It’s been so long since I’ve heard him talk like that, since I’ve heard himexcitedabout the possibility of writing and getting a story out. Even if I had plans, I’d cancel them. “I don’t have any plans. If the TV won’t distract you, I’m sure I can find something to watch while you write.”
I have a little something for him at home, anyway. Jasper had a MacBook lying around that he wasn’t using anymore. I offered to buy it from him, but when I told him what I wanted it for, he gaveit to me, refusing to take my money.
Not wanting to make Luca feel pressured, I haven’t given it to him yet.
“Okay, amazing,” Luca says, grinning from ear to ear. “God, I’m so excited. So, Noah, one of my characters—” Luca cuts himself off, so I glance over at him to find his cheeks flushed.
“So, Noah?” I prompt, darting my gaze between him and the road.
He shakes his head. “You don’t wanna hear about this.”
Ah, that’s where he’s wrong. “Luca, have I ever in all the years we’ve known each othernotwanted to hear about the ideas floating around in that beautiful mind of yours?”
Silence hangs between us for a couple of moments, then he shrugs. “No, I guess not.”
“Right.” I nod, glancing at him one last time before turning my attention to the road. “So, tell me about Noah.”
He launches into an animated spiel about Noah needing a date for his sister’s wedding and how he hires someone to be his fake boyfriend. Which brings us to River. It starts off with them sharing tentative kisses under the guise of pretending, but as the story goes on, it becomes clear they aren’t pretending anymore.
“That sounds amazing,” I say when he’s done rambling.
“You think so?”
We pull into the driveway, so I glance over at him again. “I think so for sure. Are you gonna let me read it?”
He lets out a nervous laugh. “Sure. When I’m done.”
My lips curve up. “Perfect. I’m curious about these big fictional dicks.”
Luca groans, covering his face with his hands. “Oh my God, you’re the worst.”
“Nah, you’ve got me intrigued, that’s all.”
I put the truck in park, and Luca and I go inside. It’s cold in here, so I go straight to the fireplace to start getting it going, and Luca goes straight for the Christmas tree to turn the lights on.
Thankfully, there are still embers in the bottom, so with a couple of small sticks and a bit of newspaper, I get a roaring fire going quickly, and the room starts warming up.
“Hey,” I say, putting everything away by the fireplace and standing up. “Sit down for a second. I have a surprise for you.”
Luca shoots me a curious glance but sits down.
The laptop is in my closet. It’s been a bitch to hide from him, mostly because I don’t like keeping secrets from Luca—not even good ones.
It’s hidden under a shoebox in the back corner, and itshouldbe fully charged, since I charged it and powered it off before I put it in here. When I have it in my hands, I smile a bit to myself. Damien was “planning on buying Luca a laptop” before he left to come here.
I know it was a way for him to try to atone for his sins. I just hope Luca will be happy to have one. Especially since he didn’t have to pay for it with his blood.
Luca’s curled up on the couch with a blanket wrapped around his shoulders when I walk through the door and into the living room. He tries to look around me to see what I have behind my back. “Whatcha got there?”
I smile. “A surprise for you.”
I hold it out to him, chuckling when he sits up straighter, the blanket falling away. “Holy shit. You bought me a laptop?”
“Well, I didn’t buy it. It was Jasper’s, and he doesn’t use it anymore, so he gave it to me for you.”
He takes it slowly out of my hands, then opens it, running hisfingers reverently over the keys.
“Thank you.”
