Page 78 of Leave Me Broken

I keep my eyes trained out the window. “Thank you.”

There’s a beat of silence, then he adds, “I don’t remember my mamma. Not really. So I can’t imagine what it feels like to lose a parent at seventeen.”

No, he probably can’t. The thing is, I didn’t lose a parent at seventeen. I lost a parent at four and not too much longer after that when my mother chose her scummy husband over her kids. Maybe it’s different now that she’s not walking around and breathing Earth’s air, but it doesn’t feel different.

“It’s probably harder when you consider your mom, a mom,” I deadpan. Maybe it’s harsh. He’s just being nice but it’s the truth. I have to lie so much for Ash and me, I don’t want to lie about this too.

He mutters something in Italian, and I sigh. Great, now I made it awkward.

I glance back and see Parker looking out the side window from the middle of the back seat with a frustrated look on his face.

“I’m sorry. My family relationships are . . .” Not relationships at all. Complicated? Disastrous? “Complex. I don’t mean to sound heartless. I’m really not.” At least I don’t mean to be.

Parker purses his full lips. “I know you are not heartless. You show my Papà plenty of love. Sei perso.”

It’s awkward for a different reason now but there is no time to remedy it since Ash and Luca just walked out the gas station doors.

“I’m sorry if it’s weird. But can we try and get along? It really upsets your dad when we fight. He hasn’t said anything, but I can tell.”

Parker watches his dad who is looking right at us with such loving eyes. “Sì. Mi spiace. I am sorry.”

“Me too.”

“Who is ready to party?” Luca cheers as he throws a few bottles, a box of beer, and a . . . box of wine onto the seat between him and Parker.

I spare a glance at Ash. His lips tilt in a half smile as he shakes his head. “I have a feeling you are going to see a very drunk Luca tonight.”

Luca rushes forward and wraps an arm around my shoulders. He leans in and presses a sloppy kiss to my cheek and one to Ash’s, which he promptly wipes off. “No, no, coniglietta. You are going to see both your loving coaches very drunk.”

“Does that mean I get to drink?” I ask. I’m joking I have no interest in drinking. But Ash shoots a look at Luca who grins back at him.

“As much fun as that would be to see”—Ash’s eyes darken—“you are not yet of legal age.”

“You either,” Luca says. I look back as he grabs a bottle from Parker’s hand.

Parker complains to Luca in Italian to which both Luca and Ash reply—also in Italian.

“You are no longer in Italy, nipote.”

Ash pulls behind one of the many cars in Janelle’s driveway. I can’t believe how many cars are here. Janelle’s parents don’t throw parties a lot, but when they do, they go all out. Janelle had texted me when Lauren decided she was going to throw a party, but I was busy in the gym all day, so I didn’t hear about it until Janelle found me serving.

Luca pulls open my door and offers me a hand, I take it, and lucky I do because when I step, my knee buckles under me and Luca’s the only reason I don’t fall.

“You need an ice bath.” Ash frowns, stopping by my side and replacing Luca’s hand with his.

I pull him closer to my body and Luca heads inside with Parker.

Ash tilts my head back so I am looking at him and leans in. The air is cold, creating a fog as our breaths mix before he presses his warm lips into mine. “We could head back to my place. It will be empty for a while.”

I consider taking him up on that but we’ve been locked away behind doors for a while. It’ll be nice to hang out with my team. Even though we can’t do this inside, or even touch, it’ll be good for Ash to relax and let loose a little. I feel like he doesn’t do that often.

“I can just take a cool shower here. Jay has her own en suite.”

“I said bath, babygirl. Your knee needs to soak for at least fifteen minutes, a shower will not do that.”

“I’m sure Lauren has ice.”

Ash drops his forehead to mine and sighs. “Why are you so difficult?”

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