Real Fake Love (Copper Valley Fireballs #2)(71)

I’m just…well, jealous.

And I don’t like that about myself, even though I know it’s a natural human reaction.

I wanted one thing that I could be better at. Just one.

And my career has always been it.

“Where’s Mr. Big Bat?” Dorothea demands.

“He’s—”

“Right here.” Luca squeezes my shoulder as he appears in the screen behind me, and he only does a brief double-take when he spots his Granny Romance. “Let me know when you’re done.”

“We’re done,” she says instantly. “Clearly, Henri has better things to do.” Video chat makes it hard to tell, but I’m positive she’s ogling Luca.

Katharine fans herself, and if it wasn’t for the simple gold wedding band on her hand, I’d think she was fanning herself over Luca.

But maybe she is?

Being married doesn’t make you blind, does it?

Jen shifts the baby. “Henri, sweetheart, he’s not my type, but I think it’s time for you to end this call and go tend to whatever it is he needs, which is hopefully to tend to your needs. Men always get that part wrong, I swear.”

Luca lifts a brow. “I’m not getting that part wrong.”

“Oh, gosh, my dog has to go out. Gotta run. Henri, ping us if you need anything.” Katharine waves, and Jen and Dorothea sign off too.

And then it’s only me, Luca, and Dogzilla left.

My cat is much happier now that I’ve stopped crying.

But I don’t think Luca is.

He’s frowning. And when he frowns, he gets this adorable crease between his eyes that I want to rub away with my finger, except I’m afraid to touch him, because if I touch him again, I’m not going to stop.

He starts to reach for me, then stops. “I called a computer repair shop. Their after-hours line should call us back soon.”

“Oh. Um, thank you. I could’ve—”

“You’re not happy.”

“I’m happy. I am. It’s hiding under a few clouds, but I’m fine. Really. Completely overreacting. Did I tell you Dogzilla got a new costume? It’s—”

“Do you want to go to a party?”

The question shouldn’t sting, but I was hoping he’d silence me with a kiss fit for a movie.

And instead, he wants to go somewhere with other people.

And not be alone with me. Or talk to me about my feelings. Or cuddle until he’s sure that I’m completely over the tears.

Of course. Naturally.

Because this is all pretend.

If I were bolder, I’d kiss him and tell him what I want, but it’s the exact opposite of what I need to do, so instead, I do what I’ve always done.

I plaster a bright smile on my face, fully aware that I probably look like a crazy lady with a blotchy face and insane hair that I should almost definitely cover with a hat before we go out, and while I’d love to tell him that he should go without me so that I can have my private pity party with my good friends Ben and Jerry, instead I nod enthusiastically. “I love parties.”

His eyes narrow briefly, like he knows I’m faking my excitement, but then he nods. “Great. Let’s go.”

“Now?”

“Oh. You need to go to the bathroom?”

I jerk a hand up and down my body.

He starts to grin, and gah, stupid ovaries. They’ve completely forgiven him for not wanting to cuddle me.

One simple grin, and he’s back in my good graces, and, unfortunately, I want to kiss him even more.

“What’s wrong with your pajamas?” he asks.

“These aren’t party attire.”

“But they match today. You could wear your panda slippers and complete the ensemble.”

I huff.

He grins bigger. “Okay, okay. You can have a few minutes to get ready. Gotta find your matching panda hat, right?”

That man.

He’d take me to a party while I’m in my panda pajamas.

And unfortunately, that makes me like him all the more.





27





Luca



Seeing Henri crying is like seeing all of the happiness in the world sucked away by an evil demon of darkness who needs to take a baseball straight between the eyeballs and a bat between the legs.

And I don’t ever believe in racking a dude, but in this case—yeah.

I’d rack the ever-loving shit out of whatever took Henri’s happiness away.

But since I can’t rack a pregnant woman, I did the next best thing.

I texted Nonna.

She calls me back while Henri’s in the shower, and I give her a quick rundown on what I need her to do.

Also?

Nonna’s cackle should be terrifying. I can hear what she’s thinking even though she’s currently in Vegas with a spotty cell signal.

It worked. The Eye worked!

Joke’s on her.

Probably me too, because the last thing I’m going to be is the next guy to ask Henri to marry him. I promised her I wouldn’t, and why would she even believe I was serious if I did?

But if Nonna will help Henri in the meantime, she can think whatever she wants.

Henri’s laptop won’t boot up, so I wipe it off as best I can and pack it up to take in for repairs.