Page 22 of Cusp: A Renzo + Lucia Companion

ELEVEN

Luv

Of course, Luv made her way to the airport to say goodbye before Diego headed back to New York. Yeah, she could have sent him a text or even called as they had exchanged numbers during his stay. It might have even been the easiest, or cleanest, thing to do. But he hadn’t asked her to come so at first, she held off until Renzo called and brought it up.

As far as she knew, he wasn’t aware that Diego and Luv spent the night together. Or even that they had really made … was friends the right word?

It felt as good as any.

Better than anything else.

Nonetheless, Ren thanked her for looking out for his brother and said if she wanted, then she was more than welcome to come to the airport and see Diego off. He gave her the flight time so that she could make it there in lots of time, but in her typical fashion, she waited until the very last moment.

Just because she could.

Luv had never been one for goodbyes, anyway. Not the long, drawn-out type. Certainly not the sad ones with tears and hugs. Her lifestyle made it kind of hard to give any friend she made special time and attention when she was constantly coming and going, and never stayed in one place for too long. Not to mention, when a friendship couldn’t be deeper than surface things because of who she was.

And so, she much preferred to tell people—who she might care to meet again—that she would see them again soon. Whenever she could, that was.

She quickly realized, after Renzo’s call, that maybe she did want to see Diego again someday. When? Well, that she didn’t know.

That was okay, too.

Someday, they would run into one another and perhaps, they could pick right back up where they left off.

Or … that was the hope.

Sitting in the airport eatery with a mostly untouched sandwich in front of him, Diego was the first to notice Luv’s approach. The smile that graced his handsome mouth made her own grow in response.

“Hey,” he said, gaining the attention of the man sitting across from him.

Renzo, that was.

His older brother was quick to stand as Luv replied in kind to the greeting, happy that he didn’t seem put off by the fact she showed up without giving him a heads-up first. Or hell, maybe Ren asked her to come, and had known she might stop by before he left.

“Little late, huh?” Renzo asked, offering his seat at the table for her to take.

Luv did, shrugging as she dropped to sit. “Had some things to do.”

The guy gave her a look from the side, but Luv was more interested in the grain of the fake marble tabletop than anything else. Well, that was a lie. She could feel Diego’s gaze on her, but Renzo lingered at the table for a beat longer.

He told Diego, “I’ll be back in a few—we’ll head to security and you can get to your gate.”

“Got it, bro.”

It was only once Renzo stepped away from the table entirely that Luv gave Diego her full attention. He was still smiling.

So was she, now.

“You good?” he asked her.

She didn’t even have to think about that.

Or what it might mean.

“I’m great,” she told him honestly.

And she was.