Page 22 of A Game of Ruck
I sit beside her, close enough to feel her warmth but not enough to spook her.
Not yet.
“You good?”I ask quietly.
She sips her champagne.Nods.Then whispers, “I didn’t think they’d actually talk to me.”
I stare at her.“They’re your family.”
She shrugs one shoulder.“Family doesn’t always mean welcome.Trust me.”
And damn it if that doesn’t jab me in the gut.
Before I can come up with something meaningful to say, one of the bridesmaids—not Lisa, but another size-zero sparkle goblin—comes teetering over.
“Annabeth, you should come take pictures with the girls!”
Annabeth stiffens.I can feel her debating it, already rehearsing excuses.
So I lean forward and grin, all teeth and menace.“Actually, she promised me the next fifteen minutes.We’ve got some talking to do.Raincheck?”
The bridesmaid blinks, clearly confused that I’d choose conversation over filtered candids, then scurries away with a pout.
Annabeth turns to me, wide-eyed.“Did you justrescueme?”
I shrug.“You looked like you needed it.”
She softens, her lips curving.“You’re full of surprises, Luca.”
“You have no idea, Angel.”
And as the sun dips lower and the boat glides over turquoise water, I let myself imagine—for just a second—that this isn't pretend.
That I really am her date.
That maybe this weekend won’t end the way I planned.
That maybe it won’t end at all.
Chapter Six-Annabeth
He kissed me.
Likereallykissed me.
Hot shot rugby forward, Luca freaking Warden, full-on lip-locked me right there in the middle of the Playa de Sol resort lobby.
And he did it in front of my four couture-wrapped, viper-mouthed cousins and their protein-shake-for-brains dates.
Like we were in a Hallmark movie.
Or a steamy TikTok thirst trap.
Holy.Freaking.What the actual hell just happened?
My lips are still tingling.
My brain’s still trying to reboot.
