs her forehead, looking distressed. “When your Aunt Sofia told me that romantic story about you and Chelsea meeting in college, I thought for sure you two were fate.”
“What the fuck?”
“The bleep.”
“How does your sister know that story?”
“Nicola.”
I run a hand down my face. Of course, Marco told his wife the story after our call a few weeks ago, and Nicola then told her mother-in-law. I should have known that would happen.
“So, what terrible thing did you do?” Mom persists with a poke of my arm. “Did Chelsea want a serious commitment, and you got scared of your big feelings and did what you always do with every girl you’ve ever dated? You pushed her away and—”
“No, that’s not it. I really don’t want to talk about this with you.”
Mom gasps and whisper-shouts, “Did you cheat on her?”
I look around nervously, but nobody around us could possibly hear a single word above the din of the noisy crowd. “Of course not. If you know me better than anyone, as you claim, then you should know I’d never, ever do that. Least of all to Chelsea.”
Mom straightens up, looking equal parts relieved and determined. “Okay then, whatever you did to ruin things with Chelsea, it’s fixable. Go to her and apologize profusely for your stupidity. Tell her you made a huge mistake and you’ll never do it again. Do whatever it takes to get her back, Luca.”
I exhale. It’s all I want to do. All I’ve been imagining myself doing since I bolted out of the Mastodons’ complex following my blowup with Chelsea last week. But of course, I know that’s not possible. Not if I truly love Chelsea, which I do.
“I can’t do that, Mom.”
“Yes, you can! Luca, a girl like Chelsea Parker won’t come around again. She’s one of a kind. She’s one of us. And I’ve never seen you smiling that big in your life as when you introduced her around at Roman’s party.”
“Mom, stop. After I made the lowly practice squad, Chelsea kept insisting on sticking with me and trying to help me, instead of ditching my ass and following her own dreams. So, I rightly decided to say whatever it took to set her free for her own good.”
Mom stares at me blankly. “What do you mean?”
“I mean I set her free. You know, ‘If you love something, set it free.’ That’s what you always say, so that’s exactly what I did.”