He knew.
His eyes softened, the lines around his mouth loosening as he smiled. “More like I got my head out of my ass, but that’s a conversation for when you’re better.”
Hope burst through my body, making me feel like flying.
“Okay.”
“Sleep, pretty girl. Let me take care of you.”
He left my room, shutting the door behind him, and I sighed, content despite the pain. We’d talk later, when I was better, and that sounded optimistic. Good even. I flipped to my other side just as deep voices came from the hall.
Dean. Luca.
My pulse raced, causing my head to ache, but I had to hear. They said my name, and that was what caught my attention. The fog settling over my mind faded enough for me to eavesdrop. I was still me, so obviously I’d listen in on their chat. I had questions, ones that weren’t quite able to form yet, but I tensed. Luca had just left my bedroom, and Dean was outside.
Does he… know?
“I’m heading to the store to get some food for her, then I’ll make breakfast,” Luca said. There wasn’t any meanness to his tone.
“And she slept okay? You were there all night?”
“Yes and yes. She’s groggy but doing better. I stayed by her side the entire time.”
Dean cleared his throat. “Thanks, man. Uh, you really don’t have to do this.”
“Dean.” Luca’s voice dropped. “You wouldn’t have been able to stop me. I told you how I felt, and nothing’s changing. Now, if you want to see her, wait an hour. She needs to rest again.”
“You really care for her,” Dean said.
They spoke quiet now, in whispers. I strained my ears, but there was no way to be sure what they said. My pulse sped up, the zing of hope coursing through my veins. It sounded like Luca had told Dean about me… but there was no way.
Football. His grandma.
He wouldn’t.
I faded, my mind shutting down just as the phraseI love hercarried through the door. It had to be my injury. Just because I wanted to hear those words didn’t mean Luca said them. He definitely cared about me, but he’d never veer off course.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO
Luca
Grandma: how’s our girl doing?
Luca: better. It’s taking all my strength to keep her phone from her. Giving me attitude about it.
Grandma: you have your chat yet?
Luca: not yet. Soon. It’s only been a few days since her concussion.
Grandma: stop finding excuses. She’s well enough to talk. Fix it, then call me to celebrate.
She was right. I hated it. It had been four days since the injury, and tomorrow, we had a football game. Not telling her how I felt ate at me all week. I wasn’t excited about the game. It’d mean I’d have to spend even more hours away from her. I ran my fingers through my hair, pulling on the ends as I stared at the snack tray I’d prepared for Lorelei. She was in our living room, away from the TV, but there was so much sunlight. She said she was sick of her bedroom and demanded she come down here. I didn’t blame her.
Callum and Oliver had been talking her ear off, annoying me to no end. They offered to make posts for her project, and she ate it up. I could’ve done that too. I wanted her to need me for everything, as selfish as that was.
“Monroe.” Dean walked into the kitchen, his expression neutral. He jutted his chin toward the table. “Sit with me a minute.”
It’s time.
