Page 126 of Be Still My Unbeating Heart

“I could dance with you forever,” Bastian said.

He found De Luca looking at him with eyes that blazed blue fire, his ears turning pink, and Bastian saw longing in his gaze. Longing and passion and sadness. He didn’t have to ask why.

Bastian was leaving soon.

Leaving Vernazza. Leaving De Luca.

They both knew it was coming. The time-share was coming to an end, and with nowhere else to stay and a life in London to return to, Bastian and Whitby would be leaving tomorrow. Bastian hadn’t expected it to be so difficult. He hadn’t—

“You got out,” De Luca said. Bastian frowned, and De Luca elaborated, “This song. You said it inspired you to get out of your town. See the world.”

Bastian swallowed. Nodded. Suddenly words eluded him. He didn’t want to say the wrong thing.

“It sounds nice,” De Luca said, and it felt like he wanted to say more, but he didn’t. He chewed his bottom lip, his eyelids lowering.

Bastian raised a hand and put it to De Luca’s cheek. Hope bloomed in Bastian’s chest and softly, he said, “This doesn’t have to be good-bye.”

Their dancing slowed.

“If you want to see the world—” Bastian continued, but De Luca broke him off.

“I’d want to see it with you.”

Sparks crackled in Bastian’s chest. De Luca was looking at him, unblinking, so certain.

“Even though I’m loud?” Bastian said.

“Even though you’re loud.”

“Even though I’m spontaneous and lackadaisical and cavalier about personal safety, not to mention avam—”

De Luca dragged him into a kiss, grinning.

“Because of all of that and more,” he whispered.

—

“There you are,” Bastian said, spotting Whitby eating what looked like fresh spaghetti Bolognese from a plate that had been placed on a garden chair just outside the back door.

“Eating leftovers, dear? How unsophisticated—not to mention out of character.”

Whitby’s ears flattened against her skull as she licked her lips. “I didn’t…I was just…the smell was so…” She silenced and then gave Bastian and De Luca a haughty glare. “Where have you been? People were looking for you to pay their respects.”

“And you helped them, I’m sure,” Bastian said with a wry smile. He worried suddenly that he had kept De Luca from his loved ones on a difficult day, but De Luca appeared unfussed at having missed saying good-bye to his guests.

“I’ve seen those people every day of my life since I was born,” he said. “I’m sure they won’t mind. Besides, most of them only came back here for the food.”

“Speaking of, how is it, darling?” Bastian asked Whitby.

The cat gave him a filthy glare and hopped down from the chair. Her tail stood tall as she approached the path that ran alongside the house, leading out to the street.

“I thought I’d go down to the beach,” she said. “See if I can magic up some sandcastles.”

Bastian smiled. Whitby had been so resistant to leaving the apartment on their first night in Vernazza that he’d had to force her off the front step for an evening stroll. Now she appeared quite at home roaming the streets.

“What about the sand parasites you’re so worried about?” Bastian asked.

Whitby didn’t blink as she said, “Bastian, I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about.”