Chasing forever, p.11
Chasing Forever, page 11
“I’m happy for you. I miss the flutters of a young relationship. The trick is to make sure he has long-term likability.”
“He does.” He absolutely does. The only problem is on me, and tonight I plan to take steps to address it.
“Good, glad to hear it. Let’s get inside before Helen cracks the whip.”
I giggle and lock my car. Helen is our nurse manager. She isn’t a very pleasant woman. We hurriedly throw our personal items in our lockers and start our shifts.
Today’s shift is steady. I take my lunch out at the bench and check my messages.
Tabi: Hey there! I swung by last night and you were out. How’s Luca?
Me: Hey. I had dinner at Luca’s. I stayed there last night.
Tabi: Oh girl! Are you holding out on me?
Me: You know me better than that. We haven’t.
Tabi: I do know you, but you’re different with him. He’s good for you.
Me: He is.
Tabi: See you on Friday before I meet up with Davis.
Me: See you then.
I sigh before checking the rest of my messages. I love Tabi, but I would prefer to be with only Luca on Friday. Not only Friday, every day. I know, bestie time should be sacred, but so is time with Luca.
Luca: Hi, gorgeous. I hope your shift is smooth. Are you sure you don’t want me to come to your appointment with Dr. Berry?
Me: Hi. Same to you. I truly appreciate the offer, but I need to go to this one on my own.
Luca: Okay. Please call me when you get home.
I can imagine the frown on his face.
Me: I will. Talk to you later.
How did I get this lucky? Except for one minor—fine, major—detail, he’s everything I ever wanted for myself. I keep asking myself what it’ll take to be comfortable with his job. Honestly, I don’t know if he can do anything. This is on me.
I gobble down the rest of my lunch and finish out my shift. I change into jeans and a sweater before leaving.
Abby’s practice is home based, well, sort of. Abby has a set of twins who are now two years old. Her office is in the converted detached garage. It gives her comfort to be able to work and be close to her kids. You can’t even tell it was a garage except for the doors. There’s a waiting area with comfortable furnishings and soft colors, a reception desk for Casey, and a separate office for Abby.
“Hi, Willa. It’s nice to see you again.”
“Hi, Casey. Thank you for waiting for me.” I know from my previous appointments Abby’s last patient of the day is at five.
“No problem. She’ll be right with you.”
As I’m about to settle onto the couch, Abby opens her office door and calls me in.
“Hi, Willa. How are you? It’s been a while.”
“Hi, Abby. Thank you for fitting me in. I’m pretty good. I know how silly it sounds considering I’m here, but…”
“You know better than that, Willa. What brings you here?”
“I met someone. He’s amazing. I feel like he’s too good to be true. He’s kind, a fantastic son, uncle, and brother, and his family was mostly welcoming.” I decide to leave out devastatingly handsome and an incredible kisser.
“Nothing you said would lead you here,” Abby observes.
“For the last two and a half years, I’ve declined his date invitations. Recently, we ended up spending time together after he gave me a ride home and my window was broken. He refused to leave me alone with a broken window and slept on my couch. Then a movie night, a hike, and dinner, which neither of us call a date.” I inhale sharply before she figures out the issue.
“He’s a cop, isn’t he?”
All I can do is nod. Tamping down my tears is easier here than with Luca. Abby knows everything about me, even more than Tabi. The only difference between Tabi and Luca is time and some details at this point.
“Does he know about your father?”
“I told him my father died in the line, but not how. He even offered to join me tonight.”
“What are you afraid of?” Abby’s tone is calm and soothing.
“Losing him too.”
“If he were a plumber, would you be here right now?”
I lift my eyes to hers. “I don’t know.”
“If you were falling for this guy but he was a plumber, would you carry the same fear of losing him?” Abby asks the same question in a different way.
I let her words register in my brain… and my heart. I’ve already fallen for Luca. I’m terrified more of my feelings than his job. Was I already attracted to him when he was my patient and I used his job to push him off?
“Probably.”
“Why?” As usual, Abby led me exactly where I needed to go, but with care and concern. She pointed out Luca’s job isn’t the issue.
“I’ve already fallen.” My words are barely above a whisper. “What do I do now?”
“You already know the answer.”
“Do I? If I knew the answer, would I be here?” I push back.
“Yes, you would. You’re comfortable with me talking about your innermost thoughts and fears. When you’re ready, you need to tell him.”
I consider her words. Of course, she’s right. Kelsey said as much when I talked to her. I’m more terrified of my feelings than Luca’s job. I’m using it—was using it—to protect my heart from being crushed. I would say “again,” but I never felt this way about Zack. I told him I loved him. I was a fool. My feelings for Luca make Zack seem like he was a friend with benefits not my boyfriend. “Thank you, Abby.”
“You’re welcome. I proud of you for putting yourself out there again and knowing you needed to talk.”
I smile and hug her tight. When I exit her office, I find Luca leaning against my car. Without hesitation, I run to him, leap into his arms, and wrap my legs around his waist.
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t wait. I needed to know you’re okay. I should have pushed harder to come with you,” he mumbles against my neck.
“Nothing to be sorry for. I was coming straight to you.”
He pulls back so he’s looking at me instead of sending spikes of need through me with his lips on my skin. “Really?”
“Yes.” It’ll be yes as long as he’ll have me. Now I need the courage to share with Luca out loud. “Your place or mine?” I lower my legs slowly. Ignoring the sweet friction and feel of his hard shaft against me is impossible. Sweet mercy! My mind imagined a bit too much for where we are. Luca sliding deep into my core until I fall over the edge of bliss is not appropriate parking lot imagery.
“Yours. Bogart is with Lina, and I assume Newman needs to go out.”
I hear Luca saying something, but it’s all mumbled.
“Where did your mind go, gorgeous?” His hand slides along my jaw while he draws his thumb over my lips.
I close my eyes to calm my heart rate. “My thoughts are not appropriate for a parking lot, especially this one. Did you say my place?”
“Yes, I did. Will you share your thoughts with me when we get there?”
“Definitely. Let’s go.” After a quick kiss, I follow Luca to my house. The entire ride my mind is replaying my thoughts. My panties get increasingly wet as we approach my home. Any plans for exploring Luca are thwarted as I pull into my driveway and realize I have company. It could only be one person… Tabi.
“Were you expecting company?” Luca asks after he opens my car door.
How does he move so fast? “No, I wasn’t expecting her. I would rather be alone with you.”
“I’m not going anywhere, gorgeous. A few more hours won’t change anything.” He pulls me into his arms and kisses me breathless before leading me inside.
“Tabi?” I call as I enter my home.
“We’re in here.”
We’re? I set my purse and keys on the side table and greet Newman. “Hi, boy.”
Luca pets Newman and follows me into the kitchen. Tabi and Davis are sitting at my table eating crackers and cheese.
“Hey, partner. I wondered where you rushed off to. Hi, Willa,” Davis says as we enter my kitchen.
“Hey, guys. Is everything good, Tabi?”
“Yeah. When we got to my place, Shelby was entertaining a guy quite loudly.”
I understand why Tabi left her place, but what is wrong with Davis’s place? Did they have to come here, especially tonight? “No worries. I wasn’t expecting company.”
Tabi raises her eyebrow in Luca’s direction for only me to see. I don’t plan on talking about him right now. I didn’t tell Tabi about my appointment tonight, so she won’t know to ask. I wouldn’t answer her with Davis here anyway. He’s a nice guy, but he doesn’t need to know my issues. I’m confident Luca won’t share them despite the fact they’re partners.
We join them at the table and chat for over an hour. The entire time Luca is beside me, his fingers absently drawing circles on my thigh under the table. Incredibly turned on is an understatement right now. Near ten they head home after Tabi washes the dishes she dirtied.
“I’m sorry they were here.” I wrap my arms around his neck.
He settles his hands on the flare of my hips. “Me too. I wanted to talk about your appointment. Is it fair to say you made some progress?”
“Abby pointed me in the right direction. She didn’t point out anything Kelsey didn’t say as well. I needed to hear it from someone I have history with. Someone who knows everything about me, the awful and the terrific.”
“I want to know all those things too, Willa.”
I melt into a mushy puddle of goo. “I’ll tell you whatever you want to know. I’m not hiding anything. We merely need time to learn more.”
“You can have every minute you want. As much as I don’t want to, I need to go home. I have work to do, and Lina is bringing Bogart back in the morning before work. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Closing the small distance between us, I rise on my toes and kiss Luca.
“Do you seriously think one kiss is going to tide me over until the next time I can see you?”
He slides his hands up my sides to cup my face. Luca lowers his lips to mine and kisses me breathless, his emotions pouring out through his mouth. If I get this aroused from kissing, what will being with him do to me. Luca pulls back slowly and softly presses his lips to mine before drawing me against him. It’s crazy soon for me to consider asking him to move in with me. Falling asleep with him is indescribable and leaves me speechless, exactly like waking with him cradling me against his body.
“Good night, gorgeous.”
“Good night, Luca.” I watch him retreat to his car. Before sitting in the driver’s seat, he waves. I’ve fallen for Luca Cappelli, and I want him to stay with me. The trick is how do I share those feelings with him? I shake my head, lock up, and fall into my bed until my alarm shocks me awake.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Luca
Leaving Willa each night continues to get more difficult. I realize we started seeing one another recently, but I’ve known her for almost three years. There’s something about her that draws me in. I knew it from the moment she touched my hand after I was shot. I felt whole. Now she’s making progress with my profession, I’m optimistic for our date this weekend. The only thing in our way is a bunch of workdays.
After leaving on Monday night, I draft two sections of my paper before falling into my bed alone. The faint vanilla reminder on my pillow doesn’t help matters.
“Morning, Davis. Have you changed your mind about Tabi?” I greet him, and we walk to our car in the lot.
“Hey, Cappelli. Not sure. I ran into her at the bank after work. We grabbed a bite. She’s fun despite her boring job.”
I laugh at his response, start the cruiser, and pull onto the road to start our shift. I know better than to wish for an easy shift, because the opposite always happens. Within fifteen minutes, we’re dispatched to a multivehicle accident near the school. Thankfully, this time it isn’t a school bus.
We’re the first police unit to arrive on scene. There’s a blue sedan with a crunched-in front end buried into the side of a silver compact SUV. Davis takes control of the roadway north of the vehicle while I cordon off the south side. The ambulance pulls up as we finish detouring the remaining traffic.
As we meet back in the front of the vehicle, I hear, “Uncle Luca,” in a frightened voice. My chest tightens as I whip around to see Lina being tended to by the EMTs and the source of the voice. Antonio.
“Go. I’ve got this,” Davis urges before calling for backup on scene.
I hurry over, and Antonio hugs me tight. Glancing into the car, I see Lina has a gash on her head, but she’s speaking frantically, asking about the kids.
I overhear, “Ma’am, you need to calm down. Once I assess you, I can see if you can move.”
“My kids, please, are they okay?”
Antonio releases me and steps a few feet away. Then I see Emilia.
“Get out of the way, Cappelli.” Jude, the responding EMT, shoves me aside.
Emilia is still secured in her booster, she has small abrasions and cuts on her right arm, a trail of blood down the side of her face, and she’s unconscious. Jude checks her vitals and secures her onto the backboard with assistance from his partner, Lacey.
I’m stuck between staying here with Antonio, checking on Emilia, and comforting Lina. I opt to check on Emilia.
“If I had to guess, the side airbag knocked her out. I don’t see anything major, but we need to transport her to York Hospital,” Jude informs me while loading Emilia into the rig.
Lina follows with assistance of Lacey, then Antonio. It’s too crowded in there for me to join them.
“I’ll meet you at the hospital as soon as I can,” I assure my sister and nephew.
Lina nods curtly as Lacey closes the rear doors.
“We’ll take good care of them, Cappelli.”
“Thanks, Lacey. I’ll be there soon.”
She hops into the driver’s seat and takes off with my sister and her kids. So consumed with my family, I now notice the other driver is sitting on the curb talking to Ofc. Gugliotti and Sgt. Washington.
“Cappelli, go to the hospital. We’ll be there once we wrap up,” Washington directs.
“Thanks.” I would love to know more details, but I’m more concerned about Emilia than anything else.
I rush to York Hospital, only to be told I need to wait for an update. As I pace the floor, my parents rush into the room.
“Oh, Luca! What happened to my sweet grandbabies?” My mother hugs me close.
“I don’t know a lot. Lina has a decent cut on her forehead, Emilia was unconscious, and Antonio appeared fine. We have to wait for an update.”
In this moment, I wonder which floor Willa is on today. If I recall correctly, she kept her emergency room shifts along with her main floor assignment. Time seems to move ever so slowly right now. Lia and Frankie join us in the waiting room right before the doors swing open. Lily likely won’t be able to get away from the office.
“Officer Cappelli, I have an update for you,” Dr. Chan states after entering the room. “Your nephew, Antonio, appears to have escaped injury, mostly because of where he was sitting in the vehicle. We’ll hold on to him for a few hours to make sure. Your sister, Lina, has a laceration on her head, which will require stitches, but otherwise she’ll be fine aside from some soreness. Your niece, Emilia has regained consciousness. We ordered a CAT scan and a battery of other tests to make sure there’s no significant head trauma.”
My mother praises God from beside me and takes a seat.
Dr. Chan continues. “Antonio asked to see you. He and Emilia are together. Mr. and Mrs. Cappelli, you can see your daughter at the same time if you wish. Everyone else will have to wait.”
My parents follow Dr. Chan to Lina while I head for my niece and nephew. I relax instantly as I set my hand on the doorknob and hear her voice.
“Uncle Luca,” Antonio says from the side chair as the door opens.
Willa’s eyes dart to mine as I close it. “Hi.”
“Hi.” I press a kiss on her cheek near her ear. Her presence is expected but hits me square in the chest all the same. I’m sure every nurse is spectacular at their job. Knowing Willa is here with my family makes this so much easier. She cared for me, and I was a complete ass. These two will be a piece of cake. Thankfully, Lina has her own room. I’m not sure how she would feel knowing Willa is taking care of her kids.
“Hi, sweet pea. How are you feeling?” I sit on the edge of the bed.
“My head hurts a little, and my neck is itchy, but Miss Willa said she would make sure I got better.” Emilia gazes over at Willa, who simply smiles. A smile that soothes my niece and makes my heart sing. She lights up every room.
“She helped me with my shoulder. Fixing you up should be much more fun.” I lean forward. “I was a bit grouchy to Miss Willa when I was her patient.”
Willa laughs softly. I’m sure she would say I was way more than a bit grouchy. She would never divulge my shortcomings to Emilia though. The door swings open, and my parents step into the room. Apparently, they aren’t following Dr. Chan’s rules.
“Willa, it’s nice to see you again. I would prefer better circumstances.” My mother greets her with a tight hug. “How is she doing?”
“Nice to see you too.” Willa updates my parents.
Then Emilia is ushered to her CAT scan, and Antonio asks to see his mom.
“Why don’t you let me see how she’s doing first? Can you wait here with your grandparents for a few minutes?” Willa suggests.
“Sure.” Antonio takes a seat in the chair. I hand him my phone so he can play games. I follow Willa out the door.
“I wasn’t that bad, was I?” I murmur near the shell of her ear, knowing full well what it does to her. It doesn’t matter what I say, it sends tingles over her entire body.
“You had your moments when you were a supreme pain in the ass. Lucky for you, I find dimples insanely attractive.”
“Are my dimples the only thing you find attractive about me?” I whisper.
“You know the answer, and it isn’t something we should be discussing now. I need to check on your sister. The only member of your family who isn’t keen on me.”
