Page 23 of Shiver

“You should come! We usually have it the last Saturday of each month, but with everything going on last month, we pushed it to this weekend. I’ll have Luca text you the address,” she tells me, making it clear there was not a single question in her comment. She wasn’taskingme to come; she was making a request.

Before I can argue, Luca walks out of the room adjacent to the living area wearing nothing but a pair of gray sweats as he holds Gia tightly to his bare chest.

My ovaries do a little dance that causes me to shift in my seat again, and I can’t help but suck in a breath.

For the love of god.

“Samara?” he asks, his dark brows drawn tightly together as he takes me in. “What are you doing here?” He doesn’t sound upset, more like concerned.

I guess if I were in his position, my lawyer’s presence would cause some unease for me too.

“I was in the area and figured I’d stop by to check on you and Gia. It isn’t often…” I chuckle. “Or ever, actually, that a custody battle ends the way it did with you, so I thought it’d be good to stop by and check in.” I stand abruptly, doing my best to ignore the expression on Gloria’s face. I have a sneaking suspicion her kids never got away with a single thing in their lives, at least without her intentionally allowing it to happen. “And now that I have, it seems you’re doing just fine, so I’ll get out of your hair,” I say, clapping my clammy hands against my thighs.

I do my best to rush to the door but trip on something in front of Gloria.

Did she just trip me?

“Oh dear, I’m so sorry! Are you alright?” she asks me, not sounding the least bit concerned.

I don’t miss the way Luca rolls his eyes at her as I pick myself off the ground before he can try to help me up. Unfortunately for my pride, I’m too damn slow.

He reaches down, holding Gia firmly to his chest with one arm as he leans and winds his free arm around me, hoisting me up off the floor.

Luca doesn’t let go of me until I’m firmly situated in front of him. “Thanks,” I grumble.

He grins, shaking his head lightly at my response.

“Anytime, Samara.” His bright eyes roam over my body slowly, leaving a lick of heat in their wake.I need to get the hell out of here.

I nod, but there’s an annoying swarm of butterflies flooding my stomach that does nothing but distract me. “Well, it was nice to see you again, Luca, and nice meeting you, Gloria,” I tell them, keeping my eyes cast downward as I try for the second time to make my exit. Hoping for a more graceful andsuccessfuldeparture this time.

“It was nice meeting you too!” She waves at me. “I’m excited to see you Saturday; we start at six!”

Before I can even get a response out, Luca’s eyes cut to mine. “Saturday?” he asks his mother but keeps his eyes trained on me.

“Samara will be joining us for book club,” she explains as if I had already agreed.

His brows pinch together. “You will?” His next question has me plastering a cool expression on my face before leaving the house. “Who would’ve thought?” he clucks. “You read thosenastybooks too, huh?”

I huff, rolling my eyes at him as his smirk grows. “Goodbye, Luca,” I say as Ifinallyget out of this house.

1. Wonder Woman — John Legend

Chapter twenty

Luca

After Samara left earlier, I texted her my parents’ address per my mom’s request.Who am I kidding?Her demand.

I have no idea how the hell that conversation started orwhy, but I have a sneaking suspicion that it was entirely my mother’s doing. As to why she would invite her, I’m not sure, and if Samara doesn’t want to go, I desperately hope she doesn’t. My mom means well, but I wouldn’t want Samara, or anyone else for that matter, to feel obligated to humor her if they’re uncomfortable.

But when Samara never responded to my text, I actually felt sort of… disappointed?

I’m not totally sure why. An address doesn’t exactly warrant a response, but I was kind of hoping that she’s warmed up to me. I mean, her explanation about checking in on me and Gia was total bullshit, and we all knew it. My mom made sure to hammer that home the moment Samara was out the door. Maybe my mom’s whimsical thoughts of Samara and me having something managed to mess with my mind.

But if her explanation wasn’t the real reason, thenwhywould she have stopped by?

This woman is infuriating.

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