The Morretti Brothers

“FINE!” Luca yelled as he flopped down on the couch next to Eddie. Eddie looked at him with a confused expression.

“What is wrong with you?”

“Marc wants to go out tonight,” Luca whined.

Eddie gasped, pretending to be shocked.

“What? Do you think your brother will ruin your game?” she teased.

“No,” Luca said, poking his tongue out. “I just don’t feel like it.”

“Why?”

“Maybe I want to stay here with you.”

“Ha! Yeah, sure. I’m boring, Luca. You tell me that most days.”

“I do not.”

“You told me I was boring half an hour ago when I was studying.”

“You were studying…” Luca smirked, and Eddie rolled her eyes.

“Marc is hardly ever in town. I think you should go,” Eddie offered encouragingly. If Luca was out of the house tonight, she would finally be home alone with Parker.

Eddie tried to convince herself for the umpteenth time that this was what she wanted but found it hard with Luca’s bare chest in front of her. Does he ever wear clothes?

Marc walked into the lounge room and, much to Luca’s dismay, squeezed himself in between the pair.

“So, when are you guys going out?”

“We will be leaving here at seven,” Marc said with a smile.

“What are you going to do tonight?” Luca asked Eddie, leaning over his brother.

“You know me. I’m going to study and then probably pass out watching Gilmore Girls,” Eddie said with a laugh.

***

After the boys left, Eddie finished preparing dinner.

Taking out two sticks of Mrs. Moretti’s homemade garlic bread from the freezer and placing them in the oven, she then turned her attention back to the big pot of pasta.

Pasta. Well, I do live with Italians. Turning off the heat, she gave the pasta a final stir as someone knocked on the door.

Trying desperately to contain her excitement, she practically skipped to the door, opening it to reveal a smiling Parker.

“Hey, you,” he said, holding out a bottle of wine.

“Oh, wow, we are so grown up,” Eddie teased.

“Mom always said to never arrive empty-handed, so here.”

As Eddie took the bottle, Parker stepped forward, pressing his lips to hers. Eddie chuckled under his lips.

“If you keep this up, I won’t let you in.”

“Really?” Parker asked against her lips before plunging his tongue into her mouth.

Eddie was shocked at his boldness but recovered quickly, pulling away from the kiss. She took his hand and led him further into the house.

Parker took in his surroundings with a whistle. “This place is impressive. So, it is just you and Luca?”

“Freshman year, Marc lived here too. And for the next three days, Marc is back in his old room.”

“And Marc is Luca’s older brother?”

“Yup. Marcello Moretti.”

Parker nodded his head slowly, taking in the information. He looked toward the kitchen. “Something smells delicious.”

“I hope you like pasta. I’m afraid I learned to cook from my Italian roommates.”

“Pasta is perfect.”

***

Luca gazed around the club at the plethora of possible hookups. Marc normally hated this scene, yet tonight he seemed too eager.

“What is the real story? Why did you want to come out?”

“I want to hang out with my little brother.”

“Really?”

“Yes, now sit here and don’t grope anything. I’ll get you a drink.”

Marc left Luca alone on a barstool. A redhead in the crowd caught Luca’s gaze, and he offered her his signature smirk. She signaled for him to join her, pretending to pull him toward her with her imaginary rope. Luca stood just as Marc came back with two glasses of amber liquid.

“No, you don’t. Sit down.”

Luca took his glass and downed the contents.

“So, what do you want to do then?” he asked, staring at his big brother.

“Talk.”

“About?”

“Eddison,” Marc offered with a shrug.

“What about her?” Luca snapped, not ready for a lecture.

“When are you going to tell her?”

“There is nothing to tell.”

“Cut the crap, Luciano. You are attracted to her. Not only that, I’m pretty sure you love her,” Marc explained, and Luca rolled his eyes. “If you told her, maybe you find out she feels the same.”

***

“Thank you for dinner,” Parker said, quietly cupping Eddie’s chin.

The two had moved to Eddie’s bedroom, where they lay back against her headboard, watching TV.

“You’re welcome,” Eddie breathed out as her lips parted.

Parker accepted her invitation and claimed her lips. Her tongue darted out to lick his bottom lip, and his lips parted. Their tongues battled for dominance, with Parker finally winning out.

Parker slid his hands down Eddie’s petite frame. He moved on top of her, his hands finding her hips as he pressed his pelvis into her. He slipped one hand under her top, where he found her covered breast.

A moan escaped Parker’s mouth as he massaged her breast in his hand. A fire ignited within him, and his lips moved with fury against Eddie’s.

Placing her hands against his chest, Eddie pushed Parker back.

“Parker…”

“Yes, babe?”

“I don’t… I can’t…”

Eddie could see the disappointment in Parker’s eyes as he moved off her.

“We don’t have to do anything yet, Eddie,” Parker said, but his tone was dry.

“I’m sorry. I like you a lot. I’m just not ready.” Eddie looked at her hands as she spoke.

Parker moved off the bed. “Maybe I should…”

His eyes darted to the door, and Eddie grabbed his hand.

“Stay the night,” she said quickly, trying not to lose her nerve.

“You’re sure?”

Eddie nodded. The two sat back on the bed, deciding on a movie. Parker stretched his arm around her, and Eddie relaxed into his side.

***

Luca’s head was pounding when he woke up. He muttered a few Italian curses under his breath as he rolled out of bed. He shouldn’t have drunk so much.

He lifted his nose to the air. Pancakes. Definitely pancakes. It was times like these that he knew he really did love Eddie. Eyes half open, he walked down the hall to the kitchen.

“Bella ragazza! I love the smell of your pancakes in the morning,” Luca said as he entered the kitchen. A foreign voice reached his ears.

“Who the hell are you?” The voice belonged to a half-naked blond guy—who was standing in his kitchen, flipping pancakes.

Cursing in Italian, Luca glared at the intruder, happy for the height difference between them as he stood at least five inches taller than the stranger.

“It’s my house! WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?”