Page 49 of Pucking Tangled
Luca nodded, eyes locked on the floor. “It’s not like I planned it this way. I just—I don’t trust easily. And I always wanted my first time to be with someone who actually meant something to me.Miameans something to me.”
“She means something to all of us,” Casey quipped.
Ignoring Casey for a moment, Owen stepped up behind Luca and squeezed his shoulder. “That’s not something to be embarrassed about.”
“Hell no,” Waylon added, almost defensively. “If anything, it makes you the only one of us not completely emotionally screwed up.”
“I don’t think that’s much to brag about,” Luca snorted.
“This…this right here is why we’re having this conversation tonight. Because this thing that’s going on with Mia is way beyond her just being our roommate now.”
“No kidding,” Casey muttered under his breath, and crossed his arms tight across his chest.
Owen caught the tension but didn’t push his boyfriend. Not yet. There would be time for that.
“Listen, I’m not going to stand here and pretend I don’t feel something for her. Because I do. I have for a while now. Casey and I even talked about it,” Owen confided to Luca and Waylon. “But I think we have to be honest and admit that Luca’s been the one really trying to build something with her.”
“I wouldn’t say trying—” Luca started, but Waylon cut him off.
“Oh, please. You’re practically a golden retriever every time she walks into the room.”
“Is that why you always growl or damn near crack your teeth from clenching your jaw so hard whenever you spot us near each other?” Luca smirked, looking Waylon dead in the face.
Waylon playfully flipped him the finger.
“Guys, I don’t want to screw this up.”
“You won’t,” Owen said at the same time that Waylon quipped, “You will.”
Owen shot Waylon a warning glare. “You won’t. Because we’re all going to step back and let you figure it out.”
“No. No, the fuck we’re not.” Casey shook his head. “I’m all for letting Luca have his moment. But I’m not backing off. I can’t.” He narrowed his gaze on Owen. “And you don’t get to make all the decisions for everyone in this house.”
Ouch.
That wasn’t what he was trying to do. “I…I’m not…” Owen defended. “Mia’s special to all of us. She’s not a play thing. I’m only trying to…”
Waylon cut him off with a grunt, while he rolled his neck. “So, we’re seriously going to let Rookie have the first taste?”
“Hey!” Luca shot him a look, which only made Waylon smirk.
“Relax, kid. I’m busting your balls. You like her. She likes you. You deserve a real shot.”
Luca swallowed. “I don’t want to get between any of you.”
“I don’t think any of us want this to get ugly,” Owen mediated.
“As much as it pains me to say this,” Casey spoke up, “none of us would be having this conversation if we weren’t all already in the same damn mess. Mia has no idea that we’ve shared before?—”
Waylon let out a laugh. “Uhm. I’m pretty sure she does.”
Luca’s cheeks flushed brighter. “She knows,” he whispered.
“Fuck,” Casey growled.
“Not sure if that complicates things or makes it easier.” Owen smirked and shook his head in disbelief.
“This is brand new territory for all of us. Before, it was all fun and games. But, Mia…Mia’s different. We allwanther. And, if what I walked in on the other day is any indication, she wants us too.”
