Devotion

twenty eight ﾒ club craziness

ANGELICA

For the first time in a week in a half, I think I sparked some sort of happiness in Luca and Leilani. Well, Leilani's always happy and jumpy. I can be when, you know, not being threatened by my own father. It's alright though, he can fuck himself twice through. Because I have enough courage in me to kill him.

I had trudged around Luca's bedroom for a wool blanket that wouldn't seep cold through my body and got lucky. I have never been this connected to a blanket before. As soon as I step out, a cheery Leilani raises her eyebrows in joy. "Oh my God! Nonna, it's Angel. See, look," she exclaims, rushing over by my side. Nonna turns from the cutting board to catch a glimpse at me with a welcoming smile, gesturing to the plate next to Lei's. Aw, she made me breakfast?

Leilani hooks an arm through mine and helps me to an island stool of Luca's. "Oh, thanks," I say to her, staring down at the food. I can't remember the last time I ate without feeling sick. Let's make this day 1 on normalcy again. Lei scoots in the chair and offers a clean fork before jumping into her stool seconds later. "You, okay?" She asks, stuffing her mouth with a poached egg. "Ugh, Nonna. These are amazing."

Nonna comes over to us and offers more to her. "You should eat it, so good. I've managed to fix my egg routine since living in Italy, and it's amazing." Her salt and black pepper hair moves to her shoulder as she rotates her head in my direction. "Wants some? Luca make this batch for you," she offers. He cooks? "Uh, no. I'm okay," I say guiding my attention back to my plate.

She shrugs it off and goes back to cooking. It's quiet in his kitchen for a few until we're met with a grumpy, pissed-off Luca. Or I'm starting to believe that's his look. He showed up shirtless, revealing a tattoo I'm just noticing on his chest a mean tattoo that covers his right pec with cursive writing. And Leilani beat me to the punch by asking, "When did you become rebellious and get a tattoo? Who convinced you? It totally fits!" She exclaims.

"Not today, Leilani," he grumbles. Nonna offers a plate, and he takes it and eats it standing up against the kitchen counter. "But, I have an idea." Her brown eyes glare at Luca playfully. "Listen to it, grumpy."

He chews his food and narrows his eyes toward her as she begins her rant. "So, I was thinking, Luke." She smiles sheepishly. "You're always thinking. You need to turn off your fast-moving brain and stop speaking and being so happy all the time," he says in a disgusted tone. Leilani never backs down and proposes her crazy idea. "You should be our sober driver to the club. The old-school club that has this cool jukebox, and we—" Luca interrupts, "Uh, no. I don't fucking think so. I'm not going back there."

"I wasn't done, Luke! I was going to say we should go. You used to take me all the time during high school when I was sad because you know, I love music. I just wanted to relive memories! And take my precious baby girl over here since she's been all sad, right, A?" She asks, holding my face in her hands. My eyes slowly move to see her in my peripheral vision while I slowly. "Um," I say quietly, "Okay."

Luca stares at me with a look that reads, 'Why did you fucking say yes? Now, I have to deal with her for the rest of the day,' A tiny smirk lifts onto my lips when I stare at him back sending a look that reads, 'You'll live, Bertarelli.' "Fine, I'll fucking take you both to the stupid club. But don't drink your ass off, Leilani. The last time wasn't pretty," he says, holding a stiff finger towards her.

Her arms hold up in surrender. "Fine! Party pooper," she says.

Contrary to what people may make their relationship out to be, you'd be surprised how close Luca and Leilani are. They're both only children with one parent who's either permanently or temporarily out of the picture, so they're like siblings. Leilani sees that man as her big brother even though she sometimes refers to him as 'hottie', but I think she just likes pissing him off more. And Luca has gained a soft spot for Leilani and vowed to protect her since she doesn't have many people to. Her mom? Shitty and abusive. Mia? Fucking hell, I don't even want to explain. Her father? Always a cheater, never a father.