Page 49 of Trouble in Love

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“Lucky, I brought us a picnic then. We can go hide wherever you like.”

“Is it just me or is it really freaking hot in here?”

“It’s hot in here. It’s a greenhouse, Luca. That’s kind of the point.”

Snarling, Luca tore a chunk of his disgusting-looking carb-free, gluten-free, flavor-free bread and tossed it amongst the ferns. “Fuck. You must think I’m so stupid.”

“No. I think you’re nervous and sweet. Much too sweet for me.” Another piece of bread hit the greenery. “Why do you put yourself down all the time? You’re not stupid. You’re one of the most popular and sponsored players in the NHL. You aced college, negotiated a record three-year deal, and you did it all yourself before landing an agent. I don’t think a dumbass could have done all that.”

Feeling quite righteous, I took a sip of my mimosa and gloated. It didn’t last long.

“Have you been googling me, Polly?”

Fuck.

“No … I didn’t google you. I used Safari.”

An adorable, crooked smirk I would likely remember long after he was gone curved Luca’s lips. “What else did you find out about me?”

“Hmm.” This was dangerous. If I revealed too much, he would know the lengths of my stalking but talking about him meant we wouldn’t be talking about me. Also, that arrogant smirk was addictive. I wanted more. “I know that you were unfairly outed, which is really shit. And that despite your team’s acceptance of LGBTQIA+ players, your manager made you cover it up, and that’s how you ended up with Clara. I know you’re famous for your trick shots, for being the fastest defenseman in the league, and for having the biggest …” His eyes widened. “Head about being the fastest.”

“That’s quite a lot. I’m impressed.” He began to say something else but suddenly stopped and furrowed his brows. “Hey. I just realized we’re talking about me again. This was supposed to be about you.”

“You’re much more interesting,”

“Somehow, I don’t think that’s the case.” Tingles exploded over my body as he leaned forward and planted a kiss on the edge of my mouth. A kiss I should have dodged. It started soft and innocent, but the moment my lips parted and released a helpless moan, his tongue was trailing over them, sliding against mine.

Damn, he was a good kisser. The best. And he smelled incredible. Like the beach and linen and soap and just a touch of manly sweat from his jog. As I slid my hands up over his neck and into his hair, my mind began conjuring images of him lathering his thick body with creamy soap while showering and wondering what kind of shampoo he used to make his locks so soft to the touch.

As much as it hurt, I pulled away, swallowing the remains of my drink while he eyed me like he wanted to eat me alive. Lord, how I wanted that, too.

With an empty glass and a worryingly full heart, I spilled. “You want to know about me? Okay. Most of the things you’veheard about me are true. I did ask Nate to date me to keep him and Evie apart. And when he returned from New York broken-hearted, and I saw that she’d come home to find him, I tried to seduce him again.”

Luca swallowed heavily. That ravenous look was a thing of the past. “And this was all because Evie dated a guy you liked in school?”

“Yes and no. There’s more to it than that,” I said as I reached over his legs for the juice and champagne and refilled my glass. His eyes never left mine. “You really want to know?”

“Yep. I really want to know.”

“Why? There’s no future for us, Luca. Why don’t you just leave it as a fun, forbidden holiday hookup? I can be the mysterious minx you played with before you went home and found yourself a good man or woman.”

“I want to know because everyone tells me I’m gullible and a terrible judge of character. My sister, Anabela, says I would fall in love with a mop if it fell on top of me. I also want to know because I feel things for you. I have a sense that there is good in you, Polly. That all this shit is a cover for something, and I need to know iftheyare right or if I am.”

“Luca, I can answer that without telling you my story. Yes, they, whoever they are, are right. You shouldn’t trust me, and you definitely shouldn’t have feelings.”

“But I do, and I need to know.” With his eyes on my lips, he edged closer again. “Please, Polly. I need to know.”

Luca

“He did.”

“No, he didn’t. I let him. Before that night, no boy would look twice at me. I might not have been the fat little boomba I was when I was thirteen, but that’s how everyone still saw me … how a lot still do. That’s why people called me Plop. Plop, plop, plop, here comes floppy Polly Waffle. But Luke wanted me. I was tipsy and I had on this really short skirt because I was so excited that it finally fit me.” She looked up at me though her lashes and her expression broke my heart. And she was hot. Not the good sexy kind but flushed with shame and regret. Unwarranted self-blame stoking the fire.

“I worked so hard, Luca. I dieted and starved and worked out till I was sick, but it was worth it ‘cause when that skirt fit me, Luke said I looked pretty. No one had ever said that to me before. Then we fooled around a bit, and I fell asleep, and when I woke up, he was on top of me and inside of me. I think I said no once. Once, Luca. And then he got rough, and I didn’t do anything. I just laid there and cried.”

Tears of hurt for her, rage at him, and anger at me for pushing her to this point streamed down my face. Getting to this point had been like delicately peeling petals from a flower before finally hitting the hard, black core at the center. With each layer gone, I got closer to her truth till, finally, it burst free.

“Polly. Listen to me.He. Raped. You.He raped you.”