He nodded, throat working. "Okay."
We sat in the car for a few minutes, neither of us ready to move. This was it. The moment we'd been dreading for thirty days. The moment of separation.
"Twelve months," I said. "If you get early release, twelve months. We can survive twelve months."
"We can." He turned to face me. "Valentino, I need you to hear this. I need you to take care of yourself while I'm gone. Don't put your life on hold. Work. See friends. Live."
"I'll visit every week."
"I know. And I'll live for those visits. But in between—promise me you'll actually live. Not just wait."
"I promise." I kissed him, desperate and emotional. "I love you."
"I love you too. So fucking much."
We got out of the car. Walked to the entrance together. Inside, there was a check-in desk. Security. Procedures.
"This is as far as you can go," a guard said to me.
My heart was hammering. "Can I—can I say goodbye?"
"You have two minutes."
Luca pulled me aside, out of the direct flow of traffic. His hands cupped my face.
"I'll be okay in there," he said. "I've done time before. I know how to handle myself. Don't worry about me."
"I'll worry anyway."
"I know." He kissed my forehead. "Write to me. Tell me everything. What you're working on, what you're eating, what you're thinking. I want to know all of it."
"I will. And you write back."
"Every day." He held me close. "I love you. Wait for me."
"I'll be here when you get out. I promise."
"Time's up," the guard called.
Luca kissed me one last time. Hard. Desperate. Then he let go and walked toward the processing area. He looked back once, gave me a small smile, and disappeared through the door.
I stood there for a long moment, staring at the door he'd gone through. Then I walked back to the car and drove home alone.
The three-hour drive was the longest of my life.
***
The penthouse felt wrong without him.
Too big. Too empty. Too quiet.
I walked through the rooms, seeing him everywhere. The kitchen where we'd made breakfast together. The couch where we'd watched movies. The bed where we'd held each other through everything.
Now just me. Alone. For twelve months.
I tried to work. Opened my laptop. Stared at the screen. Couldn't focus.
Finally, my phone rang. Unknown number.
