Page 29 of The Game Changer
When our lips finally part, we’re both breathing heavily.
“I’m changing my answer for my rose,” Luca whispers before kissing me again, softly and quickly this time. “Kissing you is definitely my rose.”
13
LUCA
“One of these days,you’ll let me pay for dinner,” my dad grumbles as we meander slowly along one of the streets of downtown Cedar Creek. It’s a quiet Saturday night, cold, seeing as it’s the first week of November, but not so cold that it’s uncomfortable to walk outside. The street lamps cast pools of warm light on the sidewalk. I’d say it’s a romantic setting, if I wasn’t with my parents.
Now, if it were Isla on my arm…
“One day,” I reply with a smirk. “But not today.”
Mom slips her arm through my elbow, hugging my side. “Thank you for dinner, honey, it was lovely to be able to spend some time with you. I feel like you’re so busy these days.”
“Turns out, owning a baseball team is a lot of work.”
“Just don’t forget there’s more to life than work. You’re building something incredible there, but what happens when it’s done and the team is a success? You should have someone to share that with. Unless therealready is someone and you’re just not telling me,” she says, clearly fishing for information.
I want to shrug off her hold. I love my mother to the very depths of my soul but sometimes she can be a little too pushy with her nosiness into my life. Especially now, after what happened with Isla last night, it’s uncomfortable how close my mom is to the secret desire I have for my marketing consultant.
“Like you said, I’m really busy right now. I’ll figure out dating when things slow down.”
Just then, we pass a young couple walking hand in hand, smiling up at each other, and my dad says, “Remember when we were like that, Marjorie? Young and carefree, two kids in love.”
Mom drops my arm and turns on her feet to place her hands on his shoulders. “Watch yourself Lou, I’m still carefree and in love.”
Dad leans down and pecks a sweet kiss to her lips. “Just not so young anymore.”
As a kid, I would get grossed out by how affectionate my parents could be sometimes. As an adult, it just makes me long for something I don’t have.
“Well, Luca won’t be so young, either, if he doesn’t get a move on and find a partner to live life with,” Mom presses on, but thankfully, Dad steals her focus with another kiss.
“Leave him alone, Marge.”
Mom huffs but turns to me and smiles fondly. “Is it so bad for me to want my incredibly handsome and wonderful son to find someone to fall in lovewith? I just don’t want you to wake up one day and realize you’ve gone through most of your life alone.”
“You make it sound like I’ve never been in a relationship,” I point out, stuffing my hands in my pockets as we come to a stop at the railing and look out at the water. Not that there’s much to see with how black the night sky is this time of year.
“I do think you’ve never let yourselffullybe with someone. You’ve always held yourself back, Luca. What I don’t understand is why.”
I scoff and start to speak, but this time, it’s my father who pipes up. Apparently, they’re double-teaming me tonight.
“Son, if you mention one thing about your leg, I’m gonna smack you silly, grown man or not. Missing part of your leg does not make you any less worthy of finding love.”
“Nicely said, honey.” Mom pats his chest lovingly before turning back to me. “You’ve been through a lot in life. More than any child should have to endure. It made you strong, but it also hurt you. Don’t think we don’t know that. Being alone won’t make that hurt go away. If anything, it will make it fester. We’ll stop nagging you as long as you promise to at least think about what we’re saying. You deserve to be happy. Completely, fully happy.”
“And I can’t be happy alone?” I fire back, my voice full of more annoyance than they deserve. I can’t help it, they’ve hit a nerve. One I don’t want to look at too closely right now, when I just want to hold onto thememory of kissing Isla, and not get lost in the what-ifs and maybes of the future.
I know my parents mean well, but they don’t realize that what they have, this perfect, unconditional love, isn’t the norm. Not everyone gets to have that.
I’ve always believed I don’t get to have that, and it would take a lot more than one perfect kiss to convince me otherwise.
“No, Luca, you can’t. Some people, yes, absolutely, they can be fulfilled and perfectly happy living their life alone. But you have so much good, so much love in your heart, I know you’ll never be fully content without someone to share that love.”
My mom gets her wish, and I don’t stop thinking about what she and Dad said all evening. I drop them at home, then return to my penthouse apartment. And I find myself noticing how stark and empty it is, in a way I haven’t before.
It’s big. Too big for one person. I bought it after my mom fell in love with the rooftop patio. A patio that has a hot tub and seating area I’ve used maybe half a dozen times in the months I’ve lived here.
