One Good Reason (Boston Love #3)(84)

I smile as I lean into his chest and let him steer us home, our breaths puffing in the air before our faces, our hearts beating a little too fast.

We’ve barely docked in the harbor when my phone starts ringing.

“Babe. You back on dry land, yet?” Luca grumbles into the phone.

I roll my eyes as I tie off a dock line. “Barely.”

“You coming to my fight tonight?”

“Depends. You planning on winning?”

He scoffs. “Babe. I always win.”

“Then I’ll be there.” I pause. “With Parker. Try not to be a dick.”

He sighs audibly. “I’ll do my best.”

“Luca.”

“Fine! I’ll be nice.” He spits out the word like a curse. “Whatever.”

“See you at seven,” I say cheerfully.

He clicks off without another word.

Typical.

Before I can even set the phone down, it starts ringing again.

“Hello?”

“Tink!” Phoebe yells. “Please tell me you’re back from your adventures on the high seas now that Lancaster and that Hermès guy are behind bars.”

“Hermès?”

“Birkin.”

“I don’t follow.”

“God, you know nothing about fashion, do you?” She sighs. “Birkin. As in Hermès Birkin bags. As in the most expensive, desirable purses on the market.”

“Uh huh.”

“No one appreciates my fashion references.”

“How sad for you,” I say wryly.

“Shut up. Are you back, or what?”

“Um.” I glance up at Parker, who’s hovering over me with an amused expression. “Yes, we just docked.”

“Great! I’m having an impromptu New Years Eve get together this afternoon. Just the girls. Obviously, we’re all going to the fight tonight—”

“Wait, what?”

There’s a brief pause. “Of course. We’re all going to see Blaze fight. It’s, like, the hottest NYE gig around this year.” She pauses again. “Plus, my friend Lila really has the hots for him.”

I ignore the last part of her statement. “Who’s we?”

“All of us. The whole gang.”

I’m silent.

She sighs, then explains. “Me, Nate, Gemma, Chase, Shelby, Chrissy, Mark, Theo, Owen, and some of Nate’s other boys, if he decides to give them the night off. Which is unlikely, but a girl can dream because hot damn, those boys are gorgeous. Oh, plus Shelby’s husband, if he can bear to pull himself away from work.” She sighs. “But, anyway, we’ll all be there to cheer on Blaze! Apparently the guy he’s fighting is a real douche. The boys have been betting and discussing odds all day.”

“But…” I glance at Parker a little desperately. He just grins at me, the bastard. “Don’t you all have better plans for ringing in the New Year than an underground UFC fight at a crappy gym?”

“Nope!” Phoebe says happily. “No plans at all!”

“Oh. Imagine that.”

She laughs. “Anyway, come by my place if you have a chance. Any time! I have big news, and I want to share it with all my favorite girls at once.”

Holding Parker’s warm gaze, I find the strength not to panic at this show of sisterly affection.

“Okay,” I murmur into the receiver. “I’ll be there.”

“Fabulous!” she exclaims. “See you soon!”

She clicks off before I can say anything else. I stand and wrap my arms around Parker’s waist.

“Your sister is alarmingly pushy.”

“I know.”

“A quality you share,” I note dryly.

“Well, I did raise her.” He shrugs and tucks his chin on top of my head. “When we have kids, they’ll probably be pushy, too.”

“What?!” I practically screech at the top of my lungs.

“Shhh.” I can hear the smile in his voice. “I was just kidding. Maybe.”

“Parker!”

“You’re right.” He laughs. “I totally wasn’t kidding.”

“Parker!”

“Zoe!”

“This isn’t funny.”

“Actually, it’s kind of hilarious.”

I sigh deeply. “Why do I get the sense it’ll be easier to give in than keep arguing with you?”

“Because you are very wise, Oh Tiny One.”

I snort. “I have to go get ready. Apparently, I’m being subjected to another girls’ day at Phoebe’s place. No doubt there will be gossip and naked pillow fights galore. When these women get together, anything is possible.”

“Please keep in mind that you’re talking about my sisters.” Parker grimaces. “Not a good image.”

“After the kid comment, it’s really all you deserve.”

“True enough.” He hooks an arm around my waist and starts leading me down the docks. “Come on. I’ll drop you at Phoebe’s and go check in with Nate. I want to get the details of all the shit that went down with Lancaster first hand.”

“You’ll tell me everything,” I demand instantly, my tone booking no room for argument.