He blinks.
“Y-you're not?” He brings his hands up to mine, taking them and peeling them from his face.
“No.” I shake my head for emphasis.
“When you came out crying and everything… I just assumed.”
“Well, that's what happens when you assume, you make an ass out of you and me.”
Luca smiles, then frowns. “Then why were you crying?”
“I told him it's over. I can’t be with him. I can't trust him. I can't accept his actions or his reasoning for them. It's just not going to work.”
Luca blinks at me, his eyes wide. “Go out with me.”
“Did you even hear what I just said?” I try to push him away.
“Yes, did you hear what I said? I’m serious.” Luca catches my hand, pulling me to him. “Give me a chance. I think we’d be so good together. Let me be your safe harbor.” He grins.
“You’re relentless.”
“Go out with me, pretty girl. Just once. Let me prove it.”
“I just told you Jace and I are over and you decide to ask me out?”
“You’ve been over from the moment the needle touched your skin.”
I scoff, but Luca doesn’t let me hide behind it.
“You think I’m all jokes and sex appeal, but I see you,” he murmurs, stepping closer, “I’ve always seen you. You’re strong, even when you’re exhausted. Let me be the place where you can take the armor off.” He steps closer, his forehead nearly touching mine.
“I want to be the only one holding you and keeping the nightmares away. Admit it, you sleep better when I’m around.”
His thumb brushes my cheek, and I huff out a laugh.
“I know you’re hurting. But I’m not going anywhere,” he whispers.
“Luca…” My voice cracks. “I’m being held together with some chewing gum and scotch tape. I’m broken. I don’t want to… inflict that on you. You deserve more. Someone whole.”
“See, that’s where you’re wrong. We’re all a little broken, in one way or another. I’ll supply you with the chewing gum and scotch tape. Because the truth is, you’ve been gluing me back together.”
“That was so cheesy,” I whisper, a smile tugging at my mouth
“I know, I felt it.” He chuckles, low and warm. “When it comes to this cheese, you’re lactose intolerant.”
I laugh. “It’s tolerable… coming from you.”
“Nowthatwas cheesy.”
I shove at him again, but Luca laughs, the sound bright and full, lighting something in my chest.
“Okay.” I squeeze his hand.
“Okay?” his brows lift.
“Okay, I’ll go out with you.”
Luca scoops me up, spinning me in a sudden burst of joy. I shriek, laughing as he sets me back down.
