I yawned as i closed my laptop and blinked at my apple watch - 10:00 PM - I hadn't even eaten yet. I began to stand, but dropped back down onto the couch when i heard a giggle from across the hall; it was accompanied by a laugh i knew all too well, and then a loud slam of a door. I looked around at the ceiling of my apartment. I should have been used to hearing Bobby making other girls laugh like that by now, but i wasn't and i knew i never would be. I should have stopped caring all those years before. I should never have fallen in love with my best friend.
"Hey," Luca said, his head leaning against the strong curve of his arm. "Can i spend the night here? "I was about to see if you wanted to split a pizza and cheesy bread sticks with me," I answered, signaling for him to come in.
I shut the door, and Luca's frame towered over me, arms crossed, and his lips tipped downwards in displeasure. "What's wrong?"
I shook my head, and he sat next and placed his soft hand on my leg. "Pizza and cheesy breadsticks, Ella? I know something is wrong."
He was close and my heart still remained slow and steady as i stared up into his blue eyes. It reminded me it would be so much easier if i had fallen in love with him instead of Bobby. Then he reached out and put his hands on my hips, his eyes were tender as he lowered his head and he towered over me like he wanted to kiss me.
I pulled away and rolled my shoulders back. "I'm fine."
"That's it, isn't it? You still love Bobby?" Luca asked as i walked over to the coffee table with my head down and i grabbed my iphone. I clenched my jaw as i stared at the empty space were he'd been standing. I admitted it years before, but from then on we only danced around the subject, mainly because i didn't want to talk about it with him.
I avoided the 1-word like i always did, turning and smiling at him. "What do you want on your pizza?"
He narrowed his eyes, "You know my toppings."
"Hawaiian pizza it is."
That wasn't his toppings, but i knew he'd eat whatever i ordered without complaint.
He blinked at me several times before flopping on the couch. His hockey player frame didn't fit into much of the contemporary furniture in my place.
"Are you sure you want to sleep on the couch? Your body hangs off of it," I said as he stretched out his legs, they were stuck half-way over the edge.
A smirk came to his face as he put his arms behind his head with a thought i was sure i didn't want to know. "Where else would i sleep?" he asked.
"I suggest we trade. I'll take the couch and you can take my bed," I answered with a nod across the room to my bedroom door.
"Alright, sounds good to me."
"Pervert," I said under my breathe as i walked past him to go to grab him a beer from the fridge.
"It's not my fault you look like that," he said as i handed him the drink.
I ignored him and called to order the pizza.
"Twenty minutes," I informed Luca as he flipped to the hockey channel.
"So why are you alone on a Friday night?" Luca asked as he knocked back the remainder of his beer and stood to grab another.
"You're going to wipe me," I commented, avoiding the question as he closed the fridge.
He held up a can of Fanta. "One beer limit when I'm with you."
"At least someone follows my rules," I replied, smiling at him.
"You know it! I'll always follow your rules, Ella."
I wondered to my self why i couldn't love him back. I looked over his muscular, hockey player frame, messy light brown hair and sky blue eyes. He was hot; there was no denying that, but when he touched me i didn't feel a spark. I only felt the tenderness of a friendship that began as children. Booby was so different than Luca, yet i found myself constantly dating guys just like Luca.
They were safe. They didn't make my heart race or my body flush with heat from just looking at me and smiling.
"So why are you alone on a Friday night?" I asked.
Luca grabbed my arm and pulled me up before moving me onto the couch beside him.
"I'm not alone. I'm with you," he replied, and his warm breath washed over my skin but did nothing to my insides.
I turned and smacked his chest. "Shut up!"
He winked at me before saying, "Careful, you don't want to break your hands on my rock hard bones!"
"You and Bobby are one in the same with your cockiness," I teased as i pulled my legs up to my chest.
"But different in so many ways," Luca replied as his eyes washed over me again. The comment made me swallow.
"You're weird, you know that?" I replied as i locked my eyes on the television screen and pretended to be interested.
A knock came at the door and our eyes unlocked from one another.
"Pizza!" Luca cheered as he jumped up and went to the door. He pulled out his wallet just as i stood to go to my purse. He shook his head as he said, "This one's on me. I drink half the beer you buy anyways."
he opened the door and took the boxes of steaming food before handing the guy a twenty. A typical guy nod was exchanged.
"Thanks, bro," the pizza guy said.
"Have a good one," Luca replied with his deep voice.
"Do you want another Fanta?" I asked.
"Sure thing."
"I swear to God you must have the biggest bladder on the planet," I said as i handed him the can and sat down beside him.
"Don't forget my appetite. You only asked me over because you're only going to eat one slice, and you don't want this thing to go to waste."
"Technically, you invited yourself over."
"I thought you were coming to ask me anyways, or were you really looking for Bobby?"
His lips were in a smile, but i could see the muscles in his arms tensing at his question.
I placed my head on his shoulder.
"Who's your best friend, Bobby or me?" Luca asked, looking at me from the corner of his eyes.
"Come on Luca! You know it's different with Bobby."
He nodded in defeat. "Yeah, i know."
I knocked my shoulders against his. "Eat your pizza and shut up. Either way your mum still hates me with the fire of a thousand burning suns."
Luca smirked. "That she does, especially since you've got both of her boys tied in knots."
"Both of you?"
"Err...with having a best friend who's a chick. Screws up relationships like no tomorrow."
I narrowed my eyes at him, but he grabbed a piece of pizza and took a bite. He smiled at me with his mouth full, and i conceded, taking a slice for myself. If Luca knew Bobby had feelings for me, he would've told me long ago, wouldn't he?
I need ideas for next chapter!!
xoxox
