"Hey," I said softly.
Luca’s head snapped up. For one second, his expression was completely unguarded. It was raw, vulnerable, and terrified.
Then the mask slammed back into place.
"You should get back inside," Luca said. His voice was tight. "It's your night."
"The rookies can survive without me for a few minutes." I moved closer. I was careful not to crowd him, but I refused to stay away. "You okay?"
"Fine."
"You left pretty fast."
Luca’s jaw tightened. "I needed air."
"You said that already."
We stood in silence. The muffled sounds of the restaurant spilled out through the windows, mixing with the distant hum of Chicago traffic.
"Did I say something wrong?" I asked. "In there?"
"No."
"Then why did you—"
"Drop it, Callahan."
The command was sharp, but it lacked real heat. It sounded desperate.
I knew I should listen. I should go back inside and leave my captain alone. We barely knew each other. Luca didn't owe me anything.
But I had never been good at leaving things alone.
"The team doesn't care," I said quietly. "About me being bi. I know some organizations still have issues with it, but the Storm guys seem pretty solid."
Luca’s knuckles went white around his phone. "That's good. For you."
There was so much weight in those last two words.For you.
The pieces clicked into place.
"Luca..."
"Don't." The captain’s voice was rough, like he had swallowed glass. "Whatever you're thinking, don't."
"I am not thinking anything," I lied. "Just... if you ever wanted to talk—"
"I don't."
"Okay."
Luca finally looked at me. The expression in his eyes was a wreck—guarded but hungry, afraid but wanting. He looked like a man standing on a ledge, trying to decide whether to jump or run.
"You should be careful," Luca said softly. "The league might be better than it was ten years ago, but it isn't perfect. People talk. Reporters dig. You make one wrong move, and it follows you forever."
"I'm not hiding who I am," I said. "I did that in juniors, and it sucked. I'm not going back in the closet for anyone."
Something flickered across Luca’s face. It looked like envy.
