Chapter 22 - A KISS

The clatter of ceramic on glass pulled me from my reverie. Luca reappeared, a bowl of colorful cereal in one hand and a steaming mug of coffee in the other. He settled into the lounge chair beside me, handing me the bowl with a gentle nudge.

“Thank you,” I mumbled around a mouthful of Frosted Flakes, already feeling my mood lifting. The sunrise, the warmth of the sun on my skin, the unexpected sweetness of the cereal – it was all so simple, so pure, so different from the stifling tension that clung to every moment back in New York.

I opened my mouth to tell Luca how much I loved watching the city wake up, how the early morning light painted everything in a soft, golden glow, but he stopped me mid-sentence.

“No talking with your mouth full, amore,” he chided gently, his tone the perfect mimic of a concerned parent.

I couldn't help but smile, a warm feeling spreading through my chest. His concern, even for something so trivial, felt…endearing. I finished my cereal quickly, eager t