“No…I, uh, sorry.”
“Just so we’re clear, I don’t like you very much,” I said, continuing to swirl the frosting onto the cake as though being caught in this man’s gaze wasn’t setting me on fire. “I think it’s shitty what you did to all your friends, but especially Katie. She’s so kind and caring, and you ghosting her like that really hurt her feelings.”
He didn’t say anything for a moment, and I wondered if he’d heard me at all.
“I don’t like me very much either,” he finally said. “And itwasshitty.” His voice was so low I had to strain to hear him, even in such a small space.
I chanced a glance at him, and that’s when I noticed the deep purple circles that framed his eyes. His razor-sharp cheekbones looked more pronounced than they did the last time I saw him, and his lips were a little dry. Even still, he was insanely gorgeous, and that annoyed me even more.
He sniffled, and his nose twitched before he cleared his throat.
“Oh shit, dude. I’m sorry,” I said, dropping the spatula with a clatter. “You’re not gonna cry, are you?”
He shook his head, a faint smile gliding over his mouth. “Not right now.”
His face and choice of words landed heavy on my heart. “Are you…are you good?”
“Not even a little,” he answered. “But it’s not because of you.”
Fuck.I knew I could be a bitch sometimes, but this was a whole new level for me. The man looked like his damn dog died, and I chosethat momentto tell him he was an asshole.Iwas the one being an asshole.
“I’m not so good either,” I admitted. Partly because it was true, and partly because I had a nagging feeling I needed to let him know he wasn’t alone. “And that’s also not because of you.”
His lips quirked.
“I’m sorry I was such a dick,” I said. “I’d say that’s out of character for me, but it’s not.”
He folded his arms over his chest. “Actually, your honesty is kind of refreshing. Everybody’s been walking on eggshells around me for the past few days. So, thank you for keeping me in check.”
“Glad I could be of service.” I gave him a mock salute. “If you ever find yourself in need of another verbal kick in the ass, I’m your girl.”
“You know, I might take you up on that sometime,” he said as Katie opened the door to the kitchen and leaned inside.
“Are you ready to go?” she asked Luca. “Dal is making a coffee and then we can head out.”
“Yeah, let’s do it,” he answered, picking up the box of pastries Dallas had left.
“I’ll be back tomorrow,” Katie said. “Call me if you need anything.”
“Call you?” I asked as though that was a foreign concept. “Why would I do that when I could let this place descend into madness?”
“Very funny,” she called over her shoulder as she disappeared.
Luca followed behind her, pausing with his back against the door.
“It was good seeing you again, McKenzie,” he said.
My stomach flipped, and I hoped my face wasn’t giving away how good it felt to hear him say my name.
“You too,” I said.
“And I’ll keep your offer in mind.”
I winced. “Sorry about that.”
“I’m not.”
His mouth curved into the first genuine smile I’d seen on him, and without another word, he was gone.
