Yes

Eddie woke up before Luca, and she snuggled into his side. Things with Luca were comfortable. She had known him for a long time. He was her best friend. Eddie closed her eyes and listened to Luca’s heart beating.

“Eddie…,” Luca mumbled in his sleep, and Eddie felt herself blush. “I… I…”

Eddie rocks Luca softly in an effort to wake him up. Luca continues to mumble in his sleep. Most of it was incoherent, until…

“Eddie, I love you.”

Eddie froze, stopping all efforts to wake him up. Her breath caught, and she felt as if she might pass out.

~He loves me?~

Suddenly, the bedroom door swung open, and an angry Maria stepped in. Maria pulled her son off the bed by his ear.

“Shit!” Luca yelled, getting a smack across the back of his head for his cursing.

“LUCIANO MORETTI! HOW DARE YOU FORCE YOURSELF INTO EDDISON’S BED! Tu sei il mio figlio una vergogna andare vestirmi!”

“Mi dispiace, Mama.” Luca left the room, and Maria turned to leave with him.

Eddie called out to Maria, who turned to face her.

“It was my fault. Don’t be angry with Luca. I needed the company. I didn’t think. It won’t happen again.” Eddie looked down at her hands.

“My son knows better,” Maria said sternly. “But he loves you, and you are his weakness. Don’t abuse that, cara.”

Maria walked out, leaving Eddie even more confused.

~Does he really love me?~

***

“Did you tell her?” Marc asked the moment his brother entered the room.

Luca let out a defeated sigh.

“I did, but I don’t think she heard me,” Luca replied. “I think she fell asleep. It is for the best, anyway. She has Parker.”

Luca got dressed and headed downstairs to find Eddie helping his mom in the kitchen.

She was wearing her tight ass-hugging skinny jeans and a V-neck sweater covered by an apron as Eddie and Maria bustled around the kitchen.

Maria glared at her son as he entered before nodding her head pointedly in Eddie’s direction.

~Ma wants me to apologize,~ he thought to himself.

“Eddie, can I talk to you for a second?” Luca asked, extending his hand.

Eddie nodded and wiped her hand on her apron before taking his hand in hers.

Luca led her into the lounge room. He could feel the sparks from just touching her hand and wondered if she felt the same.

“I want to apologize…”

“For what?”

“I should have left once you were asleep last night. It was wrong for—”

“Luke, I asked you to come. I told your mom that.”

“So, we are okay?”

“Of course.” Eddie stood on her toes to wrap her arms around his neck and pull him into a hug. Luca smiled at the gesture.

“So, you said something funny in your sleep this morning.”

Luca’s body tensed. What had he said? “Really?” he said, trying to be casual. “And what was that?”

Before Eddie could answer, her phone started to ring. Eddie looked apologetically at Luca as she pulled the phone out of her pocket.

Luca noticed Parker’s name flash across the screen as Eddie pressed the phone to her ear. He heard her greet him happily, and his hands balled into fists. Not wanting to hear any more, Luca walked back into the kitchen.

His mom looked up, expecting Eddie. Luca explained that she was on the phone.

“When will you tell her?” his mom asked in broken English, her heavy accent shining through.

“Tell her what, Ma?”

“Oh, stupido! You must tell her that you love her.”

“How did you know that?”

“Io sono tua madre.” (I am your mother)

Luca laughed at his mom as his brother entered the kitchen with his father close behind. The two were arguing about the family business when Eddie walked in, pushing her phone into her pocket.

“Sorry, Maria. Can I…” Eddie looked at the spread of food. “Oh, I wasn’t much help at all.”

“Nonsense, cara! Now, everyone sit!”

Luca’s father said grace, and the five dug into a hearty breakfast. The table was full of sausage, eggs, bacon, hash browns, toast, waffles, pancakes, and pretty much every other breakfast food known to man.

The brothers piled their plates high, and Eddie can’t help but giggle. Luca looked next to him at Eddie, giggling under her breath as she cut into her bacon. He placed his hand on her thigh and the giggles stopped.

He knew that she was with Parker, but Eddie made a point of saying that he wasn’t her boyfriend. He still hoped that maybe Eddie would pick him instead.

Luca moved his hand up her thigh. His fingers rested between her legs. Eddie was grateful for the layer of denim separating his touch from her skin. Otherwise, she might combust.

“So, where are you going today?” Marc asked, unaware of the trip Luca’s hand was taking.

“Carriage ride. Central Park.” Luca answered, causing Eddie to choke on her food. “Cara~…~” Luca patted Eddie on the back until she was breathing normally again.

The five finished eating, and Eddie headed upstairs to grab her jacket. With two weeks to go until Christmas, it was getting cold.

Eddie found Luca waiting in the foyer for her. He smiled when he saw her, taking her hand as they walked to the subway.

When they arrived at Central Park, Eddie grabbed Luca by the wrist.

“Luke, you hate these carriage rides,” she said with a confused look on her face.

“But you love them,” Luca replied, lifting her up into the carriage.

The two rode in silence for a moment before Luca turned to Eddie.

“Are you serious about Parker?”

Eddie was unsure how to respond. She had been thinking about Parker a lot. The truth was no. She wasn’t serious about Parker. In fact, she would be lying if she said she was even attracted to him.

It wasn’t fair on him. She knew that. She had to tell him.

“I don’t know,” she said with a shrug.

“What did I say in my sleep this morning, Ed?”

Eddie sighed deeply. “You said…you said you loved me,” she said quietly. “But you were asleep, so—”

“I do love you, Eddie,” Luca said, cutting her off. He moved to kiss her, but Eddie pulled back.

“Luca, I…we can’t. I’m still with Parker. This isn’t fair on him.”

“Do you love me, Eddie?” Luca asked, and Eddie’s breathing stopped.

“Y-Yes,” she choked out, and Luca smiled. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and the two enjoyed the rest of the ride.