Will You Lay with Me?

Parker wasn’t impressed that Luca had bought Eddie such an expensive gift. Eddie knew he was angry but had done her best to calm him down and promised to call him before she went to bed.

Luca and Eddie ended up on Wall Street to find Marc’s building. Marc was the one who spotted them first as he was making his way to the subway.

“Eddison!” he called out to her, causing Eddie and Luca to search for where his voice had come from. It was something out of an old movie as Eddie’s eyes found Marc’s, and she ran toward him.

Luca was jealous of the relationship his brother had with Eddison, but they had always been like that.

Eddie wrapped her arms around Marc’s neck, and he lifted her off the ground.

“Why are you working on a Saturday?” she asked. “I was shocked when your mom told us.”

“No rest for the wicked, bella. What are you doing in New York?”

“Luca decided we needed a weekend road trip, and Parker was busy studying.”

At the mention of Parker, Marc looked to his brother for a reaction. Luca’s face was smiling but cold.

Luca pulled Eddie away from his brother and wrapped an arm around her waist. Eddie relaxed into Luca’s hold, and all thoughts of Parker disappeared.

The three headed home to Queens via the subway and were met by the smell of roasted garlic as they entered the Moretti house.

“Ma! I invited Sienna for dinner!” Marc called to his mother from the lounge.

Eddie elbowed him in the stomach. “So, things are going well, huh?”

Eddie noticed Marc blush, and she grinned.

“I like her,” he replied with a shrug.

“Have you told her?” Luca questioned.

“Yup,” Marc replied. “She needed to know.”

Maria called the brothers in to set the table as Eddie answered the door to find Sienna Romano.

“Eddie!”

“Hi, Sienna, how are you?”

“I’m great, thanks. Marc didn’t say you’d be here,” Sienna replied, pulling Eddie in for a hug.

“Luca and I decided on a last-minute road trip to fill our weekend.”

“Are you and Luca…?”

“No!” Eddie said quickly. “No, Luca would never see me like that. We are just friends.”

Eddie didn’t realize that Luca had heard her as he walked out of the kitchen. Luca detected sadness in her voice as she said, “We are just friends.”

“Ladies, dinner is ready!” Luca announced. “Sienna, do you mind if I steal Eddie for a second?”

“Not at all,” Sienna left the pair in the lounge room.

“What’s up?” Eddie asked with a smile on her face. Luca stepped toward her and lifted the Tiffany charm from its place under her collar. As he lifted it, his fingers brushed Eddie’s skin, leaving a burning tingly trail.

“Thank you,” Luca said, brushing a piece of Eddie’s hair behind her ear.

“For what?”

“Coming with me. I know you’d rather be with Parker but I… Well, I’m glad you came.”

“Luke, are you okay?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Well, I have been living with you for almost three years, and I have never seen you shake,” Eddie said, grabbing his hand. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“Nothing, cara. I’m fine.”

“That’s a lie,” Eddie muttered. “You know you can tell me anything, right?”

Luca nodded in response as his mom called them into the dining room. Eddie kissed his cheek before heading in. When she left the room, Luca released the breath he had been holding and shook his head.

“I don’t know if I can tell you this, Ed.”

***

~“Where else did you explore today?”~ Parker asked. Eddie had been talking with him for only twenty minutes, but it felt awkward and forced. She thanked God that they weren’t on FaceTime.

“Just Fifth Avenue and Wall Street, mainly. We will probably hit Central Park and Times Square tomorrow. Luca hates the touristy places, but I always have to have a carriage ride.”

~“How much was that necklace he bought you?”~

Eddie cringed at his question, knowing it was a sore point. The necklace was almost two hundred dollars more than she would ever even consider spending on one item, but there was no stopping Luca.

“Parker, it doesn’t matter. It is my early Christmas present, that is all.”

“What did he buy his girlfriend?”

“Luca broke up with Kate after dinner that night.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, that’s what he told me. Look, Parker, I’m kind of tired. Four hours in the car, roaming New York, and then a huge home-cooked meal has me wiped. Can I call you tomorrow?”

“Of course, babe. Sweet dreams, beautiful.”

“Goodnight.”

Eddie placed the phone on her nightstand. The awkward conversation with Parker had her wondering.

He was always studying without her, even though they were majoring in the same thing. He wanted more, and she wasn’t ready to give it to him. ~Why?~

If Eddie was honest with herself, she knew she wasn’t attracted to Parker. Sure, he was the logical choice, but there was no attraction there.

Eddie dropped her head onto her pillow with a sigh. She was sleeping in Luca’s bed. His childhood bed.

She grabbed her phone and quickly typed out a message.

Eddison

You awake?

The Roommate

Yup

Eddison

Come to my room?

The Roommate

I think you mean my room!

Eddison

LUKE!

“Yes?” Luca pushed the door open, and Eddie sat bolt upright, her phone dropping onto the bed beside her.

“Hey,” she said, patting the bed, indicating for Luca to sit.

He sat down on the bed, keeping his eyes fixed on her.

“Hi. What’s up?”

“Will you lay with me?” Eddie asked quietly, not quite as confident as she had hoped.

“And get my balls cut off by Ma?”

“Please, Luciano.”

“Ah, I love it when you say my full name,” Luca groaned. “Okay, shove over.”

Eddie made room for Luca, and he pulled the covers back and lay down beside her.

“I forgot how comfy this bed is.”

Luca sighed, and Eddie rolled over to face him.

“Your mom interrupted before, when you were going to tell me what’s up.”

“Mmm?”

“Tell me.” Eddie poked Luca’s side, and he squirmed.

“Don’t awake the beast, cara. I won’t be afraid to tickle you.”

“I want to help, Luke. You’re my best friend,” Eddie whispered, and Luca smiled.

He wrapped his arm around Eddie and pulled her onto his chest. Instead of pushing herself off and reminding herself of Parker, Eddie snuggled into Luca. Luca patted Eddie’s back and placed a kiss on her hair.

Luca noticed Eddie start to drift off to sleep, and he placed another kiss on her hair.

After a few moments, Luca let out a sigh.

“I love you, Eddison Jenkins.”