“Too late!” Matt flicks a grain off his hand but accidentally flings a tiny sprinkle onto Zara’s slice.
“Matt!” she cries.
“I call it… sand seasoning! Very rare,” he said proudly.
Luca groans, rubbing his face as he grabs a slice. “You guys are gross,” he says, but his smirk betrays him.
I settle down beside him, trying not to get sand onmyslice, or any other slice for that matter.
Yana passes me a soda.
“Thanks.”
Luca leans back beside me, arms crossed casually, watching the chaos with a faint grin. “I’m just saying,” he says slowly, “if anyone ever tries to steal our pizza, I’ve got this covered.”
I roll my eyes.
We spend the next half hour devouring pizza, joking, and laughing.
Matt tries sneaking an extra slice under the table.
Somewhere between laughing so hard we almost cry and the sugar from sodas kicking in, I feel myself get dunked in a pool of gratitude.
It’s a delirious feeling, a drug almost, the feeling of warmth.
I see a whole story in seconds, all the fun moments on repeat, and all I can think about is how lucky I am.
I hate everything about my life, but this group makes everything worth it.
The volleyball game reminded me how much I love it, and how lucky I am to get that as my job.
Everything I love in one career sounds like a dream, and it is.
My friends being my co-workers, traveling being all inclusive, and volleyball being the job is everything to me.
I glance at Luca, and for the first time in my life, I don’t see the catastrophe that could happen if anythingdoeshappen.
I don't feel bad for noticing his hair sticking up slightly from the wind.
I don’t get overwhelmed with worry about what could happen with our friendship.
He catches my gaze and smirks.
I can’t help but smile.
For the first time in my life, a maybe appears in my head.
Maybe.
Careful, Tilly, the moment you start letting yourself actually smile carelessly, the more the fall will hurt.
The fall is undeniable; all you can do is make sure you’re prepared for it.
Chapter 16
Luca
Matt is sprawled across the floor of my room like he owns the entire carpet, feet kicked up on my bed, the controller dangling from his fingers.
