Page 164 of Lucky Mother Pucker

“Oh, Lucy. You are always welcome. Especially when you say such nice things about my cooking. And please, call me Cora. Ms. Peretti makes me feel a million years old.”

I chuckle softly. “Okay, Cora.”

She walks off to visit with her other guests. Leo grabs our jackets, and we walk through the living room to the massive deck overlooking the evergreen treeline and mountains in the distance. It’s late afternoon, so the sun is low in the sky, hovering over the peaks.

The door opens, and Zoey, Matteo, and Alessia come out to join us. We’re all standing around talking when I notice Leo’s gaze drift past my shoulder. His smile fades.

I turn around and see his dad standing in the middle of the dining room, frowning while one of Leo’s mom’s neighbors talks to him.

“Look who finally decided to show up,” Leo mutters.

I turn back to Leo. “I didn’t know your dad was coming. I thought your parents were separated.”

He tugs a hand through his thick, chocolate-brown hair. “They are. My mom wanted to be nice and invited him.”

“That’s really kind of her.”

“Yeah,” he says through an exhale, his hard gaze still on his dad. “But of course he didn’t even bother to show up on time for the actual meal.”

I notice Zoey looking between her dad and brother. She touches Leo’s arm, but he just shakes his head. She sighs, a defeated look on her pretty face. She gives me a sad smile before walking off with Matteo and Alessia to the wet bar on the other side of the deck.

Leo and his dad quietly glare at each other. Then his dad’s gaze falls on me. His frown deepens, making him look even more pissed off.

I suddenly feel on edge…like I shouldn’t be here. Like I don’t belong.

“Enough of this,” Leo mutters. And then he walks into the house, right up to his dad.

Chapter 58

Lucy

Iwatch as Leo marches up to his dad, holding my breath.

Leo says something to him, but I’m too far away to hear.

“You want a drink, Lucy?” Zoey asks.

I turn and see her at the wet bar, filling a wine glass.

“Sure. Thanks.”

I walk over, and she hands me a glass. “Sorry about our dad showing up and killing the vibe,” she says.

“You don’t have to apologize. It’s not your fault.”

She offers a sad smile. “I know my mom was just trying to be nice by inviting him, but he always brings the mood down whenever he’s around.” She takes a sip of her drink. “I feel so bad for Leo. He’s been so hard on him his whole life.”

“Yeah, he told me about it.” I shake my head.

Zoey’s quiet for a moment. “I keep hoping that one day, my dad will come to his senses and start treating Leo better. But the more time passes, the less hope I have.”

My chest aches at how sad she sounds for her brother.

We quietly sip our drinks. Her phone rings, and she frowns at the screen.

“My mom is calling me for some reason.” She answers. “Mom, why are you calling me? Aren’t you in the house?…Wait, really?” She chuckles. “Okay, no more wine for you…I’ll be there in a sec, just hang on.”

Zoey looks at me. “My mom and Aunt Cheryl just locked themselves in the wine cellar downstairs. Be right back. Gotta go rescue them.”