Chapter 236
CHARLOTTE-
Breakfast was an awkward situation with pastries.
Luca sat beside me. His parents across. Marco next to Beatrice like someone had glued him there.
The girl smiled on cue.
Apparently she was a doctor in training and exactly the kind of woman they wanted for their eldest son. Perfect posture. Perfect answers. Perfect, forced smile.
Marco looked uncomfortable every time she asked him a question.
I could see how forced it was.
His parents did not care.
They cared that he was sitting still and nodding.
Did they ever care if their children were happy?
“Beatrice finished top of her cohort last year,” his mother said, loud enough for the next table. “Medicine. Real work. A future that does not depend on a car. A job that saves lives, not takes lives.”
Beatrice ducked her head, modest on purpose.
“I’m only in my clinical years.”
“Only,” his father repeated, pleased. “Give yourself a little more credit. We see how hard you work.”
Luca’s mouth twitched.
Amused.
Of course he was.
Marco stabbed a tomato like it had attacked him.
“And you drive,” Beatrice said to him, trying. “It must be difficult. The travel all the time. Being out there with everyone cheering. Hoping not to mess up.”
“It’s a job,” Marco said. “That I enjoy. A lot.”
“A dangerous job,” his mother cut in. “Which is why stability matters. Beatrice understands duty. Some people in this family could learn.”
Her eyes flicked to me.
I buttered toast I did not want.
Luca leaned back, easy, like this was a movie.
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Then his hand found my thigh under the
blecloth.
I gasped.
–
Everyone looked at me.
“Are you all right?” Beatrice asked, concerned in a professional way.
His mother frowned. “What is it?”
Luca’s finger slid up. Then down. Slow. Dirty. Hidden.
I hit his hand.
He chuckled.
“Cramp,” I said. “Sorry. Long week.”
Marco’s gaze sharpened. He knew that laugh.
Luca sipped coffee like a saint.
“Charlotte works in the garage,” his father said, as if reminding the table of a problem. “We think she could
have-”
“She’s fucking good at what she does.” Luca cut him off. “Next topic.”
His mother set her cup down. “Beatrice will be an asset to this family. Marco is lucky.”
Marco did not look lucky.
Beatrice touched his wrist. He did not pull away. He also did not turn his hand over.
“Lucky,” Luca said. “That’s the word.”
I stepped on his foot.
He did not stop tracing the inside of my knee.
I was going to kill him in the lift.
Then I heard my name. I looked up.
Blair.
Olivia right behind her. Nico with sunglasses indoors.
“Can we join,” Blair asked, already pulling a chair, “or is this a family breakfast only?”
Olivia took one look at Beatrice’s smile and Luca’s parents and whispered, “Oh. It’s definitely a family situation.”
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The Mockey Captain’s Unwanted Wife
Nico clapped Marco’s shoulder. “Why so tense today? You look like someone scheduled you.”
is mother stiffened. “This is a family meal.”
vour
“We’re family,” Nico said, sitting anyway. “Hi. I’m a good friend of Luca’s. We go way back. Weird I never really see his parents at races. You must not come often.”
The table went still.
Blair’s eyes went to my throat.
Then to Luca.
Then back to me.
I kicked Luca again.
He finally moved his hand.
Not far enough.
Olivia dropped into the seat beside me, leaned in, and then gasped.
“Charlotte.”
“What?”
“You have a mark.”
“I have coffee,” I said.
“That is not coffee. That is a big red mark on your neck.”
I clapped a hand over it.
Too late.
Olivia’s eyes went huge. Then bright. Then she looked at Luca like she had just won a bet.
“Oh my-”
! “Olivia.”
“No. No, don’t Olivia me. That is a hickey. That is a professional hickey. That did not happen from a burn.”
What was a freaking professional hickey?
Blair leaned over, saw it, and whispered, “I told you.”
Luca grinned into his cup like he could hear every word.
His mother looked at the new arrivals like someone had invited the circus to her perfect breakfast.
Beatrice tried to introduce herself.
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The Hockey Captain’s Unwanted Wife
“I’m Beatrice. It’s lovely to meet Marco’s friends.”
Nivia blinked.
Looked at Beatrice.
Looked at Marco.
Looked at Luca’s mother.
Looked back at Beatrice.
“Marco’s…friends,” she repeated slowly. “Right. And you are..?”
“A family friend,” his mother said quickly.
“A doctor,” his father added.
“Lucky,” Luca said again.
Nico stole Luca’s pastry. “So. Who’s getting married?”
He said it as a joke.
Beatrice’s smile froze.
Marco closed his eyes.
Their mother scowled at Nico like he had done something awful.
Luca kicked him under the table.
55 vouity
“Shit,” Nico said, pastry halfway to his mouth, finally reading the room. “Oh. I see. I was just being funny.”
“You were not,” Marco said with a groan.
Olivia’s mouth fell open.
Then she whispered, far too loudly, “She’s here for Marco?”
Blair kicked her.
Olivia did not stop.
“I thought she was. . .I don’t know. A cousin.”
Beatrice’s ears went pink.
“I am not-” she started.
“She is a guest,” his mother snapped. “And this conversation is inappropriate.”
Nico held up both hands. “I take it back. Nobody is getting married. I have never heard the word married.
You know what I love? Racing. I love racing. Let’s talk about that.”
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The Mockey Captain’s Unwanted Wife
Marco looked at Luca for help.
ca looked at me like the deal was still under the table.
I reached for water and missed.
Olivia was still staring at my throat.
Then at Beatrice.
Then at my throat again, as if she could not decide which disaster she wanted first.
“I have so many questions,” she murmured.
“You have zero questions,” I said.
“I have twelve.”
Blair patted my arm. “Eat your toast. Pretend we are normal friends.”
Normal friends? Ha.
Nico pointed at Marco with the stolen pastry. “For what it’s worth, you look like a hostage. In a loving way.”
“Nico,” Blair warned.
“What? I’m supporting him.”
Olivia mouthed oh this is awkward at me.
I almost laughed.
His mother did not.
Luca’s hand found my thigh again, lighter this time. Like he couldn’t keep his hands off me.
I let it stay.
Across the table, Beatrice talked about clinical hours.
Marco nodded at nothing.
Nico chewed in guilty silence.
And Olivia kept glancing at my neck like she couldn’t wait to take a picture and show it to her husband.
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The Mockey Captam’s Unwanted Wife
Dex Morgan
Dex works to elevate each story with clean writing, emotional balance, and thoughtful flow for readers.