“Good,” I breathed, hating my cowardice. This was not me, but then again, I had a decent excuse for hiding out. Spring and Ace told me how crazy Luca had become looking for me. Ace telling me how Luca went toe to toe with Lennie when Dad refused to tell Luca of my whereabouts. I hated that too, bringing my family into my mess, putting them in the thick of it while I hid out, mourning the loss of the best man I had ever met and loved.
Luca’s best friend also told me of the hold Irena had on Luca, running him ragged with her so-called illness. Demanding he be with her most of the day, ferrying her to friends, medical appointments, shopping trips, and using her imaginary stroke as her weapon to keep him close.
I left him to make things easier on him, but from what Ace said, Luca’s life was more hectic than ever before. Irena making him feel guilty and more responsible. Me disappearing must be adding to his problems, especially after I dropped the bombshell about the baby, then left.
“We are happy you are finally seeing a doctor, Meadow. We don’t even know how far along you are in the pregnancy,” Jeff chatted, turning back to look out of the windscreen.
Yes I do, I thought to myself, knowing that the baby was conceived not long after my accident. I had no idea, or more to the point, was ignorant to the fact that antibiotics and the pill didn’t mix. It never entered my mind or Luca’s to use condoms until I finished the course of medicine. In our defence, we never thought of anything but each other during those times, common sense not exactly prevailing.
I miss you so much, Spunk. You fucked up, but I get why.
And I did, after seeing his mother in action, the evil, sly looks she gave me, I couldn’t blame Luca for doing everything in his power to keep his mum happy. A mad Irena was not a nice person, but then I guessed that even a happy Irena would be just as torturous. She wasn’t getting within spitting distance of my baby, of that, I knew for sure. Yes, I had to go back and talk to Luca eventually, sort out how we are going to tackle the custody issues and whatnot. In no way did I plan to keep Luca from his own child, but I was certainly going to ask for some written and legal stipulations that Mrs Donatella could have nothing to do with my baby, his sisters either.
“Okay, here we are, sweetie,” Jeff announced, like the ray of bloody sunshine he was. Nothing seemed to get him angry, to raise his voice unless he was excited and he didn’t swear. Ever! At least Michael had a potty mouth.
“Joy,” I grumbled, releasing my belt and waited for one of the men to open my door for me. For some idiotic reason, they engaged the childproof lock mechanism when I got in the car, most likely scared I would make a run for it.
“Don’t be like that, my beautiful sunflower,” Jeff cooed, helping me out of the luxury BMW, “a quick visit with Springy then off to see when your bundle of love is due.”
I swear, if he starts singing, I will rip his dick off and shove it down his sunny throat.
Putting both feet on the footpath, I took a good look at the storefront and nodded my head. “I have to admit I have missed this place.”
“See! A positive attitude is all we need,” Jeff chanted, earning an eye roll from his lover.
“He is a little too cheery in the mornings,” Michael apologised ruefully, taking my hand in his and started to lead me to the door.
“Meadow!”
Oh no! Spinning around in the direction where the shout of my name came from, I saw Luca running at full speed across the road. My traitorous heart and pussy reacted immediately as I soaked up at the sight of Luca’s strong body running to me. He was dressed in tight distressed denim and a white shirt that hugged every plain and ridge of his muscular chest. His face was a mixture of relief and anger as he looked from me to Michael, or rather Michael’s hand holding mine.
“Luca.” His name like a prayer from my lips.
“Get your fucking hands off my girlfriend,” Luca dangerously growled when he reached where we were standing.
“Girlfriend?”
“Go to hell, arsehole.”
“Touch her and die, snake.”
Jeff and Michael adding their own comments at the same time as me.
He thinks we are still a couple?
Seriously?
“Luca, what on earth are you doing here?”
“Meadow, please let go of that man’s hand. Please,” Luca pleaded, staring at Michael’s and my joined hands with a pained expression.
I couldn’t help myself; loosening my fingers, I let my hand drop instead, putting it up for Luca to see, my eyes not leaving his face.
“Meadow, this isn’t a good idea, remember what he did,” Jeff reminded me, coming closer to stand beside me in a protective gesture.
“You think I would hurt her?” Luca gasped, ripping his gaze from me to glare at Jeff, then Michael. “I would pull my own heart out before physically hurting her.”
“I’m not worried about that, as Meadow would never be with someone abusive,” Jeff retorted, “what I am worried about is her fragile heart; you stomped on it butt-hole and left her friends to help pick up the pieces. While you did what? Pander to your mother, the person that caused all this in the first place.”
I wanted to shout at Jeff to shut up, to not yell at Luca, but my retort died on my tongue when a look of utter shame passed over Luca’s face. Intrigued, I allowed Jeff and Michael to continue their verbal attack, curious to know what caused that look from Luca.
“You fucked up, hulk, now you have to live
