Page 120 of The Hearts We Fumble
“What about LA?”
He scrunches his nose. “I don’t think I want to deal with the whole Hollywood scene.”
I smirk because I was thinking the same thing. “San Fran wouldn’t be much better.”
“True,” he admits, tilting his head. “I wouldn’t mind somewhere in the Midwest. It’s more our speed. And honestly? I think I could be happy anywhere as long as you’re with me.” His lips graze my temple. “It’d be even better if one of the guys landed on the same team. It’d make things easier—for me, but also for you if one of the girls were in the same city.”
He has a point. Everly and Tatum have become two of my closest friends. Being away from them would be hard, but we’d all be figuring out our new lives together. Plus, there’d be games to reunite us and FaceTime to keep us close.
We keep moving, Zane spinning me effortlessly across the floor for another song. By the third, my gaze drifts across the crowd, taking in the familiar faces, the dim glow of neon signs, the low hum of conversation beneath the music.
And then my breath catches.
Standing near the bar, looking out of place as hell in a sea of Braysen locals, is Luca.
My body tenses before I can stop it.
Zane immediately picks up on it, his hold on me shifting as he leans down, murmuring in my ear. “What’s wrong?”
“Well, don’t look right now, but Luca is here. Across the bar.” I keep my voice low, but the second I say it, Zane’s head snaps in that direction.
Luca’s gaze locks on his, his expression unreadable at first. But then his eyes narrow, his posture shifting ever so slightly.
I let out a frustrated sigh. “I told you not to look right now.”
Zane’s jaw clenches. “What does it matter if I see him?”
“Well, for one, I didn’t want him to know we were talking about him. And now he does.”
Zane doesn’t say anything at first, just keeps his eyes trained on Luca for another beat before turning back to me. “Should I go talk to him?”
I hesitate, pressing my palms against his chest, grounding us both. “I don’t know. Do you want to? The last time the two of you saw each other, it wasn’t exactly civil. Are you ready for that right now?”
His throat bobs, the tension in his shoulders shifting, but his eyes stay locked on mine. “I don’t know. But I think it’s time we find out.” He shrugs. “I haven’t really thought about it. I mean, I figured I’d see him eventually, but I hadn’t considered what I’d say.”
As the song fades and we step off the dance floor, I scan the crowd for Luca. But he’s gone. “He must’ve left,” I murmur, rising onto my toes, searching for any sign of him.
Zane follows my gaze, then exhales sharply. “Guess that answers that. If he wanted to talk, he wouldn’t have bailed. Sharing DNA doesn’t make us brothers, and it sure as hell doesn’t mean we have to be friends. After everything that’s happened, I don’t even know if that’s even possible.”
I lean back, studying his expression. “You really believe that? That there’s no chance to move past this?”
He shrugs again, his jaw set, and I shake my head.
“And here I thought I was the stubborn one,” I tease.
His lips twitch, but he doesn’t fully smile. “You think I should just forgive him? Act like none of this ever happened?”
“No. But I don’t think it has to define the rest of your lives either.” I squeeze his hand. “You don’t know what he was told—what he believed. For all we know, he thought you knew he was your half brother and didn’t care.”
Zane scoffs. “That’s not true, though. How would I have known? He changed his last name, for fuck’s sake. If it weren’t for Reed, I never would’ve figured it out. At least not until he lost it and would’ve blindsided me with it during the press conference. If that had been the way I found out? I don’t know how I would’ve reacted.”
I nod, relieved he’d at least had time to process it before it all exploded.
“Have you heard from your dad?” I ask carefully.
Zane sighs, his fingers tightening around mine. “Yeah. He’s tried calling and texting. I haven’t read the messages, and I sure as hell haven’t answered. I’m not ready to hear whatever bullshit excuse he has.”
I nod. “Then don’t. It’s your call.”
