Page 194 of Can't Always Get What You Want

I am one step away from proposing tohim. Seriously.

One step.

I’velightlystalked a few jewelers online. Maybe I’ve browsed a few men’s engagement bands. I’ve secretly bookmarked more than a dozen wedding venues in the Houston area on Instagram. IN SECRET.

Lost in thought, I blink up at him like he’s grown a second head when he casually announces from the kitchen:

“It’s Taco Tuesday. I think we should celebrate.”

I glanceup from my book to where Luca’s stands in the kitchen, staring into the refrigerator.

I lower my book slowly. Narrow my eyes. “You want to celebratetacos?”

“Youdon’t?” He scoffs. “We’re out of tomatoes and lettuce—I have to run to the grocery store. Wanna come with?”

Of course I want to come with.

He’s been gone a lot lately because the Baddies made the playoffs and all they do is work out, condition, and practice. Currently, his bicep is wrapped from a maybe tear—he won’t admit it’s serious.

I peel myself off the couch. “Give me two seconds. I’ll throw on jeans.”

I tug on denim, twist my hair into a clip, and slide into my sneakers. When I make it back to the kitchen, Luca’s standing by the counter with his keys in hand, doing this lean that’s almost too casual.

Like he watched a tutorial titled“How to Act Normal When You’re Definitely Up to Something.”

“You good?” I ask slowly.

He straightens, smiling. “Why wouldn’t I be? It’s Taco Tuesday.”

Rightttt...

By the time we pull into the parking lot of the store, he’s humming some off-key pop song and tapping his fingers against the wheel like he’s scoring a film. I raise an eyebrow, but he flashes me a grin and holds up the shopping list on his phone.

“Tomatoes, lettuce, and beans—and anything else that looks sexy,” he says. “Ready?”

“It’s me.” I laugh, following him into the store with a twirl. “I’m sexy.”

I’m still laughing when we grab a cart—he insists on pushing it—and because we’re having a cute, flirty afternoon—I push it along with him. We walk side-by-side and I glance up at him beneath my lashes, admiring his jawline as per usual.

Sigh.

So handsome…

Luca grabs a bag of shredded lettuce and tosses it in the cart like he’s dunking a basketball. “Boom. One item down.”

“We are so efficient.”

“Teamwork makes the tacos work.”

I roll my eyes. “That’s not a saying.”

“It is now.”

We pause in front of the tomatoes. He picks one up and turns it like he’s inspecting fine jewelry.

“This one’s firm but not too firm. Has a good shape. Kinda reminds me of your tits.”

I love it when he compliments me.

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