Luca
What are you doing tonight?
Carla
Meeting you to train???
Luca
Even better, meet me for dinner???
Carla
Where?
Luca
Sicilia, nine p.m.?
Carla
Ooh, going all in on fancy Italian?
Luca
Trying to impress you. Is it working?
Carla
Maybe
Luca
I’ll pull out my A game tonight.
Carla
Have I been getting your B game?
Luca
Never.
I tuck my phone away as I lean back in my office chair and open my email.
More good news greets me.
The girls’ first playoff game is scheduled for the following week. Biting my lip, I think of things I can do to mark their advancement with something special. They’ve worked hard this season, especially considering their coach changed in the final third of the school year.
Picking up my phone, I reach out to a few contacts that might be able to help me pull off a last-minute surprise.
“You look beautiful.” Luca cups my cheek and dips his head, kissing the corner of my mouth, as he greets me.
I wrap my fingers around his wrist and grin. “Is this your best material?”
He chuckles and the sound washes over me like honey. I like making Luca laugh. Even though he’s always amiable, he also tends to be emotionally contained and serious.
“Come, cucciola.” He takes my hand and pulls open the door to the restaurant, ushering me inside before entering behind me.
