Chapter 36

Polly

L ike any millennial woman in lust, I’d done my fair whack of research … stalking if you will, on the man who would become my husband. But even with everything I’d discovered—the multimillion-dollar sponsorship deals, the signing fees, the rumors, the cruel public outing—none of it could have prepared me for the media speculation surrounding my sweet, infamous Luca.

“You’re lucky we’re not Canadian. They may be polite, but they’re freaking insane about hockey. Much more than most New Yorkers. No one here really cares.” Ash said. I think he was trying to be comforting.

“This is most New Yorkers not caring?”

“Yeah, but don’t forget, this whole thing never really was about the actual game.” Luca added, running his thumb across my knee. “It was about me, the queer hockey player publicly dumped by the beautiful movie star for his team mate on their wedding day.”

Teddy, who was way too buzzed for my mood, offered his take. “And let’s not forget that the movie star is close to popping out her first kid to said teammate, and the queer hockey player just returned from his mystery vay-hab married to an Australian hottie. It’s quite the tale.”

“What the fuck do you have to be so cheerful about? Is this some kind of joke to you, Tedward?” I snapped, spitefully using the nickname he hated. “That woman broke Luca’s heart. Those camera clowns chased him from the country, someone most likely on his team is leaking his personal information, and let’s not forget his poor mother and sister can’t leave their own house.”

Teddy twisted in his seat to face me. “Polly my darling, I’m sorry if my natural exuberance came across as uncouth, but I assure you, I haven’t forgotten anything, and you are not the only person in this car who cares about our big HHM, Ana and Marta.”

“Hot Hockey Man,” Luca explained pre-emptively as he looked over me with a weird smile that pissed me off, too.

“And what the hell are you smiling about?”

“Nothing.” He smirked, “You’re just cute when you’re being all growly and protective. Kinda sexy, too.”

“Oh.” I couldn’t be mad at that.

“He’s right,” nodded Teddy. “Even I’m hot for you right now and that,” he pointed between my boobs for emphasis, “is not my scene at all. Actually, come to think of it, I know I risk decapitation for saying this, but that little bit of snark in you reminds me a lot of Evie.”

Luca’s knee caress became a death hold. “Evie Austen?” I asked.

“Austen-Myers, and yes.” Teddy confirmed.

I crossed my arms over my chest, looked out the window, studied the mass of giant cars flowing down the motorway and huffed. “Huh.”

Three sets of eyes stared back at me, but only Teddy was brave, or stupid enough to speak. “Huh? Huh?! What, that’s it? No stabby stabby, chokey chokey?”

“You seem disappointed. Did you want me to hurt you?”

“No.” Teddy waved, “No, I’m just … surprised.”

“Well, you shouldn’t be. Obviously, things changed between us, but Evie and I were friends for a reason. Our mutual temper and hatred of most people was what bonded—and kept—us together.”

Teddy bit into his lip to suppress a smile. “Ya know, I pointed out your similarities to her one day, and you almost quoted her verbatim. Though she also punched me in the tummy”

“She always was the violent one—.”

Luca’s phone vibrated in his free hand. “Speaking of violence…Hey, Ana. You’re on speaker for my own safety.”

“Are you okay? Did you get out of the airport okay? Is Polly, okay?”

“Yes, yes and yes.”

“I’m okay, too!” yelled Teddy. “Thanks for asking.”

“Not to mention me,” sulked Ash.

“Okay, there are too many people in this conversation.” Ana groaned, “Luca, off speaker. Now.”

Ignoring his sister’s request, Luca placed his finger to his lips for a silent ‘shh’. “Just us now, Ana, and I promise we are fine.”

“Good, because I’m going to kill you.”

“Me? What are you killing me for? It’s not my fault.”

Ana took a deep breath, held and released it slowly … and loudly. “I know. I’m sorry. I just … I hate this. Mom was followed home from the market, I was tailed all the way home from work, and you’ve done everything the team asked of you. You cleaned yourself up, did the rehab, got back into shape, and they still let you down.”

“It’s not their fault either. They can’t control the media any more than I can.”

“No, but they can take precautions. Someone risked your safety by leaking your flight details, and they need to find out who.”

“And they will, Chris is on it.”

“Well, that hardly fills me with confidence. They may as well have a sack of soggy potatoes investigating. Now, forget that dick. Where are you? Are you coming home, slumming it with Ash, or in a hotel?” Teddy and Ash silently gasped, and I gave my best commiserating head tilt while also laughing.

“ Staying with Teddy and Ash was my original plan, and Asher’s done a brilliant job and lost the paparazzi. I think we’ll come up the alley behind the house, drive straight into their garage and jump over the back fence once the coast is clear.”

“And they say romance is dead,” I tutted, then slapped my hand over my mouth.

“Hey!” Ana cried, “I thought I was off speaker. I just called Asher’s place a slum.”

Ignoring his sister’s continuing protests, Luca winked, “That’s me. Last of the true romantics.” With a squeeze of my thigh, he returned his attention back to Ana but kept his hand and eyes exactly where I wanted. On me. “See you soon, sis.”

“Blinded while your hands are basically up my ass is not how I dreamed of meeting your family.”

“Babe,” Luca crooned, “you dreamed about meeting my family?”

“Of course she did. We’re a goddamn delight,” said Ana, who was standing on the other side of the timber fence shining a torch directly into my face.

“Okay, Princess. One more push should do it.” And it did. Over I went, landing with a thud at the feet of a tiny but beautiful woman with Luca’s eyes and greying hair, whom I presumed was his mum. Beside her, holding the torch, was Ana, a gorgeous, shorter, female version of Luca. In a much more elegant fashion than me, he hoisted himself over the fence, nailing the landing like an Olympic gymnast, then helping me to my feet and dusted me off, paying extra, unwarranted attention to my ass. Squeals of delight commenced, and I fully expected Luca to disappear beneath a barrage of motherly hugs and kisses, but no. I did.

“Polly, my sweet child, welcome home. Welcome home!”

Even Ana, who was less than enthusiastic about our marriage whenever I’d overheard her on the phone, had wrapped me tightly in her arms. “Let’s get you and dickface inside. Mom’s made some lasagna.”

Their arms, along with the nerves that shook my body from head to toe, carried me through the small yard filled with a collection of brightly colored pots—most empty—an overgrown lawn, and an outdoor table under which Luca would struggle to fit his legs. After refusing to relinquish their hold of me, we squeezed up a narrow run of stars three people wide, stepped through a bright yellow door and straight into a kitchen that looked like the set of an American sitcom.

“Oh my god, I love your house!” I gushed, “And that smell, is that rosemary … bay leaf ... capsicum, oh, I mean red pepper?”

Luca pushed his way past his mum and sister and dragged me toward the table that sat in the middle of the room. “That’s the lasagna. If you think it smells good, wait till you taste it. Pretty sure amongst the herbs there’s some magical powers. No matter what crap is happening in the world, one mouthful of that saucy, cheesy goodness will make you forget all about it.”

“Is that so? Well, cut me a big piece, hubby, ‘cause I have a lot to forget.”

Looking back at me over her shoulder, Luca’s mum slid of her shoes, washed hands then plated four gigantic slices. “Luca tells me you’re a chef?” She smiled, setting the steaming plates before us and topping each off with freshly shaved parmesan, the really good stinky stuff.

“A cook, really.” I nodded, inhaling the tomatoey goodness.

“I never formally trained. Just learned on the job. My parents own a pub, and I used to help make the meals.” I tried to cover the sadness in my voice with a smile and higher-than-average pitch. It didn’t work.

“Luca also told me what happened with your parents. Have you still had no contact?”

With a shrug I picked up my fork and I shook my head “Not with Mum, but I’ve chatted to dad… and my sister has been great. She’s doing the best she can to work on mum, but….” My voice trailed off as I fought to fight back my emotion.

Marta slipped lower in her seat, tilting her head left and right till her warm eyes, the same stunning blue as her sons, caught mine. “That’s something at least, and I hope you forgive me for saying this, but I’m very disappointed in your mother, Polly. I’ve a good mind to call or message her. Maybe I could use the Instabook, Tiktoktime thing you kids are always on.”

“Mom,” Luca groaned, collapsing onto the table.

“What?” Bolting upright, she threw both hands in the air and turned to Luca. “It’s true. Imagine forcing your own child into a marriage, then disowning them for falling in love with a boy as sweet as you. She should be thrilled. I don’t understand it. I can’t and I won’t.”

As they bickered over the do’s and don’ts of social media, I swallowed my first mouthful of pasta, licking my lips clean of the most delicious sauce ever, interrupting when Marta mentioned signing up for Snapchat. “In all fairness to Mum, I have been what you could call a handful. I’d probably disown myself, too.”

“Nonsense. I can see the goodness in your eyes. Besides, who didn’t get up to some kinky hijinks in their youth. I know I did.”

Competing with the metal thud of Ana’s dropped fork, was Luca’s pained groan. “Ugh. Man, can we stop the conversation right there? Your cooking doesn’t taste so great coming back up.”

“Really?” I teased, jabbing him in the elbow with my own and earning a sexy scowl that had my heart racing. “I’d love to hear all about it. The kinkier the better.”

“Since my children are turning a lighter shade of green, maybe it’s best if we shelve that discussion for a time when we are alone.”

“Yup. Great idea, ma,” chorused Luca and Ana as I sat back, and let the sounds, tastes, and smells of a home filled with love wash over me. There were no snide digs at anyone’s portion size. No discouragement for seconds, and the food itself? “Mrs. D’Cruz—”

“Marta,” she insisted with a pat on my wrist.

“Marta, this is … I have no words. Would you ever consider sharing your recipe? I know we just met, but—”

“Polly my love, I would be honored. Perhaps while I teach you, I can tell you all about the bondage, too?”

“Okay. I’m done.” Luca pushed off the table, covered his ears and left the room. “Polly,” he yelled as he stomped upstairs, “the last door on the left is me. Find me when you’re finished … that.”

Thirty minutes later, I found Luca where he said he’d be, in the position I expected him to be. In bed. On his stomach. Snoring.

On the very edge of the mattress that was way too small to fit us both, I sat beside him and brushed his long hair from his eyes. He didn’t flinch.

“Thank you for bringing me home, baby. No one’s liked me enough to do that before.”

Long lashes that tickled the few freckles dusting the top of his cheeks fluttered. But that was it. I slipped off my jeans and top, leaving on my pretty purple cami and briefs, then tucked in beside him, my back facing his left side. “Thank you for being so sweet. I really love your mum. Ana too. She reminds me of Holly. I love you.”

Within three beats, I felt my eyes heavy, and my breathing slow. Then, just as I fell into that peaceful place just before sleep claims you, Luca took a hold of my inner thigh and pulled me closer, pinning me down by draping his leg over mine. “Thank you for choosing me.”