I smiled faintly. “She and Edwardo are leaving once we head to college.”
His eyebrows lifted slightly. “Back to where he lives?”
“Yeah.” The warmth in my chest deepened. “They’re going back to the city where Edwardo built his career.”
“That’s good.”
I rested my head lightly against his shoulder. “Dominick’s people are pulling back too.”
He glanced down at me. “Already?”
“Not completely.” I traced small circles across the back of his hand. “They’re staying close until my mom testifies.”
“After that?”
“They believe the investigation has shifted the danger away from us.” The idea still felt surreal. For so long, our lives had been shaped by fear. Now the fear was fading.
He reached up and brushed a strand of hair away from my face before drawing back to lean against the railing. “I found a house to rent in Michigan.”
The words pulled my attention away from the ocean. I turned toward him where he leaned against the balcony railing, the wind tugging gently at the front of his shirt.
“At college?”
A slow smile touched his mouth. “Yep. The paperwork’s almost finalized.”
I let out a quiet laugh, the sound carrying into the night air between us. “That happened fast. You sound excited.”
“I am.”
Something about the way he said it—simple and certain—sent warmth spreading through my chest.
“Tell me about it.”
Luke shifted closer, resting his forearms on the railing beside mine. The ocean stretched endlessly in front of us, the waves moving in long dark lines toward the shore.
“It’s not huge,” he explained, his tone thoughtful. “But it’s close to campus. Close enough that I can get to the rink early without fighting traffic.” His gaze flicked toward me then. “And it’s got a room that’s perfect.”
I tilted my head. “For what?”
“For you.”
The words landed so easily it took me a second to process them. “For me?”
His shoulder brushed mine as he turned slightly toward me. “For a studio.”
My breath caught.
“A real space,” he continued quietly. “Big windows. Good light. Somewhere you can paint without worrying about ruining the floors.”
The image formed instantly in my mind. Canvases leaning against the walls. Paint on my hands. The quiet hum of creativity filling a room that belonged entirely to me.
“You thought about that already?” I asked softly.
Luke’s gaze held mine. “I think about you in every version of the future.”
The honesty in his voice made my heart stumble.
“We’re both going to be busy,” he continued after a moment. “Classes. My training schedule. Travel for games.” His jaw shifted slightly. “But whatever time I’m not on the ice or in class…” His hand found mine, warm and steady. “I want it with you.”
