Page 31 of Worship

Ella grabs my earring, wanting to inspect it closely, and I tilt my head to let her.

“I’ve been asking the same question since we met.”

He takes another drink, and I watch the way his lips purse together after he pulls the bottle from them. The sheen on his bottom lip draws me in from being pulled into his mouth and released. I want to lean in and suck his bottom lip.

My voice grows husky. “You’re flirting again.”Or I’m thinking bad thoughts.

The smirk on his face is arrogant.

“You’re holding my child, looking sexy as fuck, and making me want to kick everyone out. You’re flirting.”

I reach out and take the bottle from his hand, bringing it to my mouth, wanting my lips to cover where his were, and take a drink. Pulling it away, I swallow.

“This isn’t your house—you can’t kick anyone out.”

I hand the bottle back and walk away with Ella into the kitchen and turn off the burners.

“Dinner,” I call out, and Ella laughs.

Dante claps his hands together, and Dom tells Drew. But Luca doesn’t move from his seat, where he hasn’t taken his eyes off me. Everyone grabs a plate from outside and comes around to plate their food.

Luca walks over to me, and Ella immediately reaches for him.

“What am I, chopped liver? Little traitor.” I say with fake offense.

I give her one last tickle before he takes her in one arm, his plate and beer in the other.

“Let me help.” I laugh, and grab his plate along with my own and follow him outside.

I place his plate next to where Dom put the high chair for Ella and start to walk around the table to sit next to Drew. Luca reaches out and grabs the wrist on my free hand.

“No, your place is next to me.”

Luca’s words are firm, but his eyes are a question. My entire body lights up. It’s the intention, the insinuation. It’s the goddamn possession of the words that make me wish what Dom said earlier is actually true.

“Okay,” I whisper, putting my plate down as he lets my wrist go.

Everyone takes a seat, and Drew smirks at me from across the table, but I try not to read into it.

Dante raises his glass, and we all follow.

“To family.”

“Family,” we all chime in, clinking glasses as Ella squeals with excitement.

It’s exactly how I imagined. Our table is adorned with wine buckets and pasta, bulb lights are strung above, and laughter is echoing around in the greenspace. This is perfect. This is everything I’ve been missing. I was so afraid to let myself feel this again, and for nothing. It feels healing.

“Penny for your thoughts,” Drew asks from across the table.

Conversations are being had between the brothers, so I don’t worry to tell her. I’m not spotlighted.

“I was so scared that moments like this would feel sad or make me sadder since my dad’s death, but it’s the opposite, and I’m just really grateful that Luca bullied me into coming.”

He brushes my hair behind my ear, and I turn and look at him as his fingers linger. I should have known he was listening; he’s always listening. I know this moment is too intimate, too obvious. I can feel all the eyes on us, but I don’t care. He makes me feel understood, and I don’t want to hide that.

Drew smiles, her words laced with insinuation.

“He’s a good friend.”