Page 45 of Scorpio Season

“I’m not, though.”

“You are.”

“Luca—”

“We made a deal,” Luca insists, because apparently the only time she feels like quarreling is when it comes to Florence’s deep-seated and many-flavored daddy issues.

Florence heaves an aggravated sigh. “Fine,” she says, and then, trying to ignore how much it feels like blasphemy, “I’m a better performer than my father.”

There’s a moment of silence. Luca is peering at her like she’s waiting for a meltdown. Florence doesn’t think she has the capacity for one—she feels tired and hollowed-out and a little too raw to stand being looked at like that.

“All right,” she says, getting to her feet. “Bedtime.”

Luca looks up at her for a moment. It seems like she wants to say something else, but then she just nods, silently taking the hand Florence offers her to help her stand.

By the time they’re on the lift, the tension between them has dissipated. Florence knocks her elbow against Luca’s as she says, “I really meant it, you know.”

“Yeah,” Luca says, gently knocking her elbow back. “So did I.”

Transcript of a social media post by @officialscorpioseason, posted July 2, 2025, at 6:23 p.m.

Miray: Guys, I’m filming a video for social media! Do you want to say hi?

Luca: Hi, social media!

Florence: [Laughs.] Hello.

Miray: Do you want to tell them about our day?

Luca: Oh, er . . . Florence, do you want to—

Florence: Go ahead.

Luca: Right. Um. We’re in Amsterdam! We’re going on in . . .

Florence: About forty minutes.

Luca: About forty minutes. So we’re just getting ready.