Page 14 of Moonlight & Matrimony
“I’ll come by in the morning and we can go pick up your car,” Luca says, keeping his voice low.
“Ok. Thanks again.”
“Anytime, sweetheart.”
Silence stretches between us, my heart urging me to wrap my arms around his waist, but before I can act on the impulse, Luca turns, leaving me standing in the darkened hallway with only my thoughts for company.
Luca
The next morning, I take Ivy and Rylin to pick up her car andwe make it back to her house unscathed. I don’t know what I’ve gotten myself into with them, but there’s something here that I can’t shake — a visceral need to protect them both and make sure they’re taken care of. It’s not something I’ve ever experienced before, but try as I might, I can’t ignore it.
Once the girls are safely back at Ivy’s house, I head over to The Ridge. Cade pulled me aside after the baby shower and asked me to build a new custom bar top, so I’ll need to check out the space and take some measurements.
There’s a sense of rightness as I walk along Main Street towards the bar — a contentment I don’t think I ever felt in Northbrook. There’s something special about this town. I’ve only been here a few weeks, but it already feels like home.
When I arrive, the place is dark save for a few string lights with Edison bulbs hanging over the bar. Liam’s wiping down the surface when I approach, and the weathered wood looks like it's seen better days.
“Hey man. What can I get ya?”
“Hey Liam. Cade here?”
“Yeah, he’s in the back. Just head around the bar and through that hallway.”
I nod my thanks, following his directions towards the sound of booming laughter. Cade is leaning against a large oak desk, legs crossed, as he holds a phone to his ear.
“Luca, just the man I wanted to see,” Cade says, gesturing for me to follow him back out to the bar. “I’ll call you later, Dean. Thanks again.”
“Just here to get those measurements and talk about what you have in mind,” I say.
“Sure thing. Just let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.” He busies himself, unloading a few cases of beer as I pull out my drafting pad and pencil and set to work on themeasurements. When Liam heads into the back, Cade breaks the silence. “By the way, how’s Ivy?”
The question catches me off guard, and my brow furrows in confusion. It’s not a secret that Ivy and I are neighbors, but I’m not exactly privy to everything that’s going on in her life, despite how it might look to outsiders. “What do you mean?” I ask.
“Paige mentioned she was having some issues with her ex and you were helping out. Unless I’m mistaken?” It’s not really a question — Cade’s trying to catch me in a lie.
“Yeah, he’s a real son of a bitch,” I remark, trying to avoid giving any unsolicited details. I haven’t told anyone about the most recent run-in, but that doesn’t mean Ivy hasn’t. Either way, it's not my place. If she wants them to know, she’ll fill them in when she’s ready.
“That’s for sure.” His jaw clenches, a dark expression taking over his features. “I’m not sure if she remembers, but there was an incident here before I bought the place. I was bartending one night when Ivy came in with Austin, and she looked like a terrified little bird next to him. I intervened as much as I could without making things worse for them, but fuck did I want to plow my fist into his face.”
“Sounds about right,” I scoff. “He deserves worse.”
“Paige is real glad she has you looking out for her friend, man. I know you and your sister have some history, but it’s nice that she has family down here.”
The sudden turn in the conversation makes me uncomfortable, so I nod, pulling out my measuring tape to distract from the tension flooding my body. “So, what did you have in mind for the design?”
“Something rustic. This one has seen better days, and I’m not a big fan of the glossy finish. I realize it’ll need a topcoat to keep the surface clean, but I’d prefer something a little more matte. I’d also like it to wrap around a little further on this side so wecan add a few more stools. Shit gets crazy on karaoke and trivia nights, so we could use the extra seating.”
“Sounds good. I’ll just get what I need and head out to Sully’s to grab some supplies. I should be able to have it ready for installation in a month or so if you’re not in a hurry.”
“Nah, take your time. I’ll be busy with my daughter soon, anyway.”
“You ready for that?” I ask.
“As I’ll ever be, I guess. I can’t wait to meet her, I’ll say that much. If she’s anything like Paige, I’m fucking done for.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, you’re a goner, dude. Listen, I’m well aware our family hasn’t been the most supportive, but I’m glad my sister has you.”
“She always will. Now enough of this sappy shit,” he claps a hand on my shoulder. “Can I get you a beer?”
