“I wanted to tell you, but it was just sex. And why would I risk messing up the dynamics of our friendship over sex?”
“It’s clearly not just sex,” Luca finally says.
I shake my head. “No. It’s not. And it hasn’t been for a long time, but neither of us said it out loud. That day at the diner? That happened because Salem—that’s my brother—called me while I was in bed with Jasper. We got into a fight. He told me he was in love with me. I ran.”
“So he really didn’t hurt you, then…” He shakes his head with a sigh. “I was really worried he had, and I’d read the situation wrong.”
“No,” I whisper. “He didn’t hurt me. I hurthim.”
“But you’re okay now?” he asks, concern marring his features.
“I think so. I mean, he’s told me he wants to marry me like a hundred times.”
Cocking his head, Luca studies me. “You don’t believe him?”
I try to smile, but I’m pretty sure it falls flat. “I think I do. But… he could do a lot better than me, and I think we all know it.”
Silence stretches between us for so long that I start to worry I’ve ruined our friendship. Wouldn’t that be some shit? Try to preserve our friendship and end up fucking it all up anyway.
“I don’t know that.” Luca shifts on the couch, moving closer to me. “Would you say that about me and Austin?”
Absolutely not. “Never.”
Luca shoots me a pointed look. “Right. So don’t say it about yourself. When are you going to get the kids now? You said Salem is your brother? How old is he? What about the other one?”
“Nora. She’s ten. Salem is fifteen. Jasper said he talked to the caseworker while I was out of it and that they’re doing abackground check on him, and then they have to do another home visit. Here. After that? Hopefully soon.”
“Do you need anything?”
I let out a laugh. “I mean, I kinda need everything. But that’ll come in time.”
Luca drops onto the couch dramatically. “I’m still a little upset you went to Theo before me.”
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, shame filling my chest.
“But,” Luca says, glancing at me. “I just need to say that I fuckingknewit. I called it from the first night. You twosuckat being secretive.”
I thought we’d done a pretty damn good job of it. “How so?”
“It’s the heart eyes. Well, Jasper’s more than yours. I kinda thought maybe you all had sex, and he wanted more, and you shut him down. Then… I don’t know; over time, I thought maybe you were still hooking up. I guess I was right. So are you gonna?”
I blink, trying to keep up. “Am I gonna what?”
“Get married.” Luca raises his eyebrow like it was the most obvious question in the world.
“Eventually, I’m sure.”
His brows draw together. “You don’t want to?”
I want to make sure this isn’t too good to be true. I’ve never had a single thing in my life work out for me. Not once. Hell, not even a week after finallygetting a place to bring my siblings to, it burns to the ground. “If he asks me, I’ll say yes.” I lean closer to Luca, lowering my voice, which is stupid because we’re the only two people here, but saying the words out loud is scary, and maybe whispering them will make them less so. “I think I’ve been in love with him the whole time.”
Luca stares at me, his lips twitching like he’s fighting a smile. “You don’t say.”
I pick up a couch pillow and toss it at him. “You don’t have to make fun of me.”
He sobers. “I’m not making fun of you at all. I’m happy for you. Really.” Placing his hand on my knee, he gives me a sad smile. “I’m really sorry about the house and everything. I came to visit you in the hospital.”
I frown. “I don’t remember you being there.”
