Page 108 of Spotlight Hearts

Harry pauses. “Excuse me?”

“We’re not staging anything,” Luca says. “We told you we’re done with the scripted shit. If the fans think it’s fake, that’s on you for pushing the fake version for so long. We don’t have to prove anything to anyone.”

I step closer to Luca, shoulder brushing his.

“It’s your bed,” I add quietly. “You can lay in it.”

Silence on the line.

Harry’s voice comes back sharper. “You’re under contract⁠—”

“And the contract says promotional activities,” Luca cuts in. “Not porn. Not fake relationships. We’ll finish the tour. We’ll give the fans the shows. But we’re not performing our private life for your numbers.”

Another beat of silence.

Harry exhales, frustrated. “I could replace you. If the numbers tank⁠—”

“Then do it,” I say. I’m so sick of his threats.

Luca laces our fingers together, squeezing once. The call ends with Harry muttering something about “ungrateful kids.”

Tasha pockets her phone, looking relieved and exhausted at the same time. “Sorry for barging in. I’ll handle the fallout as best I can,” she says. “You two should enjoy the rest of your time off.”

She leaves, and the house falls quiet again.

“You good?” Luca asks.

“Better than good.”

He presses a kiss to my temple. “I love you so damn much, Kai. I don’t know what I would have done without you in my life.”

“Good thing we will never need to find out. Because I’m pretty sure I’d be pretty lost without you, too.”

We’re still standing there, foreheads close, when Luca’s mom pops her head into the room.

“Everything okay in here?” she asks gently, eyes moving between us with quiet concern. “I heard parts of the call…and then the door. I didn’t want to interrupt, but I thought I’d check. After the neighbor's maid leaked that video, I feel a little more protective of my family.”

Luca gives her a small smile. “No need to go mama bear or anything. We’re good, Mom. Just some label stuff. It’s handled.”

She studies us for a second longer, then nods, her expression softening into something warm and motherly.

“Well, if you’re both all right…I made breakfast. Nothing fancy, just eggs, toast, and some fruit. Come eat before it gets cold?”

I feel a little flutter in my chest at the casual invitation. It’s such a simple thing, breakfast with his mom, but it feels huge.

Luca glances at me, then back at her. “Yeah. We’ll be right there.”

She smiles and disappears back toward the kitchen.

Luca turns to me, thumb brushing over my knuckles.

“You sure you’re okay with all this?” he asks quietly.

“You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

He grins brightly. “No?”

I shake my head, pressing a kiss to his lips. “Absolutely not. You’re stuck with me.”