Will he forgive me?
And if he doesn’t, what does that mean for the marriage?
Will his parents have me and my family killed if we don’t wed?
“After dinner,” Dante says as the food is brought to the table.
I glance at the empty chair beside me.
Does Luca intend on skipping dinner?
I wouldn’t blame him for it. If I had the opportunity, I’d rather be stashed away someplace else.
Then again, if it were me, I’d have hightailed it out of here with the car. Luca had planned on driving me back to campus, but now, I don’t know what plans await us.
Nova nudges me as she grabs a dinner roll. “Don’t worry, Luca will be fine.”
He’ll be fine. I’m just not sure that he’ll forgive me.
Dinner is contentious, and I’m relieved when I can finally get up from the table without being rude or scolded by his father.
“Do you want me to find Luca for you?” Nova asks as she gets up from the dinner table.
“That would be appreciated.” I don’t want to wander aimlessly around the house. The last time I did that, it ended with me in this predicament, forced to marry Luca.
Which wouldn’t be terrible if we’d have been dating for a couple of years.
We were just scratching the surface, turning a budding friendship into something a little more heated.
Now, I worry the heat will be directed entirely at me, but not in romantic gestures as much as being scorched with his anger.
I hear the two of them before I see them round the corner.
Luca’s eyes are steel. His expression fueled with anger as he carries his bag and mine.
“Let’s go,” he says and heads for the back door where our coat and shoes await us.
I don’t bother with pleasantries with his family. What’s the point? I slip into my heels that I foolishly brought with me, and slide my coat on, buttoning it.
“Bye,” he shouts over his shoulder.
Nikki comes hurrying into the hallway, pulling her son into a hug. She gives me one too, but it’s a little more forced. “I’ll see you next weekend, Luca,” she says.
“Yeah,” Luca mutters, tossing the door open and waltzing outside.
I hurry after him, two steps behind. Between his long strides and my heels, I am definitely not capable of keeping up.
He doesn’t bother offering me an arm to help steady me. The ground is soft from the recent thaw of snow, and my heel catches in the ground, knocking me off balance.
I fall, landing on him, knocking us both down to the ground.
He curses as he face plants into the grass without warning.
“I’m sorry.” I’m quick to apologize, but I don’t think it will help. I’m half on top of him and slink my way back as he climbs onto his knees and then stands.
I’m only half-covered in dirt and grass, while Luca is a bit messier. But he offers me his hand, helping me regain my footing.
Once I’m recovered, standing firmly on the grass, he dusts off the dirt. He’s lucky he’s not caked in mud. There are grass stains, but they brandish his coat and his knees, clad in jeans.
