Page 24 of Pucking Tangled

TWENTY-FOUR

Luca

Luca stared at his plate and flexed his fist.

He shouldn’t be feeling this way.

This was what they’d all agreed to.

If Mia wanted more than one of them, they would support it.

Hell, he even told Mia as much last night.

So why the hell did it feel like his chest was caving in?

Across the table, Waylon looked relaxed. Like he hadn’t just fed Mia with his own fork. Like he hadn’t just looked her dead in the eye and said something that made her mouth go slack and Luca want to throw a chair.

“I bet you taste better.”

Casey bailed.

Owen looked like he was ready to punch the smirk right off Waylon’s face.

And Mia sat between them looking like she’d just been caught doing something she shouldn’t. Flushed and wide-eyed and completely, achingly beautiful .

He was an idiot. He knew what they’d agreed to. No one would claim her. They’d give Luca his moment—one night, one shot—and then the door would be open for them to each make a move. But he hadn’t expected it to hurt like this. Not so soon.

Last night had felt real .

He’d kissed every inch of her. Touched her like she was something sacred. Whispered her name like a promise.

But now?

Now he felt like a placeholder. Like the warm-up act before the main show.

His jaw tightened.

Waylon didn’t deserve her. Not with the way he treated everything and everyone like a game.

He didn’t know her—not the way Luca did.

He didn’t know how she got that little wrinkle between her brows when she was overthinking.

The way she tucked her feet under her when she got quiet.

The sound she made when she really let go—a gasp caught between a moan and a laugh.

Luca knew all of that.

And he wasn’t going to lose her without a fight.

He turned just in time to see Waylon saunter out of the kitchen, humming to himself like nothing had happened.

“Seriously?” Luca said, stepping in front of him. “You think that was funny?”

Waylon stopped. “I think you’re in over your head.”

Luca’s chest rose and fell with ragged breaths. “That’s not how this was supposed to go.”

“That’s exactly how this was supposed to go. You had your night. We gave you time and space. That’s what we agreed to,” Waylon said, eyes flashing with something sharper than amusement now.

“I know,” Luca ground out. “But that doesn’t mean you get to?—”

“To what?” Waylon smirked. “To show her she has options? To treat her like she’s desirable instead of untouchable? You think she didn’t like it?”

“To pounce on her so quickly,” he clarified.

“No?” Waylon cocked his head. “Because I thought the point was we agreed to let her choose. You had your night, man. Now I’m making my move.”

“It’s not a game , Waylon.”

“No,” Waylon said, his voice growing darker. “It’s not. Which is why I’m not sitting on my hands anymore while you pretend like she belongs to you.”

Luca’s jaw clenched. “I never said that.”

“You didn’t have to.”

Luca couldn’t respond. Not right away. Because deep down, buried under the jealousy and the fear, he knew Waylon wasn’t wrong.

Mia did want more.

She’d told Luca as much. She’d been honest about it. He just thought he’d have more time.

More her.

More firsts.

But now?

Now he was afraid last night might be the only night he got.

And he didn’t know how he was going to survive.

Mia

Breakfast made her head spin.

No. Scratch that.

Waylon was what made her head spin.

After the stunt he pulled, Mia excused herself and made a hasty retreat. But instead of locking herself in her room, she showered and changed into clothing that belonged to her , and then waited in Luca’s bedroom for him to return.

She’d heard his entire exchange with Waylon. She hadn’t meant to, but neither man had been quiet.

Her stomach flipped remembering what had caused it.

She’d let Waylon feed her.

Worse—she’d liked it. The boldness. The tension. The way he stared at her like he already knew what she looked like completely naked and couldn’t wait to make her scream his name.

But Luca had been right there . She held his hand and took Waylon’s bait at the very same time.

She ran a hand through her hair, suddenly dizzy with it all. Luca had been so sweet, so attentive, so good to her.

And then Waylon went and made it clear that the gloves were off.

What the hell was she doing?

She hadn’t meant for any of this to happen so fast. She thought there’d be time. Thought maybe they’d ease into whatever this was.

But the fuse had been lit.

And Waylon hadn’t just struck a match. He’d dropped a damn grenade.

She couldn’t ignore the curiosity. The desire burning inside of her .

But under all of that was a sharp bite of guilt.

Yes. She talked with Luca about the fact that the other guys wanted her. And how she thought she wanted them.

They agreed that they’d have their night together and go from there.

Then Luca went and made her feel things she’d never felt before.

He claimed her in a way that was unexpected.

He was unexpected.

“Hey,” she said softly as he walked into his room.

His head snapped up, and she could see the pain in his eyes.

Mia played with the hem of her shirt and bit her lip, nervously. “I…uh…I heard you and Waylon talking.”

Luca sighed. “Of course you did.”

“I wasn’t trying to?—”

“It’s fine,” he said quickly. Too quickly. Like he really didn’t want to talk about it anymore. “You don’t have to explain. I get it.”

Her brows furrowed. “But do you, really?”

Luca ran a hand through his hair and looked up at the ceiling. “You told me what you wanted. I knew that wasn’t just me. I just…I guess I didn’t think it would feel like this.”

“Like what?”

“Like I’m already losing you.”

The words hit her like a sucker punch.

She rose to her feet and stepped closer to him, reaching out and lacing her fingers in his. “You’re not,” she said quietly. “Luca, last night was real . Every second of it. It will be itched in my mind forever.”

His jaw clenched, giving her the impression that he was unconvinced. “Fucking, Waylon. He came at you so fast. And you let him. ”

Another sucker punch right in the heart.

“I didn’t expect him to do that.”

“And yet, you didn’t stop him, either. You let it happen.”

Mia exhaled shakily.

He finally looked at her. His eyes were glassy, rimmed red, vulnerable in a way that broke her heart.

“I know it’s selfish,” he whispered. “But I wanted more time.”

“You can have it,” she said. “You have me. Just because I want more than one of you doesn’t mean what I feel for you is any less.”

His throat worked as he tried to swallow the emotion down.

“Luca, what we share will always mean something to me.”

“I don’t want to be your favorite for a night,” he said. “I want to be your always. Even if I have to share it.”

Mia stepped into him fully, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing her cheek to his chest. His arms came around her, slow and uncertain at first—then tight and desperate. Like she was his lifeline and he was trying to remember how to breathe.

“You are. You’ll always be the one who brought me back to life.

The one who mended my jaded heart and showed me a light that I didn’t know I was missing.

Nothing will ever change that. I’m not going to replace you or forget you.

I can’t explain it, Luca. I’m sorry, I can’t.

But, each one of you holds their own place in my heart. No favorites. Equals.”

Luca rested his head on top of hers and held on tighter, like he was trying hard to believe her.

“Trust me. Trust us. We’ll figure it all out.”

“I sure hope so,” he finally said.