“I stole some boxers.” She’d given me the shirt last night, so she probably doesn’t care.
“Never thought I’d see the day Luca has a girl in his room wearing his clothes.” She laughs it off easily, but meanwhile my stomach tightens. What does that even mean?
“Because he doesn't sleep with locals?” I ask, unable to help myself.
I’m not sure what information I’m fishing for here. He pretty much told me that the other night, but I’d still like to hear it from someone else. What the hell would you even call what we did? This is way worse than sleeping with someone from your town. I really need to let this go because I’m going in circles. What’s done is done, I remind myself, and there’s no going back.
“I never see him with anyone.” She shrugs. “Come eat. You need it with those painkillers.”
I have a feeling I’ll have to eat if I want to get out of here. “Okay,” I agree, following her down the stairs.
I’m not sure if her answer to my question is good or bad. On one hand it’s good because he doesn't bring a line of women in and out of his house, but on the other hand it also shows he’s never had a serious relationship. As if I have room to talk on that one. I’ve stayed clear of dating my whole life, but look where it’s landed me.
Cooper is standing at the stove as I enter the kitchen. “How are you feeling?” he asks.
“A bit sore,” I answer, and he nods. “I’m guessing my car is shot?”
“Yeah. I’ll give you a copy of the report for your insurance company about the hit and run.”
“I’m just glad no one was seriously hurt.”
The man in the second car that hit me didn’t have a scratch on him. They are still looking for the jackass that caused the whole mess to begin with.
“You got knocked around pretty good. You should hang around here another day and rest,” Juno says as she holds a plate out to Cooper. He puts some eggs on it before she adds some bacon.
“I really want to get home and into my own bed.” Cooper starts to speak, and I narrow my eyes on him. “Isn’t blackmail illegal or something?”
Juno snorts and then presses her lips together.
“I’m watching out for our family, that’s all. Bastian would do the same.” He gives me a warm smile, and I feel guilty.
“That’s really sweet of both of you, but I’m good, I promise.” I’d already sent in a request for a driver to come and get me this morning, and they should be here soon.
“At least eat.” Juno puts the plate in front of me and leaves no room for an argument.
“Thanks.” I pick up my fork and do as she orders. It’s not until the food hits my mouth that I realize how truly hungry I am.
Cooper’s phone starts to ring as Juno puts a glass of orange juice down in front of me.
“Luca.” I hear Cooper say as he turns off the stove and walks out of the kitchen. My heart begins to race, and I wonder what will happen if he’s on his way here. The last thing I want is to run into him after he ditched me.
When Cooper told me to take his room last night, he said Luca was gone, but he didn’t mention when he’d be back.
“I still can’t get over how incredible that wedding was. It was a fairy tale really.” Juno picks up a piece of bacon and pops it into her mouth.
“It really was. Lux is so good for my brother.” They fit together perfectly, and it makes me long for the same thing.
“Everyone needs a little Lux in their life.” I nod in agreement as I quickly eat my food.
My phone vibrates, and I look down to see my ride's here. “This breakfast was wonderful. Thank you so much for it and for taking care of me.” I hop up from my chair. “I have to get my things.”
“Wait, you’re leaving?” Juno calls after me as I make my escape.
Luca isn't the only one who can slip out the morning after.
10
Luca
“What the fuck do you mean she was in an accident?” I hold the phone tighter in my hand as I stand as still as a statue outside the boardroom.
“I told you she’s fine. She stayed at the house last night and Juno and I checked on her. Why are you so upset?”
“Upset!” I shout and then take a deep breath. Cooper doesn’t know about me and Selma, but he’s about to get caught up. Everyone is. “Where is she? I need to talk to her.”
I curse again for not having her number, and I swear to god when I get my hands on her, I’m going to tattoo it on my arm.
“Hang on,” Cooper says, and I hear movement on the other end of the phone.
I want to scream at him to run and hurry, but I close my eyes and remind myself that it’s okay, she’s okay. He explained the accident, but all I heard was that she’d been to the hospital and that equals really bad in my brain.
“Mr. Cross, we’re ready to resume,” the mediator says and waits for me to follow her.
I’m still in fucking Houston dealing with this contract. A contract that should have been wrapped up yesterday, and I could have been home to be the one to take care of Selma.
“I need a second,” I tell her, and she gives me a tight smile as she goes back into the boardroom.
“Sorry, she’s gone,” Cooper says, but I must have heard him wrong.
“What?”
“Juno said she called an Uber to come get her. She left just a second ago.” He says something to Juno, and then I hear him come back to the phone. “Why did you want to talk to her?”
“Fuck!” I shout and through the glass of the boardroom everyone turns to stare at me. I can’t imagine what I look like right now, but based on the faces they’re making I’m guessing it’s not good.
I hang up the phone and without thinking it through, I leave the meeting. I hear someone behind me call my name, but I hit the button for the elevator instead.
“Mr. Cross, is everything okay?” the mediator says as she hurries to catch up with me.
“My wife’s been in an accident,” I blurt out, again without really thinking through what the hell I’m doing.
“Oh my god, I had no idea you were married. Is she okay?”
“She will be after I get my hands on her,” I answer.
There’s just enough time for me to see the shocked expression on her face before the elevator doors close. I’m not able to process exactly what I’m walking out on as I pull out my phone and make a call.
By the time I’m outside and in a cab, I’ve already called the hotel and had them pack my belongings. And made a call to the airport to charter a private plane back home to Pink Springs. Selma might be okay, but I won’t know for sure until I lay my eyes and hands on her.
Two hours later, I’m getting off the plane and my car is waiting for me on the tarmac. I grab the keys from the attendant nearby and toss my bag in the passenger seat. Once behind the wheel, I feel like I finally have control, and I hit the gas. Hard.
I need to learn how to fly a fucking plane, because at least then it would have felt like I was doing something instead of sitting idly by, waiting to be closer to Selma.