Luca registers recognition.
“Right, Zoe said something about lending you the black suit.” Nowhewinces. “Let me guess, she put the rings in the pocket for ‘safekeeping.’”
“Don’t be too hard on her,” I say. “Sounds like she’s had her hands full. And she didn’t want to mention the ring thing because… she didn’t want you to stress.” Yeah. I hear how it sounds.
“No, she’s been invaluable. We couldn’t have done today without her. But also… Classic Zoe. You gotta love her because the alternative is…”
“Losing your freaking mind?” Owen offers.
Luca huffs out a laugh. “Yes, exactly.” And for just a moment, we are all three bonded in the unique infuriating fondness thatcomes with being close to Zoe. It’s… nice, actually. I don’t hate it. I feel like maybe Luca and I might finally be able to forge something new in the future. Some new way of co-existing that isn’t just pretending the other doesn’t exist.
It’s a possibility that wasn’t there before. But here today, whether it’s because he’s moving on in the grandest way imaginable, or because I am, in a sweet, if much quieter way—I steal a glance at Owen—maybe now it’s possible.
And though I didn’t realize it until now, for all that’s happened between us, I miss Luca. Just a little. He was important to me once. Maybe in some ways, he’ll always be a little bit important to me.
“George!” Cory is crossing the crowded lobby towards us, a big smile on his handsome, dark face. “We didn’t think you were going to make it!”
Cory and I have barely interacted, but I know enough from our few exchanges and everything Zoe and other friends have told me to know he is a truly great guy. I haven’t been sure of what to do with that before now, but in this moment, it just makes me happy for Luca.
“I didn’t. I’m not actually. We”—I gesture between me and Owen—”were just making an emergency delivery.”
Luca wordlessly holds out the rings. Cory’s eyebrows shoot to the ceiling.
“Do I want to know?”
“You do not,” Luca confirms.
“Well, all’s well that ends well.” Cory kisses Luca on the cheek, then turns to me and Owen. “But you should stay. Both of you.”
“Yes, please do,” says Luca. “I actually put you on the seating chart, just in case. And a plus one,” he adds, looking at Owen.
Owen visibly blushes, lowering his head in an adorable “aw shucks” moment I’m definitely putting somewhere in the new book.
I’m pretty certain he doesn’t want to stay. But even if he did, I don’t want to be anywhere that isn’t somewhere quiet and private with just him.
“Raincheck?” I ask Luca.
“Sure, the next time I have a lavish New Year’s Eve wedding at a 5-star hotel, you’ll be first on the list.”
I smile. “It’s good to see you, Luca.” I hold out my hand, but he pulls me into another hug.
“You too,” he says quietly, and I realize we both mean it.
“Congratulations,” I add as we let each other go.
“Thanks.” He shoots a glance at Owen. “And… you too?”
I look over at Owen. Reach out and take his arm, pulling him near. “Yeah. I think so.”
I’m debating whether we should try to find Zoe in all this chaos or just slip out quietly, when she appears just over Luca’s shoulder, miming insistently something that can only be “Did you fix the ring problem?” or something along those lines.
Before I can figure out how to navigate this, a cheer goes up from the crowd. Behind Zoe, the elevator door has opened, and there seems to be some kind of commotion.
Luca and Cory bid us a hasty goodbye and head off to deal with whatever’s going on, and this looks like our cue to leave. Just before we do, though, Zoe runs up.
“Success?”
“They have the rings,” Owen confirms.
