I don’t want to keep giving pieces of myself away to people who don’t know what to do with them.
Chapter 21
Luca
Today is my last day in Italy.
The waves curl lazily against the shore, and I still feel numb.
Nonna sits under a striped umbrella, sunglasses on, a big floppy hat threatening to take off in the breeze.
The water is warm, glittering like melted glass.
Kids run past, screaming in Italian, dogs bark, and the sky is that perfect hazy blue that makes you think nothing bad can ever happen here.
I remember I used to come out here when I was a child, and I played with my cousins.
At five, I was still careless enough to care about my brother.
My granddad and I would play volleyball here, and then he would throw me around in the water, while my brother was screaming it's his turn.
My phone buzzes, and I frown.
Unknown American number.
“Hello?”
“Hi, am I speaking to Luca Rossi?”
The voice is crisp, professional, and definitely not Italian, or auAustralianor that matter.
“Yes?” I say slowly, sitting up.
“Luca, my name is Coach Miller,” the man says. “I got your number from Coach Daniels. Do you have a moment to talk?”
My pulse jumps. “Uh, sure.”
“I’ll get straight to it,” he continues. “We were at your last game in California, and we were really impressed with yourperformance. I’d like to offer you a position on the—” he pauses, and I feel my heart rate grow, “—Los Angeles Waves.”
I sit up so fast my towel almost flies away. “I—wait. What?”
Nonna squints over her glasses. “Who are you yelling at?”
I turn slightly away from her, my heart thudding so loud I can barely hear myself. “Sorry—can you say that again?”
Coach Miller chuckled. “You heard me, kid. We want you. Full sponsorship. Apartment, car, everything. You’d need to be in California within two weeks. Think about it.”
My breath catches.
Two weeks.
My dream team. My childhood dream. My grandfather’s team.
But also—
Tilly.
Yana.
