“You’re mad,” Luca says. It’s not a question, but clearly an observation, because I’m steaming right now.
“I’m not happy!” I shout, and Luca strides right alongside me. Even as I pick up pace, with ease, he’s at my side.
“Are you mad at me—or Dante?” Luca asks.
His question is fair.
Luca is a part of this as much as I am, if not more so because he was doing the good deed in trying to save my life. I’ll never be able to repay him for that, but maybe I can offer him a way out.
“I’m—frustrated!” I glare at him. “I know this isn’t your fault. I blame your father, but I still, I wish you could just tell him to go fuck off and leave us alone.”
“He’s mafia, babe,” Luca says with a faint smile. “If I could say that to him, then I’d be running the empire.”
No one talks back to Dante Ricci.
I slow my pace as we approach the Fitzroy building for my next class. He hands over my backpack, carefully putting it over my shoulder, his hands gentle yet firm.
“I don’t want to fight with you,” Luca says.
I nod slowly. “I know. None of this is what we want.” I step closer, stand on my tiptoes and press a soft kiss to his cheek. “Tell your mom I’ll do whatever she wants for the wedding. I’ll meet up with her if she wants to go dress shopping, just, whatever. Let’s not get on your family’s bad side.”
Luca’s eyes tighten. “Are you sure?”
“Don’t ask me again, because my answer might not be yes.”
Kensley and I head to the arena, excitement bubbling within me at seeing Luca play tonight.
“I feel like we don’t hang out enough,” Kensley admits on our walk to the arena.
“I’m sorry,” I immediately apologize, knowing that it’s my fault entirely. I’ve been spending more time with Luca, and I know with the wedding planning on the horizon, we’ll be spending even less time together.
Not to mention after Zeke comes to live with us.
Everything is going to change.
“No, don’t apologize. I just feel like I’m missing some very big pieces to the puzzle.” Kensley stops walking and stares at me.
It’s just the two of us, but I glance around, making sure no one is nearby watching us or eavesdropping.
I’ve gotten into the habit of double-checking my surroundings constantly.
“See! You seem so paranoid lately. Do you have a stalker?” Kensley asks.
I laugh, and I see relief flood her features. “No.”
“What’s going on? I get why you didn’t mention Zeke when we first met. We were just becoming friends, he wasn’t on campus. You probably wanted a normal college experience or whatever—” Kensley says and waves her hand. “But the engagement to Luca, I’ve been holding my tongue, but I can’t just keep quiet anymore.”
“You don’t approve?” I ask, expecting her to say yes.
“I think you’re hiding something. I mean, you were denying you even had feelings for him at the beginning of the semester, and then next thing I know, you two are engaged, but there’s no ring. Which doesn’t necessarily mean anything, and no judgment if you love him, but I don’t know. Something feels off.”
Kensley is more than just a little suspicious, and I can’t blame her.
“You can trust me,” Kensley says. “I promise, whatever you say will be kept in confidence.”
I exhale sharply and glance around once more.
There are a few people coming in our direction and I pull her off the sidewalk, waiting until they pass.
