Page 189 of Force Play

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It’s not what any of us were hoping for

Rory

Whoa…

Lucia

We can unpack all of that when you’re here

I really need my girls today

Ella

We’ll be there for you, Luc

Olive

Whatever you need

Lucia

My only request is that someone bring a bottle of wine

I’m going to need it to get through this…

I pace around my room as my friends all sit on my bed.

The bed I haven’t slept in in nearly two months.

“What do I do, guys?”

Ella looks at me sympathetically. “Do youwantto go on the date tonight?”

“Not with John,” I admit.

“I didn’t realize you felt this much for Ari,” Olive says.

“I didn’t expect to, but I fucking fell in love with him.”

Rory gapes at me. “Holy shit, Lucia.”

“Did you talk to Ari like I said?” Harlow asks.

I sigh and lean back against my dresser. “No.”

“Why? It’s not like you to not be up front with him.”

“Because…” I start before stopping and starting again. “Because I don’t think I could handle his rejection.”

“What makes you so certain he’s going to reject you?” Ella lightly rubs her hands over her growing baby bump.

“Because he refuses to acknowledge that everything has changed. He’s scared to admit that he has actual feelings for somebody.”

“Luc,” Rory says gently. “We’ve known you for years, and we’ve never seen you like this. You’re always so confident and unbothered. What’s going on?”

I could keep it all in, just like I’ve always done.

I could keep it all to myself.

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