lemon cake, U2, classic black chucks, history museums, and small, fluffy dogs.” I widen my eyes at my own lengthy, insane introduction. “What about you?”
His hand doesn’t let mine go as he looks into my eyes. “I’m Luca. Galante,” he tacks on, somewhat awkwardly. “I watch a cliché amount of ESPN, play ice hockey on a rec league, foster dogs sometimes when my place gets too boring, and I read a lot of newspapers. For fun.” He laughs, so affable, but I think a little self-conscious. “I like Stranger Things, Black Mirror, The Fall, The Witcher—probably not for the same reasons you do.” He quirks a brow. “And I think I would like horror movies…but alas, I’m not about the blood.”
He takes an extra breath there, like he realizes he fucked up and made a light thing heavy. I squeeze his hand.
“I’m on the board of advisors for the Brooklyn Art Museum, and I think you are, too,” he adds, tilting his head.
“Oh wow, I just got appointed. I didn’t know you were on it.”
“Yeah. I know Suzanne Malone.”
“And she’s the chair,” I say slowly.
He nods.
“How do you know Suzanne?”
His brows waggle. “She’s my neighbor.”
“She’s your neighbor?”
“Right next door.”
“Do you like her?” I ask, surprised.
“No, we hate each other. Sometimes her dogs try to attack my foster pups. I retaliate with laser warfare. All I have to do is stand on my roof and just aim it into her windows.” He mimes holding a flashlight. “One blink wakes her right up, any time of night. When she sees me, especially if I’m walking, she’ll try to run me over.” He mimes steering a car, and I can’t help laughing.
“Luca, that is…wild.”
His eyes are twinkling. “I’m a wild guy.”
“You are.”
“I’m really not.”
“Do you have a girlfriend?” My jaw drops, and my free hand comes up to hover over it. “I was not supposed to say that,” I say through the barrier of my hand.
“Do you have a boyfriend?” He tilts his head, looking entranced rather than put off.
“Yes. I mean…no. I’m engaged,” I choke out.
He smiles. “I know.”
“Really?”
“We have a few mutual acquaintances.”
“More than a few, it sounds like.”
“I’m a friend of Max.” He says it pointedly, and I nod slowly.
“Are you? I think I heard that.”
His hand, wrapped around mine, shifts so he can intertwine our fingers. “Yeah. So, just deductions.”
I know what he means. At least I think I do.
“Well…damn.”
“And I don’t have a girlfriend,” he says. “Not enough time.” His eyes flicker from our joined hands up to mine, and I nod slowly.
“That’s not true,” he says with a wince. He looks sad…almost abashed.
“No?” I murmur, squeezing his hand.
“The right person is…not easy to find.” He drags a breath into his lungs as his hand squeezes mine in return.
“I agree,” I whisper.
“I’m sorry,” he says.
“I’m sorry for you, too.”
“Don’t be sorry for me, Elise.” He smiles gently.
“I can be if I want to be,” I say petulantly.
He laughs, and it’s a warm, wonderful sound—like the echo of a lovely memory. Then he leans in close and feathers a kiss over my jaw. He reaches across the table to get his pizza plate and takes another bite, but he won’t let go of my hand. When he’s finished with his slice, he pulls the plate bearing the lemon cake around so it’s in front of him. He gives me a wicked grin and squeezes my hand before letting go.
I watch as he cuts a big piece, slides it my way, and gets himself a smaller one. He forks a piece off, chews it slowly. I watch his eyes widen.
“It’s good.” Man, he looks so gorgeous.
My stomach flip flops as I try a bite of mine, even though I haven’t finished my huge slice of pizza. I nod as I chew, and then I have a sip of cider because the cake feels like it’s stuck in my throat. “Pretty good.”
I look over at him, and he’s looking at me. I swear, all he does is blink. And then we’re kissing.
Luca
I’ve done so many dangerous things. Even as our group has been reformed—by me—my day-to-day is still full of endeavors most people would consider dangerous. But as I lose myself in Elise, my fingers in her hair and her hand stroking my shoulders, I know I have never risked as much as I am in this moment.
She is small and soft and so, so perfect as I pull her onto my lap. She straddles me, kissing my throat, and I