14. Lark

Chapter fourteen

Lark

Saturday, March 1, 2025

M y lids are so heavy I can barely keep them open by the time I get the front door open. “Dad! I’m home,” I shout into the oversized house, the sound echoing around me.

His footsteps boom as he makes his way down the metal winding staircase in the center of the room. Dad’s bright-blue eyes meet mine, and a wide grin stretches across his face when he sees me. “Hey, little bird, how was work?”

I unleash the boys and toe my shoes off before heading toward him. “Exhausting, but it’s over, and I get the next two days off, thankfully.”

“Head up to the guest room, and I’ll bring you something to eat. We can talk after you’ve gotten some rest,” he tells me with a warm smile that shows off his dimples .

“Thanks, Dad, but I’ve been snacking all night. I think I’m just gonna knock out. I honestly don’t have the energy to eat right now,” I say, my shoulders slumped. I’m ready to crawl into bed.

“I gotcha. You head to bed and leave the boys to me. Just please make sure your sugar is fine before knocking out, okay? I’ll take the boys on a walk and get their breakfast ready.” I’m so damn tired and starved for affection that my dad doing the most normal things for me makes my eyes well with tears.

He closes the distance between us, wrapping his arms tightly around me and resting his chin on the top of my head. “Everything is going to be okay, I promise,” he whispers as he squeezes me in a crushing hug. “Now head up for a nap, and I’ll see you in a few hours, and we can talk about dinner plans,” he says, releasing me before he can manage to squeeze all of the air out of my lungs with his vice grip.

“Oh shit.” I clap a hand to my forehead. “I forgot about book club tonight. I guess I’ll have to cancel that.” I shake my head, knowing the girls will be disappointed but won’t give me grief for it, considering the circumstances.

Dad flattens his lips, waving me off. “I’ll watch Rex, and you go out. It’ll be good to see your friends. Besides, there’s nothing for you to do but sit around and wallow in misery,” he says, and his lips curve up in a lopsided smirk. “Though I’m sure you’re not that miserable. Tyler never deserved you, and I think you were finally coming to terms with that anyway.”

I nod, sighing dejectedly. “You’re right. Alright, if you really don’t mind watching him for me?”

He rolls his eyes with a wry grin. “Of course I don’t. Now, get to bed; you look like you’ll drop at any second. ”

Smiling at that, I jog up the stairs, entering the only room in this house that doesn’t look cold. The walls are painted a pale pink with white bedding, but art covers nearly every surface in some way. Mostly with paintings my mother drew for me growing up.

After cleaning up in the bathroom and checking my blood sugar, I practically collapse on the bed, falling asleep in a matter of seconds.

***

“And you’re sure you don’t mind watching him for the night?” I ask him, just making absolutely certain he didn’t have plans.

“When have I ever given you the impression that doing something for my daughter felt like an obligation?” he asks, a dark brow quirked at me.

“Never, but you don’t need to be a brat about it.” I chuckle.

“Have fun, and promise to either stay the night or call me to get you if you’re too tired to drive or if you drink.” He envelops me in a quick hug, pressing a kiss to the top of my head before releasing me to leave.

“I promise. See you in a few hours,” I tell him, waving as I head out.

***

I park along the street, a little nervous about leaving my baby, affectionately named Cherry, out here, but at least I know I’m in the right place. Familiar cars belonging to my best friends line the narrow road.

I walk up the paved pathway with Tiny glued to my side, and the moment I step on the porch, the door bursts open, startling me. My heart pounds inside my chest as I jump backward, but the monster of a man before me juts out his hand, wrapping it around my lower back and steadying me before I can fall backward and crack my head open.

My eyes widen when I realize who it is. “Gianni.” I breathe.

His aquamarine eyes bore straight into me, the dark circles under them making him look even more haunted than the last time I’d seen him. “Dr. Hughes.” He nods, releasing me once I’m steady on my feet. He makes his way around me, rushing to his car like a madman, and it isn’t until he’s at the vehicle that I realize Pickles is trailing behind him, her fluffy tail happily swishing as she waits for him to open the trunk for her.

I watch as he opens it and see that the trunk is filled with pink fluffy blankets. Pickles jumps in, circling around the center of the blankets and nudging them into the right position with her nose before finally deciding to plop down.

Gianni’s eyes dart up, boring holes into me when he notices me still standing here. I feel a flush creep across my skin, so I duck my head, and I enter the house, hoping the open door was an invitation.

I head down the thin limestone-walled corridor with peeling wallpaper on the top half. The entryway opens up into a larger living space with the kitchen to the right, and a room of smiling faces greets me. “Lark! You made it!” Kira shouts as she bolts out of her seat and runs toward me, dragging me by my bicep over to the group of women.

“Hi, everyone.” I smile sheepishly, feeling a little out of place.

“Lark! God, no wonder my baby Gi has the hots for you! You’re gorgeous,” the older woman sitting in the wheelchair beside Kat tells me. My eyes widen, and I feel my cheeks flush with heat.

The room fills with everyone shouting “Gloria!” and “Mom!” as if they’re used to her making outlandish statements.

A busty redhead is seated on the floor in front of a woman with pastel-pink hair. She smiles brightly at me, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “Gloria has a way with words,” she says with a laugh, her voice taking on a light quality reminiscent of a fairy. “Kat filled us in on your dinner the other night, and Kira filled in the rest of the details. Don’t worry, Gi isn’t here pining after you.” She winks at me. “Though we hear you just had a breakup, so if you want him to be—” She doesn’t finish her sentence as the pink-haired woman behind her smacks her over her pretty head with a pillow.

“You guys are insufferable,” Kat says, still smiling, her words laced with affection. She pats the seat on the worn floral couch beside her. “Come sit by me, and I’ll introduce you to all the tyrants in the room.”

That makes me chuckle, and I’m hit with a wave of longing as I notice Gloria smiling so fondly at Kat as if they were cut from the same cloth. I wish my mother were still around.

Shaking the thought from my mind, I take a seat beside her. She leans forward, pointing at each person, starting with Gloria. “This is my mother-in-law or soon to be, I hope,” she laughs, “and as you already know, her name is Gloria. ”

“I could be your future mother-in-law too, sweet cheeks.” The older woman winks at me, her blue eyes shining with mischief.

“Ignore her,” another woman says. “I’m Charlie, and this is my wife, Rose.”

Rose waves and smiles at me but doesn’t say anything. “This troublemaker is Arielle. She’s Rose’s best friend and my brother’s wife.” Arielle blows me an exaggerated kiss from her spot on the floor.

I already know the other women as they’re my troublemakers, but just when I thought the introductions were over, a tiny woman with glowing tawny skin comes barreling into the room. Her long black hair is strewn around her head in a knotted mess. “Sorry!” she shouts as she rushes to take her seat on the floor in front of Kat. “I was, uh…” Her eyes dart around the room as her hands fly to her hair, trying to flatten it. “Really busy at work,” she explains, grimacing at her own lie.

“I call bullshit. We literally work together, Aiyana. I sign your damn time cards,” Rose deadpans.

“She was getting railed into the mattress.” Charlie chuckles, which makes Kat lean forward, making a retching sound.

“Gross! You do realize she’s married to my brother, right? Boundaries, please!” Kat practically begs.

“Have you met these women? There are no boundaries in this house,” the woman mumbles before turning toward me, extending her hand for a shake. “Hi! You must be the veterinarian, Lark. Nice to meet you.” She smiles. “I’m Aiyana.”

“It’s nice to meet you too, and uh, good for you,” I say with a smirk, a chuckle passing my lips. The room erupts in a fit of laughter .

“I think you’ll fit right in,” Gloria says, smiling broadly.

Kira looks toward Madison and Jade, wearing an expectant look on her face. “Can we move in and never leave?” she asks jokingly.

“You’re all welcome anytime,” Gloria tells her. “Now, are you ladies ready to talk smut?” 1

Kira smiles widely at her, but the gleam in her eyes tells me whatever’s about to leave her mouth should have me worried. “Gloria!” she says in her singsong voice. “Is that a freaking custom ‘smut slut’ T-shirt?”

Oh, for fuck's sake.

Gloria’s bright eyes light up, her pearly white teeth glowing in the warm lighting. “It absolutely is! Do you ladies want one? I’ve got tons in my room. I tried to open an Etsy shop, but…” Her eyes swing around the room, glaring at the women I now recognize as Charlie, Rose, and Arielle. “ Some people wouldn’t help me set it up because they were embarrassed of me! Can’t an old woman have her fun?”

“Mom, you’re not even old enough to qualify for a discounted meal at IHOP. You aren’t old, and you know it.” Charlie groans from across the room. “And it’s not the T-shirt selling we were embarrassed by, and you know that too! It’s the fact that you wanted the entire family to wear the shirts in a group photo for you to advertise on social media.”

“And it wasn’t just the shirts either.” Arielle rolls her eyes. “The freaking underwear and men’s briefs with tiny glow-in-the-dark stick figures hunching. Like, come on, Gloria.” She snorts. “That’s just strange, even for you.”

“It’s not like I wanted you to wear the underwear in the photos!” Gloria shouts, exasperated, rolling her eyes.

“Yes. Yes you did,” Rose says in a no-nonsense tone.

This family is so fucking weird, and I love it.

“Fine, maybe I did. Moving on!” she says, tossing her arms up and leaning back into her chair with an eye roll that has me worried they might just pop out of her head.

Kat peers over at my friends, wearing a small smirk. Her fingers fiddle with the zipper of her olive-green jacket before sliding it down, revealing a hot-pink shirt with a white print that says “STFUATTDLAGG” across the chest.

Kira and Madison squeal, “Oh my god! Is that from Gloria too?”

“Yep,” Kat answers. Gloria leans forward to peer at what they’re staring at as Charlie runs a ragged hand over her face, releasing a loud groan.

“She got to you too, huh, Kat?” Charlie grumbles.

Aiyana smiles up at Kat, then pulls her hoodie off over her head, revealing her own custom “Hot girls read smut” shirt.

Gloria claps her hands enthusiastically. “Ah! See? Someone appreciates my genius!”

“You bitches staged a damn coup, didn’t you?” Arielle asks, her bright smile still intact as she says the words with no bite.

“Absolutely. Now let’s talk about this book I never managed to read.” Aiyana smiles brightly.

“That’s okay. We all know you only come for the snacks anyway.” Kat laughs .

Turning her gaze on my friends and me, Kat asks, “Did you guys get a chance to finish reading it? It’s okay if not; we usually have the whole month.”

“Absolutely. I read it in one sitting. It was so good! I hear the author is releasing the next one pretty soon, and I seriously couldn’t be more excited!” Madison explains.

“I was actually an ARC reader for it, and I’d give just about anything to be able to experience reading it for the first time all over again. Ryder was so swoony, and Lola was the spicy badass we needed in a cowboy romance!” Kira says.

“Ryder was a little rough around the edges.” Kat chuckles. “But that dance class he took her to had me kicking my feet and giggling the whole time.”

Arielle laughs, leaning forward as her eyes twinkle. “I went my whole life having no idea that the one thing I’d been missing this entire time was a beefy cowboy taking pole fitness lessons,” she says, bringing her fingers to her mouth and letting out a loud whistle.

“Yes!” I shout, bouncing in my seat. “That was so hot! And the freaking lap dance? I almost passed out,” I say, laying my hand on my forehead, my body swaying as I pretend to faint.

Tiny rests his big head on my knee, gazing up at me in question. I pat his head, smoothing his big wrinkled brow, and he sags against my side.

Gloria nods fervently at my assessment, chuckling as she does. “Wholeheartedly agree, and I loved the tropes! Second chance, Latin dancer, cowboy, an unhinged best friend, runaway bride, oh my!” she says, fanning herself .

We spend the next hour and a half talking about this month’s book and everyone’s individual takes on each thing, making it pretty easy to relate to who they are as people. So far, I really like them all, and they’ve accepted my friends and me as if they’ve known us our whole lives.

***

The front door opens, and several tall men saunter in, each of them carrying a sort of swagger that would turn heads. Even the older gentleman, who I have to assume is Angelo based on everything Gloria’s told me about him tonight.

“Hey, Ma!” The man with dark waves and heterochromatic eyes shouts as he enters, bending down to kiss Gloria on the cheek. I’ve definitely seen all of these men before at soccer matches, but seeing them all up close and in person is a little startling. They’re so damn tall and even more gorgeous than should be humanly possible.

“Hi, trouble,” Gloria says, smiling up at him, his one blue eye a perfect match to hers. “How was bowling?” she asks with a knowing smirk.

“It would’ve been great if Luca hadn’t insisted on using the fucking plastic dinosaur they give the children ,” one of the dark-haired men grunts out.

One of the guys, who I now know to be Alessandro, rolls his eyes and says, “He was trying to impress a table full of women bowling beside us by being a goof. Newsflash, it didn’t work. Their boyfriends all showed up, and that was the end of that, but he was committed to the bit. ”

Gloria grins and looks over to where Gianni is leaning against the back of the love seat Charlie and Rose are sitting on. “And, Gi, did you need the bumpers up this time, or were you able to score like a big boy without them?” she asks.

“Oh shit, shots fired,” Kira says with a laugh.

My cheeks burn red hot at his clear embarrassment. He cups the hair at the base of his neck before meeting my eyes.

“I didn’t score, even with the bumpers,” he says, and my mind gets caught on what I think might be an innuendo but really couldn’t be. This is Gianni we’re talking about. The guy is pretty somber. He doesn’t strike me as someone to make sexual references, especially not around his family. That apple fell pretty far from the smutty tree.

I finally break eye contact with him, but my skin tingles as if I’m being watched. I swing my eyes around the room, and sure enough, several of the women have theirs glued to me.

Gloria clears her throat and tells him, “That’s alright. You always sucked at bowling.” She gives him a smile that crinkles the corner of her eyes. “You can’t be good at everything, and considering the magic you make with all those instruments, I’d say you have more than your fair share of talent,” she says, turning her attention to me with a wink.

All of the air is sucked out of my lungs, and I feel like I might faint. Despite how unabashedly she works to make everyone in the room laugh, usually at the expense of others, it seems like she has her comforting moments too. Almost like she changes her parenting style to meet the needs of her children, even in adulthood.

Aside from her little wink at the end, what she said was actually really sweet, and frankly, it intrigues me even more. I had no idea he played any instruments. Where does he find the time with his busy soccer schedule?

“Thanks, Mom,” he says quietly, ducking his chin and heading into the kitchen.

“I hate to break up the party, but Kat and I should probably get home to take Tank out,” Alessandro says.

After lots of hugs and goodbyes, my friends and I agree to come back for next month’s book club. It’s definitely an improvement from our monthly rotation between our tiny apartments, and, of course, I have not a single fucking clue where I’ll be living come next week.

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