Waiting for Someone?

“How was your dinner?” Parker said as their tutor handed out the practice test.

“Delicious! Mrs. Moretti makes the best lasagna ever. I swear I love Italian food. Oh, and Luca’s brother Marc is in town and staying with us, so that’s great.”

“Do I need to be jealous?”

“Of Marc? No, he is like my big brother. He used to live with us before he grew up and got a real job.”

“What does he do?”

“Working his way up Wall Street.”

Parker nodded, turning his attention to the piece of paper in front of him. Eddie couldn’t help thinking that she was too boring for a guy like Parker.

~Can a guy really be satisfied with just hand-holding and kisses?~

Eddie finishes her practice test before anyone else. Parker looked angry when she handed it to the tutor before him. She sat back in her seat, pulled out her phone, and scrolled through Facebook.

A post from Kate Vanderbeek caught her eye. It was a photo of Kate with her arms wrapped around a guy with the caption: ~Best Night of My Life!~ Clearly a dig at Luca.

Eddie laughed to herself, wondering if he had seen it. Parker sighed audibly next to her as he struggled with the last question. Eddie was about to offer him some help when her phone buzzed.

Marcello Moretti

Thanks for the pop tarts gorgeous girl.

Eddison

You are very welcome.

Marcello Moretti

Blow off your afternoon classes and come with me to Carson Beach.

Eddison

Marcello Moretti what would your mother say?

Marcello Moretti

She’d say do it. I’m her favorite son. Come on Eddie, for old times sake.

Eddison

Marc…

Marcello Moretti

Per favore bella

Eddison

Pick me up at 1pm at our spot.

Marcello Moretti

Gladly.

“What has you smiling?” Parker whispered in Eddie’s ear.

She took her attention off her phone. “Just people’s stupid Facebook posts,” she said, surprised at how quickly she was able to lie.

Their tutor dismissed them, and Parker and Eddie walked to their next class.

“So, I was thinking maybe you could come over tomorrow night?” Eddie said quietly.

“To your place?” Parker asked, shocked.

“Well, yeah. It is a Saturday, so Luca will probably go out, and I thought maybe I could cook, and we could have the place to ourselves.”

Eddie tried to put on a confident face. She knew she had to move forward with Parker.

She couldn’t get hung up on her manwhore roommate who would never look at her the way she wanted. Eddie locked eyes with the guy in front of her. The guy that liked her.

“So, what do you say?”

“What time?” Parker asked, wrapping his arm around her waist.

After their physics lecture, Eddie managed to fake a headache. Parker offered to drive her home, but she insisted on walking, saying the fresh air would do her some good.

Parker pressed a chaste kiss to her lips before Eddie turned and headed toward her meeting place. She stood under the large oak tree at the corner of the quad.

Eddie waited for five minutes and was ready to give up when a pair of big calloused hands covered her eyes.

“Miss me?” a husky voice asked behind her. It took her only a second to realize that the voice didn’t belong to Marc but his sex-god little brother.

“Luciano?”

“Mio dio! I love it when you say my full name.”

Eddie turned around to face him. “What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing. Are you waiting for someone?”

“Eddie!” Marc’s voice called to her. Marc joined them under the tree. “I’m sorry I’m late, bella.”

Luca felt his anger bubble to the surface. “Fratello,” he growled out, addressing his brother.

“Oh, Italian. I think I’m in trouble!” Marc said, laughing with Eddie. “I’m taking this beautiful lady to Carson Beach, would you like to join?”

Luca glared at his brother. His anger subsided when Eddie rested her hand on his forearm.

“Can you blow off your afternoon classes?” she asked, looking up at her through her long eyelashes.

“I have a test,” Luca said bluntly. “You guys have fun. Prendersi cura lei.” (Look after her)

Marc smiled at his brother’s possessiveness. “Certo!” he replied quickly with a nod.

Eddie looked back and forth between the brothers as they conversed in Italian, remembering how little she understood when they all lived together.

“Good luck on your test,” Eddie said, wrapping her arms around Luca in a quick hug. She then took Marc’s hand, leading him to the car park.

“Ciao!” she called out, causing Luca’s lips to tug up into a smile. ~One day I’ll tell her how I feel,~ he told himself before turning his back on the vanishing figures and heading to his class.

***

Luca, Marc, and Eddie arrived at the restaurant together. They were led to a table at the back where Mr. and Mrs. Moretti were already waiting.

The couple stood as they approached. Mrs. Moretti pulled the three of them into a hug, causing her husband to chuckle.

“I miei bambini!” (My babies!)

“Cara~,~ you are suffocating them.” Mr. Moretti pulled his wife off the three of them and pointed to the chairs. “Sit, sit!”

As they enjoyed their dinner, Eddie thought about the date she promised Parker. How on earth was she going to get Luca out of the house? Even if she got Parker alone, was she ready for what would happen next?

Eddie found herself staring off into space when an elbow collided with her stomach.

“What?” Eddie turned to Luca, looking for a reason her ribs were now bruised. Luca nodded his head toward his mother, who was looking at Eddie as though waiting for an answer.

“Scuza?”

“Oh! Is my boy teaching you Italian? Good boy, Luciano! I just asked if you are enjoying your dinner, cara~.”

Eddie looked down at her half-empty plate of gnocchi. To be honest, she couldn’t even remember eating it. “Yes, it is lovely,” she said, smiling up at Mrs. Moretti.

Marc leaned over to her, whispering in her ear. “What is with you?”

“Just thinking,” Eddie said with a shrug of her shoulders.

“Can I help?” Marc offered with a smile.

“Actually... do you think you can take Luca out tomorrow night?”

Marc raised his eyebrows but slowly nodded. “I’ll see what I can do.”