Over the past four years, we may not have spoken much, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t seen his dedication to be the best he can be—strict meal plans, long hours of practice and conditioning—there’s no doubt Luca will succeed in his dreams.
“It still doesn’t feel real. Championship football, living in England, getting a proper go at it.” He chuckles, nudging my shoulder gently with his as he squeezes my hand. “But the best part about it all is having someone to share it with. I’m glad it’s you.”
Warmth spreads through me, and I suddenly feel stupid for doubting myself—for doubtingus. Luca hasn’t once wavered from his declarations over the weekend. He wants me to be a part of this. He wantsme.
I pause, a sudden fear washing over me. “What if they won’t let me finish my course online?”
He frowns, like the thought never occurred to him, that he thought this conversation would simply be a formality. “Then you finish your studies before coming to join me.”
My insecurity rears its ugly head. Three months stuck in that house with Mum and George without him.What if he meets someone during our time apart? The thought sours my stomach. I don’t want him to be with anyone else. Even if I don’t think I deserve him.
“Hey,” he says softy, cupping my cheeks and bringing my gaze up to meet his. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Wait and see what your advisor says.”
“This is crazy,” I tell him again for the hundredth time.
“Yeah, well, I’m crazy about you.”
A smile tugs at my lips. “You’re so cheesy.”
Luca grins and shrugs. “Whatever happens, Willow, I want you in the UK with me. Whether it’s in one week or three months, promise me you’ll give us a shot.”
I gaze up at him, his eyes full of a certainty I don’t feel yet, but I want to. When Luca discovered I was his angel from Euphoria, he could have easily shut it down and run away to the UK, leaving me firmly in the past, but he hasn’t. He’s been full steam ahead with us having a future together. I need to harness some of his confidence that what we have is real.
“Okay,” I whisper. “I promise.”
His grin softens, and he leans in to press his lips to my forehead. “I’m going to spend every day showing you how beautiful you are, and how much I want you.”
My heart hammers against my ribs when we reach the steps of the administration building. Luca squeezes my hand again, giving me a reassuring nod before I walk through the sliding glass doors.
The reception area is quiet, the only sound the hum of the printer and the shuffle of papers behind the desk. My advisor’s office is down the hall.
“Do you want me to wait out here?” Luca asks.
I hesitate for a second, then shake my head. “No, come with me. I need you.”
His eyes flare with heat at my words, and I get a heady sense of power from causing that reaction.
My eyes dart to the office staff, who are all busily immersed in their work, then I grip the front of Luca’s shirt and pull him down for a kiss, my core pulsing at his soft groan when my tongue slides against his. We haven’t had sex since our parents walked in on us on Saturday, and I’m suddenly desperate to feel him deep inside me.
He squeezes my hip, and I’m ready to blow off my meeting in favour of finding an empty classroom, but he gently pulls away with a soft press of his lips to mine. A small, needy whine escapes me, and he laughs.
“Meeting first,” he tells me, “then I’m taking you home and letting you do naughty things to me.”
The meeting with my course advisor is positive. I’ve already completed my music exams, and I can complete my last two assignments online. Because of my impeccable grades and work ethic, he tells me if my teachers sign off on it, I can complete the rest of my course via correspondence.
There’s nothing holding me back from leaving with Luca now except my own damn insecurities.
Luca leaves me to my thoughts as he drives us home, and I’m grateful to him. He’s spent the last three days telling me how much he wants me to come with him, but he knows the final decision has to be mine.
After pulling up in our driveway, he shuts off theignition and turns to look at me. “Where’s your head at, Angel?”
“I don’t know,” I tell him honestly.
He nods slowly. “Can you tell me what’s holding you back?”
Playing with the hem of my Beckford U hoodie, I avoid eye contact when I say, “I’m scared of what happens if I move my entire life overseas and it doesn’t work out between us.”
Luca’s quiet for a moment, and I wonder if he’s questioning whether I’m too much trouble. Eventually, he releases a heavy sigh. “Willow, these past three days with you have been my happiest since Mum died. I finally feel like someone sees the real me. But I won’t force you to come with me. If you need time, I can give you that, but I don’t like the idea of you staying in this house with the way your mother speaks to you. If you want to go to LA for a bit, and see if that’s what you really want, then I’ll pay for you to go, and we can do the long distance thing for a while. I can come visit you at the end of the season. The main thing is I want you to want this as much as I do.”
