Page 31 of Tempting Me (The Asher Family #3)
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
LUCA
For the last two days, I’ve done nothing but work. I’m the first one at the shop the next morning. I’ve already got the trucks loaded and ready before anyone else shows up. Benson walks in and whistles.
“Early morning?” he asks.
“Yep.”
“Any particular reason?”
“Nope.”
He nods slowly.
“Well, thanks for getting things ready. Are you going to be working with us today or just stopping in?”
I think about his question.
The busier I am, the less time I have to think about Shay.
About how I fell so fucking in love with a woman who can’t even tell her family about me. Can’t, won’t, it doesn’t matter.
Being with someone and finding out that they don’t want to claim you hurts like hell .
My chest feels tight thinking about it; my throat goes dry and my eyes burn when I think about her.
Everyone is always so worried about the girl getting her heart broken—well, news flash, a man's heart can break just as easily. Shay took mine and smashed it with a sledgehammer.
“I’m working with you,” I say to Benson, who is still waiting for an answer.
“Cool. That means we might finish some projects today.”
I chuckle, knowing that an extra pair of hands on any job means more work gets done, but too bad for them that my head and heart are distracted. I’ll be there in body, but my mind will be elsewhere.
Once everyone shows up and takes a company truck to start the day, I get in my own vehicle and head out for the first job site.
I let out a breath.
For the day only, because working tonight at The Marina is not an option. Not anymore.
I reach the first site of the day, put my truck in park, then my phone beeps with a text.
I pull it out of my pocket as if it zapped me.
Miles
Are you working today?
Luca
I work every day.
Miles
I know. I’m just checking in.
Hudson
What he really wants to ask is, how are you today?
Luca
I’m fine.
Miles
Be serious.
Luca
I am serious.
Miles
And that right there is the problem. You don’t do serious.
Miles has added Ruby to the chat.
Hudson
He’s right. I miss goofy Luca.
Luca
I’m just busy.
Miles
Being sad.
Ruby
Lighten up on him, you two! His heart is hurting.
Miles
What do you know?
Hudson
He told you?
I groan and slide my phone back into my pocket. Twice a day now, they check in on how I’m doing. I haven’t shared many details, but they know it has to do with Shay. If Ruby knows, it’s because she’s talked to Shay.
Something I haven’t done because I still have no idea what I'd say that’s different from what I said before.
Heartbreak is a weird thing.
I’m still living and all that, but I feel like a part of me died. A part that was filled with happiness and plans for the future.
I don’t fucking know.
I just know that I'm going through the motions, but I feel like a part of me is missing.
And I want it back, but I don't know if I could go through this again.
On a groan, I get out of the truck. I wish I knew which direction my personal life is going.
But until I figure things out, work is all I need.
“Could you just talk or something?” Hudson says, arms folded as he glares at me from the other side of the bar top.
“I’m eating lunch. What more do you want from me?”
“Well, more than what you're giving. Seriously, you’re giving me some ‘I’m about to punch you in the face’ vibes.”
I let out a huff laugh and stab my fork into my salad. “Well, I'm about to if you don’t stop telling me to act differently.”
He steps closer and leans down in front of me.
“Did I tell you that Shay came in looking for you the other day?”
I refuse to look at him .
I figured he knew something was up when he found me sitting in his apartment the other day. I didn’t really know where to go, but I knew I’d be alone there, with Hudson and Sadie both working. He didn’t say a word, just asked if I wanted dinner and went on with his day.
It seems though, he was waiting to say more.
“She was in a panic and wanted to know where you were. She had tears running down her face, and she looked?—”
“I don’t care,” I cut him off.
His eyes go wide.
“Shay and I aren’t a thing anymore.”
“Yeah, I gathered that. I still think we should?—”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Luca, man, come on. You’re clearly upset over it and?—”
“I said I don’t want to talk about it.” My voice is firm enough that Hudson flinches and steps back.
“Sure. But take it from someone who’s been in your place before, the?—”
“Have you really? Have you been in love with a woman who was too scared of what her family would think of the two of you, so she just … forget it.”
I stand, toss some money on the bar, and start to walk out.
Hudson grabs my shirt.
“I’ve been in a place where I thought the love of my life just walked out the fucking door and wasn’t coming back. I’ve been in a place where I thought that me—all of me and who I am—wasn’t going to be enough for her. That’s where I’ve been.”
He lets go of my shirt and shoves me back.
“Now, when you decide you’re done being a dick and finished with your pity party, we can fix this together. ”
His words cool my anger, but they don’t change the outcome.
“There is no fixing it, Hudson. It was clear that she had doubts about us. She lied so easily and that … you just can’t fix that.”
I don’t wait for him to say more.
I just walk out the door and move on with my day.