Page 57 of Crossed Sticks

Luca’s jaw dropped, and tears filled his eyes. “The fucking bastard. He actually said that to you? Using those words?”

“Exactly.”

“Goddamn him and fuck no! First off, you don’t say shit like that to somebody, even if it’s true. And believe me, what he said wassofar from true.” He removed his arm from my shoulders, then turned to face me. “You are beyond amazing. I’ve never known anyone as special as you. Youarea keeper; do you hear me? You. Are. A. Keeper.”

He wrapped his arms around me, holding me tightly as a choked sob escaped and I dissolved into tears. I wasn’t just crying because of what Simon had said. Luca’s tale had broken my heart, and his reaction to my story was the comfort I’d needed for years. He sniveled, and we clung to each other while we cried.

Neither of us had done anything to deserve the pain we’d suffered. We fell in love with men who seemed to be amazing, only to have them rip us apart. Caleb’s behavior had left Luca with scars that might never heal, and my past was a ghost that could haunt me forever. Harsh words and betrayals don’t fade away. They transform, taunting you from the shadows with constant whispers that you aren’t good enough.

Luca had asked me to be his boyfriend, and I’d said yes. Could this help us heal? Would a genuine relationship based on trust and caring make us whole? I’d told him my story to give him fair warning of what he would be getting into with me, and though I doubted he’d renege on his question, it was time to find out.

We’d stopped crying, so I reached for a box of tissues from the side table, and Luca reached for my hands after we cleaned up. His beautiful smile was at odds with his puffy, red-rimmed eyes, and his voice was surprisingly firm. “Thanks for telling me all that, and I’m sorry you went through it. You said I should know in case I wanted to back out of being boyfriends. Now that I’ve heard it, I want to be your boyfriend more than ever. We’ve both got pasts, but you make me hope for a better future. I like you so much, Harp. Please, still say yes.”

I broke into a smile to match his. “Yes, I’d love to be boyfriends.”

He leaned in, his lips brushing softly against mine before he darted his tongue out to taste the corner of my mouth. I opened for him as he gently tugged on my lower lip, and our tongues met in a passionate dance that had me buzzing with desire. I couldn’t believe my luck. Whatever the future held for Luca and me, I had faith we could weather any storm, but those were thoughts for another day. Right now, I was taking my incredible boyfriend upstairs to seal the deal.

18/

harper

A Week Later

Luca had left earlyfor a photo shoot, and without him beside me, the bed was cold and empty. I got up and made breakfast, and while I ate peaches, eggs, and toast, I thought about how content I was. Buffalo had become a refuge I hadn’t anticipated. After only two months, I felt more at home than I had in D.C., where loneliness had been my way of life. Even surrounded by teammates, I was always the outsider, watching them live their lives while mine felt incomplete.

I’d been convinced Buffalo would be the same—too much time alone, casual hookups, and no strings. There certainly would be no satisfying tangle of legs and sheets that could carry me through the day.

But meeting Luca changed everything. He cracked open the walls I’d built and tore down his own. What began as two horny athletes having fun grew into something deeper, and we’d become boyfriends. The road ahead was uncertain, but he’d done the impossible—he had me wanting to believe in happy endings.

I drove to the Warriors’ facility in Amherst to meet Gabe and Holcomb for a workout. They had already become my friends, something I was thankful for since I missed my old teammates. After the workout, we grabbed lunch, and I drove back home to wait for Luca.

Along the way, I tried to think of something special we could do since it was cooler outside. It didn’t take long for inspiration to hit. When I was a student at Mohegan, my friends and I used to go to Lake Erie State Park when we wanted to get away. The park is on the lakeshore, about halfway between Buffalo and Mohegan, and it has a surprisingly beautiful beach.

Since Luca and I both enjoyed the water, I wanted to take him down there. Watching the sunset together would be romantic as hell, and lying on a blanket, whispering under the stars while the waves rolled in, would bring us even closer.

When Luca got home, he loved the idea of a beach date. We took my SUV, and by the time we arrived at the park, the place was deserted. I was glad we’d have peace and quiet for our special date. Safe to say, there would be some delicious twilight kisses.

We carried a picnic basket and blanket with us into the park. Luca had been there before, and when we reached the water’s edge, he pointed up the beach. About a hundred yards away, a stand of trees was nestled between a huge pile of driftwood and the sand. “That’s a perfect spot,” he said, winking. “Plenty of privacy, right on the beach.”

“Great idea. My friends and I used to hang out there when we came up from Mohegan.”

Hand-in-hand, we walked to our chosen spot. It was secluded, with the water lapping nearby and the trees providing natural shelter.

After we spread the blanket out on the sand, I looked around. We faced the water, with the trees and driftwood providing aprotective barrier behind us. “Look at this,” I said. “Our own private corner of the world.”

Luca brushed his fingers up my arm as a gentle smile spread across his lips. “Thank you for thinking of this. It’s wonderful to be here with you.”

Our eyes met, and time stood still as I lost myself in his dark, lustrous gaze. It was a moment before I could say, “Your eyes are so beautiful that I’ll never get tired of looking at them.”

“Yours too. One minute they seem brown, the next green. That’s hazel, right?”

“Yeah.” I smiled. “Want to go for a walk on the beach, sexy eyes?”

“Definitely, but first…” His voice dropped to a husky whisper. “I need to kiss you.”

My heart skittered, and I placed my hands on his chest and squeezed. His leathery, musky fragrance was intoxicating. It was impossible to tell where the cologne ended and his own scent began, but I didn’t care. It was all Luca.

Desire crackled between us when our lips touched. The feathery contact only lasted an instant, but the spark was explosive enough that I jerked my head back.

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