Page 11 of Siren's Heart

I glare at Asher, who's standing to the side, shaking his head and looking at the ground like he’s ashamed to be around the others. There's more snickering, and Kayla's arm around me tightens. We continue our way past them, smiling pleasantly until their voices behind us fade.

"What the fuck was that?" The question bursts out of me as soon as the exit door falls shut behind us, eliminating the last bit of laughter we’d been hearing.

"I think that was their attempt at making Luca look like a good guy in front of you while teasing him," Kayla snickers.

“Oh. I thought they were making fun of us, and I just didn’t get it.” My cheeks instantly grow warm. So maybe there’s a chance I haven’t been the only one feeling this? He must have said something if they’re teasing him. "But... taking a bullet? Raging river? Really?"

We still chuckle as we get into the car and are driven home.

"Hey honey," I smile when I hear my dad's voice on the phone, his call coming just as I unlock the door to my apartment.

"Hi, Dad," I greet him back through a yawn, clutching the phone close as I shuck my shoes into a corner and stride to my living room to throw myself onto the couch. It might look pretty sterile, but what it lacks in design, it makes up for in comfort. It's comfy as fuck. Among the top five couches I’ve ever sat on.

I sink into the pillows, pushing out a small sigh as I can finally relax. And honestly? I'm not so sure I'll get up again today. I'm so exhausted from our dance training that I could just fall asleep right here, right now. Well, maybe after my conversation with Dad.

"How's Philly?" He asks excitedly, and I turn to prop my phone against one of the bazillion pillows on this thing so I can look at his face on my screen without having to hold my arm up.

"It's nice here. Haven’t seen much of it apart from the car, but what I’ve seen, I liked. How's England?"

My dad was born in California before his mother decided to move to Washington, where he has lived ever since.

As long as I can remember, my parents loved watching documentaries about other countries, painting those wonderful dream vacations in their head, and even creating a whole travel journal for when they retire and finally have the time to go on all those trips.

Then, when I became famous and the big money started rolling in, the first thing I did was tell them to quit their boring corporate jobs that sucked all joy out of them and go on the travels they'd planned out.

I know they’ve dreamed about visiting Europe and checking out the Eiffel Tower, and my dad, being the history freak he is, always expressed wanting to visit a bunch of historic sights. It took a lot of convincing that I actually make more money than I could ever spend, but finally, they gave in, and now they're happily spending my money making lifetime memories, and I join them whenever I have the time.

And when I have a break, they make sure to be home so we can spend time together without me having to meet them at the other end of the world. After our last tour, we spent a week together before they left for London, and I had another week left before I had to get here.

"It's wonderful, but the weather here is even worse than home," he chuckles and tilts his phone so I can see the clouded sky. "We can't wait to join you in Philly."

"And I can't wait to hang out with you. Remember to send me a postcard." It's become a tradition between us to send each other postcards from wherever we travel. I've hung theirs on a wall back home, and I love looking at them. Occasionally, I pick one from the wall and read about their travels. I love how my mom always gives elaborate reports on what they’ve been doing, and my dad usually just writes, “Hi Hun, weather’s great, beautiful country, love you.” It never fails to bring a smile to my face.

"It's already on the way," he assures me, and I give him a thankful nod, tilting my head curiously when I hear my mother’s voice in the background. "I'm supposed to tell you 'hi' from your mom. She's checking out the wellness features of this fine hotel, or she'd tell you herself." He smiles as he looks somewhere behind the screen, and his expression tells me that he’s looking at my mom. He always has that dreamy look in his eyes when he does. The one I’m searching for.

"Not in the mood for the sauna?"

"Ah, if only." He chuckles happily. "There's only massages and whirlpools here. She's off to the former one, and I'll join her for the latter."

"And that's all the information I need or want from you, thank you very much." I grin and keep my phone steady with one hand as I shift into a more comfortable position with my feet on the coffee table.

"Then tell me about the match. Who's playing? How is the stadium? Think you can give us a backstage tour when we're there?" He sits down at what I assume is a table in their hotel room and fumbles with his phone until it stays upright and he’s somewhat in the frame.

I close my eyes for a moment, already picturing it–walking around with the two of them, a bucket of popcorn in each of our hands, and the two of them probably wearing one of our tour shirts along with matching hats. That sounds like a lot of fun.

"I'll ask Naroa what we can do about the backstage tour. I'm sure we can come up with something."

"Nice. And the players?" Heat creeps into my face, and I clear my throat as moss-green eyes pop up in my mind, and my heart starts beating faster.

"Solid A-Listers," I tell him, biting the inside of my cheek to refrain from grinning. "You're going to be thrilled."

"Seriously? That's all you're giving me?" He sighs dramatically and rubs his hand over his forehead with fake disappointment.

"Thank Naroa for the NDA," I let go of my cheek to make way for a grin and grab a pillow with my free hand, putting it under my head. "They're announcing all players officially next week, then you'll know."

"Cruel," he pouts, and I can't help but giggle.

"I knew I'd get revenge for you not telling me what my birthday presents were." I fake an evil laugh and cuddle another pillow close to my chest. "So, what are you and Mom getting up to in England?"

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