Page 49 of Pucking Tangled

FORTY-EIGHT

Luca

When they returned a few hours later, Luca hung back, watching as the door closed behind them.

He’d been putting off calling home since the news broke, but it was time.

He knew by now his parents must have heard the rumors and probably even watched his statement, but they still hadn’t called. Something told him that they were waiting on him to reach out instead.

Giving him space.

He sat on the edge of the front porch step, elbows on his knees. The air around him was thick with early evening heat, cicadas humming like static in the trees while Luca tried to remember how to breathe.

It would all be okay.

It had to be, he tried convincing himself.

Finally, he exhaled and tapped his mother’s name on his screen.

The phone rang twice .

“Luca, my baby boy,” his mom answered, her voice warm.

Familiar.

Unshaken.

“Hi, Momma.”

“We miss you. Your father and I thought you’d come home for a visit by now.”

Another beat of silence. No mention of the articles. No mention of Mia . Or the others .

She was waiting.

“Yeah, Ma. I know.” He’d had big plans to visit after the season ended, but with everything going on, he’d been too distracted to actually make any arrangements. “There’s something I need to talk to you about first, though.”

“I’m listening.”

He closed his eyes, heart hammering.

“I’m seeing someone. Her name is Mia. She’s a law student.”

“I see,” she said softly after a brief pause. “Go on.”

“But it’s not, uh, just me and Mia. The guys. Casey. Owen. Waylon. She’s with all of us. It’s not a joke. It’s not fake. I care about them. All of them.”

He let the silence hang between them while he contemplated everything he didn’t know how to say. Were they poly? He was embarrassingly na?ve and had no clue how to explain exactly what their relationship meant. How to define what they shared.

“We saw the news yesterday. And your statement,” his mom said, gently.

“But we waited to reach out because we wanted you to be the one to explain it to us.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, the words cracking. “I should’ve told you sooner. ”

There was a soft breath on the other end, then he heard his father’s voice.

“Son, you sound like someone who expects to be punished.”

Luca stared out at the yard. “I don’t know what to expect.”

“We’ve always known you feel things deeper than you say,” his mother said. “You were quiet. Thoughtful. Careful. But not afraid to love people.”

His father added, “So when you say you care about all of them…we believe you.”

Luca blinked. “You do?”

“We don’t understand it,” his mother admitted. “But we believe it’s real.”

“We don’t need to understand it,” his father said. “We just need to know that you’re being honest. And that you’re okay.”

“I am. I’m better than okay.”

“Then we want to meet them,” his mother said. “All of them. Bring them here.”

Luca’s heart kicked against his ribs. “Really?”

“ Really, ” his father said.

“And Luca?” his mom whispered.

“Yeah?”

“We love you,” she said.

His throat tightened. “I love you, too.”

“Call us and let us know when you’ll all be coming. We expect it will be soon,” his mom told him.

“I will, Momma. I promise.”

“Very good.”

The call disconnected, and he blew out a deep breath.

The front door opened, and Casey stepped out, followed by Waylon, Owen, and Mia .

“Well?” Casey asked.

Luca stood and faced his new-found family. “They saw the news. But they waited to hear it from me. I told them that I’m with Mia, but she’s with us, and I care about all of you. Deeply.”

Waylon’s brow furrowed. “What’d they say?”

“They said they believe me,” he blew out a breath. “And that they want to meet all of you.”

Waylon’s mouth fell open. “You’re serious?”

Luca nodded. “They invited all of us to visit.”

Mia rushed forward and hugged him.

Luca felt a warmth start in his chest and spread. His ribs ached from how tightly he’d been holding in all the nerves that came with opening up to his parents.

“Uh,” Waylon rubbed the back of his neck. “Not to encroach on Luca’s moment, but…”

Mia let him go, and Luca watched as she moved to Waylon’s side, taking his hand in hers. Somehow instinctively knowing what the other man needed. She was good like that.

“Since we agreed we weren’t going to keep secrets, it’s only right that I let you all know my parents are not on board. Not by a long shot.”

Luca saw the hurt and heartache in his friend’s eyes. “Shit, brother. I’m?—”

Waylon held up a hand to cut him off. “I’ve told them, more than once, that I choose us.

I choose this life. I choose this relationship in all of its unconventional and messy glory.

I made myself perfectly clear to them. Y’all are my family now.

They can accept it, accept me, for who I am.

Or they no longer get to be a part of my life. ”

Without hesitation, they reached out and wrapped Waylon in a group hug. With Mia right there in the middle of it all.

“We’ve got your back,” Owen assured him.

“Fuck them, man. I’m sorry. But, fuck them,” Casey added.

“You’re stuck with us,” Luca said.

“I love you, fuckers. All of you,” Waylon replied, choking back tears.

“We love you, too,” Mia replied softly.

Mia’s dad knocked on the door from inside the house, then cracked it open. “Sorry to interrupt, but the ladies want you to know dinner’s ready.”

“Thanks, Dad.” Mia smiled. “What do you say, boys? Let’s eat.”

The front door clicked shut behind Mia and Casey’s parents.

Luca stood back and waited for a second longer than necessary, almost hoping they’d come back.

Not because he was afraid to be alone with his…whatever they were calling each other, but because he missed how warm and nostalgic-feeling it had been with them around. It drove home how much he missed his own parents.

He heard Waylon flop dramatically onto the couch. “I’m socially bankrupt. Don’t talk to me unless you have snacks or a blanket.”

Casey responded without missing a beat, “You’ve been snacking for the last three hours.”

“I said what I said. ”

Luca turned toward the living room but didn’t move. His hands were in his pockets, his shoulders weirdly stiff. The house was warm, filled with familiar voices and easy rhythms, but something in him hadn’t quite clicked back into place.

Mia found him first.

Her hand slid into his without fanfare, her fingers curling instinctively around his.

“You okay?” she asked, eyes searching his face.

He nodded slowly. “Yeah. I think so. Just…processing.”

He glanced down at their joined hands. “You staying with me tonight?”

She didn’t hesitate, just gave him that small smile that made his heart squeeze. “Planned on it.”

“Thank you,” he said, quiet but certain.

Waylon grunted from the couch. “Okay, pajama time. And someone better start a movie. I’m not emotionally prepared to sit in silence with my own thoughts.”

Casey flopped dramatically on top of him before he could get up.

“Ugh. What the fuck, Case? Get off me.” Despite his words, humor laced Waylon’s voice.

Luca half-smiled, their bickering like background music. Familiar. Anchoring.

But his focus was on Mia.

“You heard the man. Pajama time.” She gently led him upstairs.

They paused outside his bedroom door.

“Are you ready for bed, or do you want to go back down and watch a movie?” Mia asked.

Luca shrugged. “I think I could handle a movie.”

She nodded. “Okay. I’ll change and meet you right back here.” She reached up and kissed him before fluttering away.

He stepped into his room and hesitated. Usually, he wore a pair of shorts and a t-shirt around the house, only to strip out of them to sleep in his boxers at night.

But he was feeling bold, and dare he admit it, comfortable enough to say ‘ fuck it’.

Everyone already saw him naked, so why couldn’t he just watch a movie with everyone wearing only his black boxer briefs?

His mind made up, Luca shucked his pants and his shirt, then walked back out into the hallway to wait for Mia. She wasn’t far behind him.

When she saw what he was wearing, she paused and looked up at him. “Wow. Uhm.” She licked her lips.

“Is this okay with you?” Luca asked with a smirk.

“Unexpected, but absolutely okay.”

One downside to wearing nothing but his boxers? There was no way to hide his hard-on.

Oh well.

They padded down the stairs and back into the living room, where Waylon had already claimed one end of the sectional and Casey was sitting on the floor with his back against Owen’s legs while Owen massaged his shoulders.

Mia sat down between Waylon and patted the empty space on the other side for Luca to join her. He dropped down beside her. His skin felt warm, hypersensitive, like every inch of him was aware she was beside him—and so were the others.

Casey glanced over and blinked. “Whoa. Luca. Legs.”

Waylon sat up straighter and looked over at him. “Wait, you’re not wearing pants?”

“Technically, boxers are pants,” Luca deadpanned.

“I’m not complaining,” Mia added casually .

Luca saw the heat flickering in Waylon’s eyes.

“Quick,” Owen said, handing the remote to Casey. “Find something to watch before they start removing more clothing.”

The opening bars of Ginuwine’s “Pony” filled the living room, and Luca knew— knew —this was not a coincidence.

“You didn’t,” he said, narrowing his gaze at Casey.

“I absolutely did,” Casey said, way too proud of himself as the Magic Mike XXL title screen lit up the TV. “You’re welcome.”

“I’m gonna need popcorn and holy water,” Waylon muttered, then grinned.

Owen just shook his head and leaned back, stretching one arm along the back of the couch, entirely unbothered as Casey got up off the floor and curled up next to him.

Mia was already laughing. “This is exactly the kind of unhinged energy I needed tonight.”

She pulled a blanket up over both her and Luca like it was a shield, though she made no attempt to hide how cozy she was against him.

Luca groaned under his breath. “You’re all insane.”

“You’re the one who came downstairs half-naked,” Waylon shot back. “We’re just supporting your vibe.”

Mia giggled. Luca looked at her and raised a brow.

“I love you,” she whispered like that would somehow make it all okay.

The reality was, it did. She could say those three little words to him and get away with anything.

Every. single. time.

It didn’t take long for chaos to ensue.

The next thing he knew, Waylon was rating dance moves and Casey was fanning his face dramatically every time someone took off their shirt.

Luca tried to play it cool, but Mia wasn’t helping.

Every time she shifted beside him, her thigh slid against his. Every time she laughed, it tugged something deep in his chest.

In the middle of one of the most intense dance scenes, Mia leaned up and whispered in his ear, “Think you could pull off a move like that?” Her lips brushed across his jaw.

He choked on air.

Waylon caught the sound and grinned. “What’s the matter, Luc? Too much inspiration?”

“Too much something, ” Mia teased, looking rather smug and not even pretending to be sorry.

Luca pinched the bridge of his nose, fighting a smile he didn’t have a chance of hiding.

By the time the credits started rolling and the screen dimmed to black, no one made a move to get up. Casey had all but melted into Owen’s lap, Waylon was halfway to sleep with an arm draped over his eyes, and Mia was still curled against Luca, warm and soft beneath the blanket.

“Ten outta ten,” she said sleepily. “Would watch again.”

Luca kissed her temple. “Next time, I pick the movie.”

“Only if you wear pants,” Waylon mumbled sleepily.

“No promises,” Luca replied.

Mia let out a yawn.

“Come on, sleepy head. Let’s get you upstairs.” Luca carefully stood and held out a hand to her.

“Goodnight,” Mia said over her shoulder as she followed Luca.

The guys mumbled their goodnights back to her.

When they made it to his room, Mia stepped inside and sat on the edge of his bed while he closed the door behind them .

Luca huffed a soft laugh. “Still can’t believe you let them pick that movie.”

“You handled it better than I expected.”

He moved toward her. “You whispered dirty things in my ear during half the scenes.”

She gave him a sexy smile. “It was for morale.”

“Mine or yours?”

“Yes.”

He laughed again, softer this time, and dipped his head to hers.

“You were really brave today, Luca. Telling your parents about us.”

He closed his eyes, soaking it all in.

“I was scared they wouldn’t get it,” he admitted. “That they’d see it as… weird. Or wrong.”

“But they didn’t,” she said. “They saw you . That’s what matters.”

“It’s pretty fucked up that we’re not all that lucky,” he replied fiercely, a reference to Waylon’s parents.

“It’s their loss. And he’ll always have us.”

He opened his eyes and looked at her. Really looked. “You make it easier to believe that.”

Mia leaned in and kissed him, slow and sure. Like they weren’t in a rush to get anywhere except here .

When they broke apart, she tugged him toward the bed and pulled back the covers. “Come on. Sleep.”

They curled in together—Luca on his side, Mia tucking herself into the curve of his body like she was meant to fit there.

Her fingers played along his forearm in slow, lazy sweeps.

He pressed a kiss to her shoulder, his voice low. “Love you, MiaMoo. ”

“I love you, too.”

There were things he wanted to say—bigger things, messier things. About love, and safety, and what it meant to be seen. But he knew she already understood. Because she’d told them all as much, more than once in the last forty-eight hours.

Instead, Luca let his eyes fall closed, wrapped around the girl who made him feel more like himself than he ever had before.