“Listen, Yana, you’re a sucker for drama, but I promise Luca only did all of that to make me feel special,as a friend.” I pause, re-remembering that night.
Full shivers run through my body.
“Plus, I told him how I feel, and he understood. I think he just wanted to, I don’t know, make me feel better.” I tilt my head to the side and give them a knowing look. “Youbothknow Luca would do that for any of you.”
“Tilly! Are you that stupid?” Yana shoots back, exasperated.
Zara nudges her, a warning look on her face. “Okay, maybe don’t call her stupid.”
“Fine, not stupid,” Yana aments, flipping her hair. “But clueless! Because that was not a ‘you’re my favourite person’ gesture. That was a ‘marry me’ thing.”
I roll my eyes, but my stomach twists. “No, it wasn’t.”
“Yeah, it was. Tell her, Zara.”
Zara nods. “I mean, I don’t think Luca would do that for either Yana or me, because if that’s true, he would have already.”
“Exac-” Zara cuts Yana off.
“But, I think we should focus less on Luca and more on you, because those are the feelings that matter right now.”
I smile at her, but I’m also kind of horrified.
“So what do you feel about all ofthis?” Zara asks, making a little circular motion with her finger like she’s stirring the air.
“I’m kind of confused,” I admit. “I never, ever thought Luca would feel anything for me. When I found out — through a text, of all things — I was so dumbfounded.”
I think back to that day, my heart still caught in the memory.
Over three weeks have passed, but it still sits on my chest like a bruise.
“But then I confronted him and he just… understood. End of conversation. We’re best friends. Luca might be my favourite person in the world, and I do love him, as I’ve always said. But platonically.”
Yana looks at me, offended, “Right, because he’s your best friend-”
She doesn’t get to finish as I throw my arms around her and pull her into a hug.
“You know what I meant,” I whisper into her hair.
“Sure.”
“I mean it. I love you both,” I look at Zara, “so much.”
“Yeah, but it seems like yourbiggerfriend is Luca.” She narrows her eyes but can’t hide her smirk.
“Maybe,” I say with a sly grin, “if I’m lucky, I can have both of my favourite people without anyone dying of jealousy.”
***
I’m curled up on the couch, a book by Liana Cincotti open in my lap.
I have many comfort authors, people whose words always wrap around me like a soft blanket, but nothing ever hits quite like a cute romance.
Books aren’t really my escape because I don’t want reality to feel like it has power over me, but they help me imagine the world a little brighter.
A world where hearts don’t hurt so much, and maybe love is just a little less complicated.
“Tills, a package for you!” Yana’s voice floats from the kitchen.
