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Chapter 6
Ella watched through the take-out window as Lucas made his way across the wood planks. It figured. The first guy she was genuinely interested in since god knows how long, and he was completely off-limits. Of all the buses and all the people in the world and he just happened to get on hers. He could’ve gotten off that bus and went to so many other places yet here he was in Willow Cove. Joe Prescott’s grandson. If she only knew who he was…
If his story had clicked in her mind, but she honestly didn’t think Joe had any grandchildren.
The disappointment in Lucas’ blue eyes stung in a way she didn’t expect. They barely knew each other, but between the bus ride and their late-night text session, she felt like she knew him better than any guy she’d ever dated.
He was honest and didn’t hide behind lies to make himself look good. He exposed the dark secret of his family past, without hesitation. She didn’t think guys like that existed anymore and he’d renewed her faith… until today. If she’d only had asked him for his last name, they could have saved themselves the trouble.
She was an adult and could do as she pleased without her family’s permission, but she also respected them. The Morettis and the Prescotts had been rivals for years, to the point that the townspeople had to declare sides when choosing where to eat. Was it ridiculous? Absolutely. A feud started back in the late sixties over who opened their doors first and whose lobster roll was better, but as ridiculous as it all was, it was also the reality.
Morettis and Prescotts were the modern-day version of the Montagues and Capulets. If she and Lucas pursued anything, it would only end in heartbreak. Their families would never stop fighting, she’d been trying to end the feud for years, and she and Lucas would just become fodder the two men threw back and forth. That was a situation—no matter how good-looking and sweet Lucas was—she had no desire to get involved in.
“How do you know that boy?” her grandfather asked, his accent heavy with disgust.
She turned from the window. “We met on the bus ride home last night.”
“You stay away from him. Prescotts are trouble.”
She closed her eyes, trying to let the disappointment pass before she spoke. When she opened her eyes, her grandfather’s attention was fixated on her. She offered a smile to appease him. “Don’t worry. Now that I know who he is, I have nothing left to say to him.”
“Good girl,” he said, walking toward her with open arms. She stepped into his embrace, and he smacked a loud kiss on her cheek. “Now do me a favor and take this delivery to Wilson. His wife had chemo today, and I’m sure they both could use a little something to eat.”
Despite his earlier antics, her grandfather was a good man who looked out for the people he loved. Wilson and his wife were practically family, and Ella had known them since birth. She hated that they were going through such a hard time but was happy she and her grandfather could find little ways to help them out.
“I don’t have my bike,” she said, remembering Marco made her leave it behind yesterday.
“It’s in the bed of my truck,” Enzo said as he walked in. His tall frame dominated the small space. He was the tallest of the Moretti men, making people wonder if he was actually related to them, but he got his height from their mother’s side. Her father had been six-four. He also got her blue eyes.
His thick, dark brown hair was swept back showing the textures of his natural waves. Dark stubble dotted the hard lines around his jaw and mouth. He was stylish without any effort, and Ella always told him he could have been a model which he laughed at. He’d prefer to throw back a few beers and watch football than pose for a camera.
“Thanks,” Ella said. “I wasn’t going to bother you until later.”
“I had to drop something off at Marco’s anyway. Figured I’d kill two birds with one stone.”
“I guess I can make that delivery after all,” she said, taking the bag from her grandfather.
“I’ll walk you out,” Enzo said.
If he was following her, it meant only one thing; Marco told him about her mystery guy.
“Save the lecture,” Ella said as they walked outside.
“Who said anything about a lecture?”
Ella tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. “If they gave degrees in lectures you’d be out of wall space to display them.”
“Look, I want to make sure you’re okay. I know after you go see him it can be a little rough on you.” His blue eyes took her in, softening beneath the midday sun.
“I’m okay,” she assured him.
“You sure?”
“I’m sure.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I don’t know why you subject yourself to that shit.”
“Because he’s our dad, Enz.”
