Page 37 of Tempting Me

“Luca.”

His voice is a lot deeper than I remember. We were in the same grade, but I didn’t spend a lot of time with him. He was too busy setting academic records at school while I was just trying to make it through the day before I could get outside and away from a desk. I vaguely remember Ruby complaining later when she hit junior high how much she hated hearing his name mentioned by all the teachers.

“You feel like coming to a boys’ night tonight?”

“Nope.”

“Come on, man. It's gonna be the first night of a tradition. You should come to my house. Be there.”

“Yeah? You got a babysitter on hand for my daughter?”

His voice is laced with sarcasm, but I’m gonna pretend that it’s not, because wearehaving boys’ night and it needs to be more than just me and my brother and my brother’s best friend.

Not to mention the fact that perhaps I could use a new friend who doesn’t know my history when I need to vent a little.

“You moved next door to my dad, right? Lucky for you, Ruby is in town visiting.”

Declan just chuckles.

“I bet Ruby would watch her. Have you talked since you moved back?” I add, just in case he didn’t fully understand.

Declan glances between me and Hudson.

“Look, I don’t wanna start any drama, but there is a 110 percent chance that your sister is never going to do favors for me.”

I smirk.

Ruby must still hold a grudge for some reason. Typical Asher move.

“Write your number down on that coaster, and I’ll see what I can do.”

I’m aware that he doesn’t sound too crazy about hanging out, but I’m going to invite him anyway. He’s my age, and he needs people in this town on his side. And if the rumors are true, his daughter is the same age as my nephew and they will get along great.

Declan stares at me as he thinks about his choices, but eventually, he writes his phone number on the coaster, slides it across the bar top, and then leaves. I immediately start a group text with Hudson, Linc, Declan, Dutton, and Miles, because he gets to be a part of this whether he likes it or not.

Luca

Tonight. My house. 6 p.m. Pizza. Beer.

Hudson's phone chirps, and he pulls it from his pocket. He reads it and then glances up at me.

“Were all the periods necessary?”

“Yes. I wanted to be straight to the point.”

Hudson nods and gets back to work.

No argument or teasing or trying to come up with a reason he can’t be there.

I smile just as a club sandwich appears.

And he knows my order now.

A year and a half ago, he’d have found any excuse not to spend time with me or Miles. Or anyone else for that matter.

Then the whole Sadie thing happened and he’s the big brother I remember growing up.

I’m not going to cry or whatever, but until right now, I didn’t realize how much I missed that side of him.

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