Page 99 of A Hard Sell

“Luka said you spent the holiday with your family in Solano?” Marta continued.

Ah, fuck.That was it.

Thomas quirked an eyebrow at Luka, giving him a minute.

“Um…” Luka offered.

“What?” Marta looked back and forth between them.

Damn it.“I might have…made that part up.”

“What part?” Marta frowned.

“Thomas wasn’t with his family over Christmas,” Luka said, cringing. He couldn’t look at his mom, so he looked at Thomas instead. “I just felt so bad that I hadn’t invited him and I didn’t want you to give me shit. I’m sorry.” Luka curled his mouth in a sheepish smile.

Thomas jumped in, bless him. “It was just me and my dad, Marta, and he passed away a few years ago from cancer. And it’s okay, our relationship was still really new at the time. I didn’t expect Luka to invite me.”

Marta glared at her son. “Luka Francis Moreno. Lying to your mother at Christmas and leaving your boyfriend alone? We raised you better than that!” Then she turned to Thomas, her expression softening. “I’m so sorry about your father, Thomas.”

“Thank you.”

“Well. You’ll have to come for Christmas this year. You’re part of our family now.” She glared at Luka again.

Family.The lump was back in Luka’s throat. God, he was such a fucking dick.Family.Luka’s brilliant plan to pretend he and Thomas were dating had just made the situation worse. He had, once again, been entirely selfish, worried about his own skin when he had to tell his mom that they broke up. But he was fucking around with real people and their real feelings. Thomas didn’t have a family, and here was Luka, asking him to pretend he had one, when it was all a lie.

He’d have to wallow in his own selfishness later. For now, there was a conversation to hold together.Christmas. Great.“Sure, Mom.” He stabbed a piece of asparagus. “How are lessons going these days?” That was a safe topic for distracting his mother.

“Oh, good.” She sighed. “The Peres twins still refuse to practice. I didn’t think it was possible to get worse every week, but they’re managing it. Rebecca is heading to Phoenix for the next six months, so she’ll miss the recital. And I have a new little guy starting the guitar. He reminds me of you, Luka. Comes so easy to him and cute as a button. Doesn’t know how good he is.” Her smile was a little distant as she cut a piece of ham.

Thomas looked over at Luka with a raised eyebrow. Luka hadn’t told them he had performed yet. He had wanted to tell them in person. With Thomas there, if he was being honest. He gave Thomas a little nod.

“Did Luka tell you?” Thomas asked. “He performed at an open mic night last month.”

Marta gasped deeply enough that it threatened to suck all the air from the room. “You did?” she warbled. “Oh, my baby.” She dropped her cutlery with a clatter and pressed her hands to her mouth.

“That’s wonderful, son,” Oscar added. He kept eating.

Marta was shaking her head, eyes wet. “I’m so proud of you.”

Luka looked at her, finding his eyes were also a little wet. “It was thanks to Thomas.” He glanced over at him. “I never would have done it if it weren’t for him.”

Thomas’ eyes were shining, too. “He was incredible, Marta. You would have been so proud.”

“I’m always proud.” Marta reached over to touch Luka’s arm. “But you’ll tell us next time you perform?”

“Mom, you don’t need to drive ten hours for an open mic night.”

Marta shrugged and reached for another slice of ham. “Oh, Luka. I’d drive a hundred.”

Thomas had his head down now, spearing small pieces of carrots one at a time onto his fork. Luka wanted to apologize for the whole thing, for asking Thomas to pretend, but all he could do now was put his hand on Thomas’ knee and squeeze.

* * * *

A while later, plates scraped clean and eclairs devoured, a comfortable, sleepy silence settled over the table.

Then Marta sat up straight and cast a mischievous look over to Luka and Thomas. “Well…now that dinner is over…”

Shit.“Oh God, Mother. You did not.”

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