“I never knew sex could feel like that. Like with you, I know I’m exactly where I belong.” She buries her face into my chest. “I’m sorry, that was so cheesy.”
Can she feel how my pulse just sped up? I shift enough so I can tip her chin up before pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “That wasn’t cheesy. It was perfect. And it’s the same way I feel when I’m with you.” I kiss her again, breathing in the scent of her shampoo. “It’s never been like this for me, either. I don’t have to think about anything when I’m with you, I can just be. I can justfeel. And that’s a gift, Isla. One I treasure.”
Her shining eyes and small smile say everything. It’s the reassurance that I’m not alone in how I feel. In falling hard and fast and only want more. I start talking again before I lose my courage.
“I want you, Isla. I want this. I want to get to knowCharlie more. I want to hold your hand and walk down the street and take you out for dinner. I’m all in. And it’s okay if you’re not ready for all of that yet, I’ll keep waiting. But I need you to know, I’m serious about us.”
She doesn’t answer right away, but when she does…
“I want all of that, too. I want you, Luca.”
Any tiredness I might have been feeling disappears at her quiet, confident statement. I stroke my fingers down her cheek, staring at her with pure wonder. This amazing woman wantsme.
“Rose and thorn for being in a relationship with me.” I’m half joking when I say it, but underneath, I can still feel a shred of vulnerability. I need to know she really means it.
Isla just giggles, shaking her head slightly. “Everything you are, the way you make me feel, the way you are with Charlie, it’s all roses and no thorns.” She lifts herself up just enough to kiss me sweetly.
I drink her in. Then, there’s no more hesitation in me when I swiftly move over top of her and show her with my body just what hearing that makes me feel.
Sleep is overrated, anyway.
31
ISLA
January bringswith it a bitter cold front. Yet, all it takes is one look from Luca and I’m burning up inside. We’re still keeping things quiet at work and in public, but we’ve had two more batting cage dates with Charlie. Watching the two of them interact has only made my feelings grow stronger.
Of course, their growing connection hasn’t eased my worry that Charlie could be devastated if things don’t work out with Luca and me.
But there’s no more denying the fact that I’m falling in love with Luca, even if I’m not ready to say that yet. We text all the time, sneaking whatever stolen moments we can find while we’re at work. And when we’re not together, I’m constantly thinking of him.
Today is the first time I’ve hallucinated about him, though.
Charlie and I are sitting in the waiting room of the prosthetist we’re seeing to discuss arm options when the door opens, and in walks Luca.
When Charlie jumps up and walks over to give him a fist bump, I blink back to reality. Not a hallucination. He’s actually here.
“Hi,” I say, careful to keep my hands at my sides and not reach out for a hug the way I want to. The warm expression on his face, coupled with the subtle wink, sends a flush of heat through me. “What are you doing here?” My eyes widen as something clicks into place. “Wait. Tom is your prosthetist. You mentioned him in your speech. Of course he is, it’s not like there’s a lot of them around here.”
As I ramble, Charlie is looking at me like I just grew a second head, and Luca’s wearing an amused smile.
“Yeah, I’ve been seeing Doc since I was a lot younger. He’s the best. And I’m here because Charlie asked me to come.” He turns and arches a brow at my son. “But I thought we agreed he would give you a heads-up.”
Charlie has the decency to look chagrined as he turns to me. “Sorry. I totally forgot. But it’s cool, right? I figured since Luca knows a lot about prostheses he might know things to ask that we wouldn’t. And he knows Tom. Doc.” He turns a grin to Luca. “Thanks for coming.”
Luca’s face softens. “No problem.” Turning to me, he tilts his head to the side slightly. “Is it okay that I’m here?”
“Of course, it is,” I say, fighting back the sting of tears. Blinking rapidly, I turn to Charlie. “But a heads-up would’ve been nice.”
“Charlie Forrester?” An older South Asian man steps out into the waiting room, looking around. When his gaze lands on Luca, he lights up before he frownsslightly, obviously confused. “Luca, we don’t have an appointment today, do we?”
Luca slings his arm over Charlie’s shoulder. “Nope. I’m here with my buddy Charlie and his mom today. Moral support. Someone’s gotta make sure you do your job right.”
Tom, at least I assume it’s Tom, laughs loudly, shaking his head. “Yeah, okay. Well, Charlie, come on back.” Then, turning to me, he sticks out a hand. “Tom Shivari. You must be Isla?”
“Yes, nice to meet you. If it makes you feel any better, I only just found out about our third wheel myself.”
Tom laughs again. “Excellent, someone else to keep Luca in line.”
