“If it doesn’t work out, you’ll walk away?”
“It’s going to work out,” I assure her. “But yes. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll walk away.”
Willow closes her eyes, but my gaze doesn’t move. Expelling a deep breath, she nods. “A trial basis. If it doesn’t work out, we both go our separate ways.”
I can’t imagine ever walking away from her, but I nod in agreement. “One condition.”
Her eyes fly open to meet my intense gaze.
“If it doesn’t work out, you need to let me pay for you to go to LA. I won’t let you stay here with them.” She shakes her head, but I spin her around to face me. “That’s the only reason I’ll agree to this. Your mother is toxic, and my father is self-absorbed. I won’t let anyone dull the spark inside you, Angel. If we don’t work out, you’re getting out of here too.”
She hesitates before saying, “Show me how much you want this to work out, Luca.”
Grinning, I sweep her into my arms and crush my lips to hers in a bruising kiss full of promises.
“We’re really doing this?” I ask, panting as I rest my forehead against hers.
“We’re really doing this.”
Chapter 12
Willow
True to his word, Luca proves he wants things to work out between us.
We shower together, which takes twice as long because neither of us can keep our hands—and mouths—to ourselves, then he takes me out for lunch, holding my hand across the table, and splitting a dessert with me.
When we get home, we avoid our parents, hanging out in my bedroom, where he asks me questions about my dad, how I got into singing, and what I hope to achieve with my songwriting. I think he’s worried he’s steering me away from my dream, but I assure him I can write and produce music anywhere.
He tells me more stories about his mum, and what things were like with his dad when she was still alive. It makes me sad to think how much he lost when she passed, and how lonely and hurt he’s been all these years.
The thing that surprises me the most is that we never run out of things to talk about. Despite my lack of soccerknowledge—or football as he constantly reminds me—and his tone deafness, we just click, and I resent all the missed opportunities we’ve had to get to know each other over the past four years.
“We can’t change the past, Angel,” he murmurs, pressing his lips to my temple when I voice my regrets while we’re lying in his bed. “We can only focus on our future.”
I huff out a laugh, resting my chin on his chest so I can look up at him. “Is that so, oh wise one?”
He boops my nose, a cocky smirk tugging on his lips. “It is so.”
“You’re so sure of yourself, aren’t you?” I tease.
“When it comes to you? Yeah, I am.”
I groan, pushing my hand in his face and rolling away. He doesn’t let me go far, his laughter filling the room and sending a warmth through me as he hooks me around the waist and pulls me back into his body, spooning me.
My body melts into his like it’s natural, like I was made for him, but I push down that feeling, knowing I need to guard my heart. Luca’s determined for me to come to the UK with him, and he’s saying all the right things, but we’re still in our little bubble. The fact remains that on paper, I’m his stepsister, and people will talk when they find out about us.
Mum’s and George’s reactions are proof of that.
When we went downstairs earlier for food, Mum was in a tizz, huffing about and making scathing remarks about how disgusted she is with our disrespectful behaviour. George pulled her away, but not before sheshot off a parting barb about Luca only being interested in me because of my whoring ways.
Her words cut deep. The one person who’s meant to love me unconditionally is the one who’s tearing me down and making me feel worthless.
Luca warned her to stay away from me, and he and his father got into a massive argument while I just stood there staring at the floor and twisting the hem of my shirt.
“Don’t let your mum’s words get to you,” he murmurs against my shoulder, sensing my change in mood. “This was never about sex for me. It was about connection. That’s why I kept pushing you to meet up with me outside the club. I want to be with you, and I’ll keep showing you that until you believe me.”
I snort, pressing my butt back against the hard ridge of his cock. “Not about sex, huh?”
