Luca's POV

It had been a week since Elizabeth met my family. A week since she punched that fuck bag, Trent. I will admit I was surprised. I underestimated princess. I didn't think she had it in her to knee a guy in his giblets, then punch him in the face.

When I had walked into her apartment and found him asleep on the couch I felt something in me snap.
I felt protective of Elizabeth. I didn't know why or how. I was a doctor meaning that I was supposed to be helping people. But when it came to Elizabeth, I would have probably killed Trent.

It wasn't only me, that she had this strange effect on. My mother and sister wouldn't shut up about how amazing or just how beautiful and intelligent she was.

They took time every day to tell me how lucky I was to have such an amazing girl by my side.  It was driving me crazy. Even though she was not around they still spoke about her.

They constantly worried me to bring her over but I couldn't have her near me all the time so I made excuses saying that she was working or studying.

I didn't have female friends especially female friends that looked like Elizabeth. It was wrong the way I'd look at her sometimes. It was wrong the thoughts I'd have of her. I think it was because I was missing Allison.

I told Allison about my mother and Stephanie taking a fast liking to Elizabeth and she was not happy about the matter. She was grumpy about it. Allison argued, that they portrayed her to be some kind of hell demon, and portrayed Elizabeth, to be my saving grace.

Having to deal with four women with very different personalities was no walk in the park. Especially one very hormonal pregnant woman which was my sister. I barely had peace. I constantly had to remind myself that this was only temporary.

I sat in front of the tv watching a football game. I came home from college an hour early since a lecture for the day was canceled. I had the apartment to myself since everyone was out doing some wedding or business stuff.

I loved spending time with mum and Stephanie... Harry well I barely spoke to Harry. I was trying to go back home, so I didn't want to get into an argument with Harry that might hurt my chances of going home.

The front door burst open and in came Stephanie and James. James was carrying all of Stephanie's bags. She was holding her back as she let out a breath. "Steph are you okay?" I moved to stand by her side. "What happened."

"Nothing brother I'm just tired," she sighed. Mum came barreling in after Stephanie carrying a few shopping bags followed by Harry and Christain that were also carrying bags.

"What is all of this," I said, looking at all of the shopping bags that decorated my apartment floor. "This is a bit excessive don't you think?"I said and moved to sit down on the couch again.

"Well we need outfits for the photoshoot the pre-wedding ball, and then the wedding," Stephanie said out of breath and Christian placed a kiss on her temple.

"What in the world is a pre-wedding ball?" I asked in exasperation.

"Oh it's like a rehearsal dinner but more like a party," she said in excitement. "I even got a ball gown for Liz," she cheered. "Oh I hope she loves it, but please don't tell her. I want to surprise her."

Jameson eyed me from the corner of his eye. He hadn't gotten over the fact that Elizabeth and I were together. "I see you watching the game son," Harry said and moved to sit down next to me.

Yes please, I would love some company. Fuck!

I pulled out my phone and went over to my text messages. I hadn't sent Elizabeth a text before. I wanted to check up on her. She was doing me a favor after all and I didn't want it to seem like I was using her.

Where are you, princess?
I texted. She was probably at college.

She began typing and I waited.

Firstly hello and secondly nunya! Was her response.

What the devil is a Nunya? I waited for her to respond. What an absurd word.

None of your business. God, she was so infuriating. Why couldn't she see I was trying to be sincere by checking up on her.

Do you have to be a pain in the ass about everything princess? I replied quickly.

"Luca," Stephanie called.

"Yes Steph," I said, pretending like I was listening to her meanwhile I was busy thinking about my next witty response to hit Elizabeth with.

Not everything...Just when it comes to you, Hyde. She replied.

"Luca!" Stephanie called again and I jerked up.

"What is it Steph?"

"Have you heard a word I said?" She questioned with her hands on her hips.

"Of course I have..." I lied.

"So you'll do it then?" she asked.

"Anything for you Steph," I said and she beamed.

"Great you guys have fun then," she said and my eyes widened.

Harry and Christain both moved to the door. "You coming son?" Harry asked.

Stephanie smiled cheekily at me. What the fuck did I just agree to. She grabbed my hand pulling me up from the couch. "Please pick a tuxedo for the ball," she said, and my eyes widened.

Oh, fuck no! Did I just agree to what I think I did. Elizabeth was going to pay.

"But, but Steph I thought you already got all the outfits."

She sighed. "You know how it's a tradition for the groom not to see the bride's dress. Well, Christian said if he couldn't see my dress then I couldn't see his suit."

I glared at Christian as he put his hands in his pockets and let out a slight chuckle followed by a visible gulp.

Christian and I never had a decent conversation, in fact, we never had a conversation at all. I bet this was Stephanie's idea so that we could all bond.

Jameson stood in the corner of the room with a wise arse smirk on his face.

"Come along James. I insist," I said and he swallowed hard, all remains of a smile disappearing from his face.

"I'm a bit tired..."

"Nonsense," Harry said moving to put his arms around James.

Before I could leave, I decided to send Elizabeth one last text. Because of you, I am now in a predicament. You are going to pay princess. I sent her the text and waited. She sent me the shocked emoji followed by the rolling eyes emoji.

She thought I was bluffing but little did she know I never bluffed. I walked out of the apartment with the men. Christian and Harry went for the elevator and I went for the stairwell. James followed after me.

"Luca?" James inquired when we were in the stairwell and I turned to look at him. "Nevermind," he said looking away and I rolled my eyes.

"Come on what is it?" I asked as we continued to walk down the stairs. "What's got you looking so bothered?"

"It's just that sir. I know it's none of my business, but I thought you loved Miss. Kelly despite what your mother and sister had to say about it," he said lost in thought.

James was an old romantic. He believed in love at first sight and once in a lifetime sparks.

He was referring to my relationship with Allison and he was right. I did love her despite what anyone else had to say about it. "It's not that simple James," I said, ending the conversation on that note.

We walked out of the stairwell to find Harry and Christain, looking awkwardly in opposite directions.

"So who's car will we be taking?" Harry asked, upon seeing me. He looked relieved to see me.

There's a first time for everything.

"We'll take mine. I have something I have to do later," I said and they shrugged, agreeing and following me to my car.

"Shotgun sir," Jameson called and I chuckled. It was a phrase James learned when we first came to America. He never really got a chance to use it before. Because it was always him and me.

I got into the car and so did the rest of the men. I heard a car door slam and my eyes widened. I looked in the review mirror and saw the culprit, Christian.

First, he makes my sister pregnant and then he slams my fucking car door. Uncultured animal. I grunted. I couldn't wait to get this circus show on the road.

This was all Elizabeth's fault.... oh and revenge was a dish best served hot.

I started the car and Christian gave me directions to a tailor in New York. Putting the directions into google maps, I drove the car out of the complex.

"So Luca," Christian started. "Stephanie tells me you're a medical student," he said and I looked up at him, through my review mirror.

"Ah yes," Harry said. I swore the man loved the sound of his voice. Because he would speak even though no one was talking to him. "None of my children wanted to take over my firm. Sad really. I thought the name Hendricks would remain a name of power in England."

Blow it out your arse!

I cleared my throat. "Well yes I want to dedicate my life to helping people," I said glaring at Harry in the review mirror. "I don't care about profits."

"That's noble of you," Christian acknowledged, or was he just sucking up to me. I couldn't distinguish due to the amount of hostility in the car.

"How about some music," James chuckled awkwardly and put on the radio.

After a while, I parked my car in the parking lot of the tailor's shop. I put on my sunglasses and moved to get out of the car. "This is my friend's shop. They design suits for celebrities," Christian said.

This shopping trip was already making Saturday's one look better.

I walked into the shop and a lady behind the counter looked up. "Yowza!" She exclaimed upon seeing all of us. "It's raining men!" She stepped out from behind the counter. Her eyes landed on me. "Hallelujah."

She was dressed in an emerald green body fit dress. The dress was so tight that I averted my eyes from staring at her body and fixed it on looking at her face.

"Hey Tatum," Christian greeted excitedly.

"Chris," she greeted with enthusiasm. "It's been ages." She said going over to him and hugging him.

"Oh, hello gentlemen," A guy wearing a grey suit said walking up to us. "Chris, buddy," the man's professional stance disappeared once seeing Christian. He moved over to him and enveloped him in a bear hug.

"Everyone this is my friend's Benjamin and his wife Tatum Brown. We met in school," Christian said. He then turned to his friends. "This is my future brother in law and father in law," he said pointing at Harry and me.

"Well Christian's family is automatically my family. Feel free to stay as long as you like gents," Benjamin said with open arms.

"So what kind of suits are we looking for gentlemen?" Tatum asked moving to a clothing rack.

"Well we need tuxedos and suits," Christian said, looking over a long brown winter coat as he spoke.

Harry walked over to a shelf that had various ties displayed on it. "What color did Steph say she wanted again?" He asked James.

"Well, I think it's champagne?" James said in thought.

"I prefer salmon," Harry said and I held my head. What the fuck.

There are more important things in life than to be worrying about a damn color for a fucking tie.

"Oh this one is so cute Ben," Tatum said and moved to me. "Let me help you out honey," she said.

"Um, no thank you. Something simple will suffice," I said and she laughed smacking me on the shoulder.

She grabbed hold of my hand and pulled me to a rack with suits on it. "So what color would you prefer?" She asked holding a grey suit up to me.

"Black."

"Of course," she said looking me up and down. "But I think you would look amazing in grey," she added with a wink.

**********

After an hour, that felt like an entire day. We got our clothes and left the store.

We were all hungry so I took them to an Irish pub. It was a place James and I found when we first moved here.
Harry indulged himself with some Irish whiskey.

He was more tolerable drunk than sober.

Jameson drank with Harry because Harry wanted company and I refused to drink because I had to drive.

The bar was dimly lit. A few pool tables were at the corner of the room as well as a dartboard. A flat-screen tv hung on the wall in front of us, playing last night's football game.

"How about a game of darts?" Christian suggested.

"I don't play darts," I lied. I just didn't want to play with him.

Harry and James started cheering as if they were in the football stadium when someone scored. They began singing and I realized, I might have been wrong when I thought Harry was more tolerable drunk. He is irritating any which way.

"You know what Christian," I said and he looked at me. "How about that game of darts mate," I said and he smiled.

"I thought you don't know how to play," he said.

"Well, I'm a fast learner. I'll figure it out."

He slid out of the booth and we walked over to the dartboard. Christian handed me three darts. "So I kind of get the feeling you don't like me," he said and I internally vomited. What the fuck, he was behaving like a teenage girl.

"Well you only did knock up my sister," I reminded him and he rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.

"I love Stephanie Luca," he said and I let out a breath. There was no denying that Christian cared about Stephanie.

"I know and I love my sister that's the only reason I'm putting up with her drunk father and fiance," I stated.

"I know it's too late to ask your blessings," he chuckled but I was not amused. "But know I have your sister's best interests at heart."

"Well, I do commend you. You said all of that while I have darts in my hand. Also, you didn't run after you made her pregnant so you seem like a solid guy. Just know that if you do intend on leaving her and that child I will find you," I said with a sinister smile.

He laughed. "You're joking right?" he questioned putting a hand on my shoulder.

"You don't want to find out mate."

I had enough of the heart to heart. I threw the dart at the board and it landed dead in the center.

"I thought you said you didn't know how to play," he chuckled.

"Beginners luck."

After a few more rounds of darts, we decided to make our way home. It was getting late and I had three missed calls from Steph.

The sun had already set and the chill in the air picked up. Christian and I loaded Harry and James into the back seat of the car after much difficulty. "Unhand me you!" Harry tried to fight back.

"Luca, you're my best friend and I love you mate!" Jameson sang when I got into the car and I pinched the bridge of my nose, releasing a heavy sigh.

Christian got into the passenger seat of the car and I got the car on the road. The drunk duo had fallen asleep on the drive home and I was relieved. I was praying that neither one of them vomited on the way home.

When the car had stopped in the apartment building. They awoke with lazy smirks on their faces. Christian and I helped them out of the car. I helped James, while Christian dealt with the salmon loving Harry.

I remembered I had to visit my special someone and I stopped walking.  "Hey. I forgot I had something to do," I said to Christian. "Would you be able to manage with these two?"

"Sure," he said eyeing me suspiciously at first.

"Are you going to see your girlfriend!" James mocked and I raised an eyebrow.

"At least I have a girlfriend mate," I said with a smirk and turned to walk back to my car.

"Ooh good burn son," Harry shot back and I rolled my eyes. I could hear their drunken conversation as I walked back to the car. "You should really get a girlfriend Jameson."

"Could you teach me, sir," James babbled.

Bunch of nutters.

"Tell mum and Steph not to wait up," I said turning around and looking at the men, once I was at the car and Christian nodded. He ushered the two men into the elevator and when the doors closed, I got into my car and drove out the apartment complex parking again.

After a few nauseating minutes in traffic. I drove through the golden gates of my favorite restaurant. It was already seven pm and I had hoped that she had been working. I parked my car and got out, straightening my coat jacket and running a hand through my hair.

As I began to walk up to the restaurant the doors parted and a woman ran out. She looked like she was confused as she looked in both directions and began speed walking.

The doors parted again and a tall guy walked out. He watched her as she walked away and ran a hand down his face. He turned around and walked back into the restaurant.

As the woman walked past me. I noticed it was Elizabeth. She walked past me not even noticing my presence.

"Elizabeth?" I questioned and she stopped.

"I'm not in the mood Luca," she said and continued walking. Her voice was hoarse meaning that she was crying.

I caught her by her arm and turned her around to me. If that guy said or made a pass at her I was going to go after him and punch his teeth out. I came here a few times to see how these slime balls acted around pretty waitresses. "Tell me what happened," I demanded.

*************************************************

A/N

*Sighs.* Lizzy hasn't been talking to me... Luca says that she is just being dramatic. Urgh! I can't deal with these two constantly fighting in my head.

Send help 👀

P.A 💜