you up on the offer. I just need to think about it. I’m ready to leave, and I don’t want Max’s bullshit to suck me back in.”
“If you want our help to make sure that doesn’t happen,” Luca said firmly, “we’re here. Okay?”
Xan smiled and felt like a massive weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Eventually, he’d stop crushing on this man. Eventually, whatever he was feeling for both Luca and Sebastion would simmer down and settle into something good and kind. A friendship he was sorely lacking in his life. And he wasn’t going to ruin the potential of what he could have just because his dick was interested in being touched.
The morning was nice after that, and Luca accompanied Xan on Ivy’s walk though Xan refused to let him take the leash so he could rest his arm. They made it up to the park and back, and Xan marveled at how everyone seemed to know Luca—how easily he introduced Xan to everyone like he was happy to have him around. He didn’t seem worried about what people thought about him. He just existed with a soft grin on his face like the morning was a gift.
As they got closer to the house, Luca let out a soft chuckle, and Xan glanced over at him. “Just an email from Bas,” he said. “Want to read it?”
Xan’s eyes widened. “Oh, uh. No. I definitely don’t need to pry.”
Luca made a soft noise of protest, but Xan picked up the pace because he didn’t want to be tempted more than he already was. He hustled into the house, then took Ivy off the lead before heading toward the bedroom. “I’m going to change shoes,” he said. “I’ll be ready to go whenever you are.”
Luca gave him a strange look, but said nothing as Xan walked off. He only breathed deeply when he finally made it to the bedroom and closed the door behind him. The morning had been too damn domestic, and it was another reminder why even a few weeks with the couple would be hell.
But he was already feeling an ache of missing them when he thought about going home.
He grabbed his sneakers and slipped them on, then took his phone off the charger and froze when the screen lit up. Six calls and ten texts—all from Max. Swallowing thickly, he quickly swiped the notifications off the screen without reading them. Max only ever called or texted to pick a fight, and he was probably wasted and listening to his friends all talk shit about their relationship for the past twenty-four hours.
He had no energy for it, so he turned his phone to silent and shoved it into his pocket. Still, he was shaken as he walked out, and Luca immediately noticed like a goddamn bloodhound.
“What happened?”
Xan rolled his eyes. “Max called a bunch while we were out. I didn’t pick up,” he added when Luca’s eyes narrowed. “He probably just wants to pick a fight.”
“Is he at your place right now?” Luca demanded.
Xan shook his head. “He went to the lake with his friends. He found out Allie was coming, and he always makes random plans whenever she comes into town so I can’t spend time with her. This time I told him no, so he went by himself out of spite.”
Luca let out a heavy puff of air. “We have to get you out of there. Listen, let’s go by your place after we finish this apartment thing, okay? You don’t have to stay here if you don’t want to. We can get you a hotel or something. You don’t have to worry about the cost or…”
Xan shook his head, feeling a little bit frustrated. “I have money. I…I have a lot of money.” Humiliation burned in his gut because he did have money. He had the means to get the fuck out, and he never did, and he still didn’t know why. He swallowed thickly. “I am so fucking stupid.”
When his voice cracked, Luca closed the distance and dragged him against his chest. He hissed when Xan’s shoulder hit his arm, but when he tried to pull away, Luca held him tight. “Stop.”
“Your arm,” Xan protested weakly.
“I don’t care,” Luca growled. “You are not stupid.”
“Yes, I am,” Xan said with a watery laugh, mortified when his eyes began to grow hot. “I have every reason to leave, but I can never make myself go, and I don’t know what the fuck is wrong with