I was tired of waiting.
Sienna had been keeping me at arm’s length for weeks, and it was starting to get on my last nerve. I wasn’t blind—I saw the way she looked at me when she thought I wasn’t watching. I felt the way she reacted when I got too close.
She wanted me.
She just wouldn’t admit it.
Which meant I had two options: let her keep running or back her into a corner where she had no choice but to face this head-on.
It wasn’t a hard decision.
Training was brutal that evening. Coach had us running drills until my legs burned, but I welcomed the exhaustion. It was better than sitting around, thinking about Sienna and all the ways she was driving me insane.
The lads were still lingering in the locker room when I finished up, laughing and giving each other shit like always.
“Luca, man,” Ryan called out, tossing his towel at me. “You’re a moody bastard lately.”
I caught it before it hit my face and threw it back at him. “I’m fine.”
He smirked. “Sure you are. Let me guess—this has something to do with a certain third-year brunette who keeps pretending she doesn’t want to climb you like a tree?”
The others snickered. I rolled my eyes, yanking my shirt over my head. “Mind your business.”
“Can’t,” Ryan shot back. “Your business is too entertaining.”
Kev laughed, shaking his head. “Nah, but seriously, what’s going on with her? She’s got you acting like a lovesick puppy.”
I didn’t answer. Because the truth was, I didn’t know what was going on with Sienna. One second she was letting me touch her, look at her like she was mine. The next, she was running like she couldn’t get away fast enough.
It was making me crazy.
And I wasn’t exactly known for my patience.
I found her in the hallway after practice, standing at her locker with Cassie. She had her back to me, her uniform skirt slightly askew like she’d been in a rush to change.
Cassie spotted me first and grinned like she had been expecting me to show up. “Oh look, your favorite person is here.”
Sienna stiffened. Then, slowly, she turned to face me.
I leaned against the lockers beside her, arms crossed. “We need to talk.”
She glanced at Cassie, who held up her hands. “Don’t look at me. I think this is overdue.”
Sienna exhaled through her nose but nodded. “Fine.”
I nodded toward the empty classroom at the end of the hall. “Let’s go.”
Her hesitation lasted only a second before she squared her shoulders and started walking.
I followed.
The second the door shut behind us, I stepped closer, closing the distance between us. She sucked in a breath, eyes darting to mine.
I placed my hands on either side of her against the desk, caging her in. “I’m done playing this game, Sienna.”
She swallowed. “I don’t know what you mean.”
I huffed a humorless laugh. “Yeah, you do.”
She shook her head, trying to move past me, but I didn’t let her.
“You’re scared,” I said, softer this time. “I get it. But don’t stand here and lie to me.”
Her jaw clenched. “Luca…”
“Tell me to stop.” I dipped my head, my lips inches from hers. “Tell me to leave you alone, and I will.”
Silence.
Her breath was shallow, her hands gripping the edge of the desk like it was the only thing keeping her upright.
I could feel her pulse hammering when I brushed my fingers against her wrist.
She didn’t push me away.
Didn’t tell me to stop.
And that was all the confirmation I needed.
I should have told him to stop.The words had been right there, hovering on the tip of my tongue. I could have said them. I should have said them.But I didn’t.Because the truth was, I didn’t want Luca to stop. I didn’t want him to walk away.And that terrified me.I spent the rest of the evening avoiding Cassie’s knowing smirks and my own reflection. I didn’t need to see the flush in my cheeks or the way my lips were still slightly swollen from biting them too hard.I was losing control.And worse—I was starting not to care.The next morning, I wasn’t ready to face him. But, of course, Luca didn’t care about what I was ready for.I barely made it inside the school before I felt him behind me. It was a presence more than anything, this unspoken awareness that I couldn’t seem to shake no matter how hard I tried.“Are you planning on pretending last night didn’t happen?”I swallowed and kept walking. “It was just a conversation.”“Was it?”He caught my wrist and pulled me into an alcov
I knew something was wrong the second I saw her.Sienna wasn’t good at hiding her emotions—not from me, at least. She might have been able to keep everyone else at a distance, but I had spent too much time watching her, learning her tells.And right now?She was spiraling.Her shoulders were stiff, her gaze fixed on her food like it had personally offended her. Cassie kept shooting her worried looks, but Sienna wouldn’t acknowledge them. Her fingers gripped her fork so tightly her knuckles had turned white, and she barely blinked, like she was holding something back.I didn’t even hesitate. I grabbed my tray, left the lads at our usual table, and walked straight to her.Cassie noticed me first. She raised a brow but said nothing as I pulled out the chair across from Sienna and sat down.She still didn’t look up.“Hey,” I said, voice softer than usual.Nothing.Cassie sighed. “I’ll give you two a minute.” She grabbed her tray and walked off, leaving us alone.I waited until she was out
Home had never felt like a sanctuary.Not really.It was a place where I existed, not where I belonged. A space I tiptoed around, careful not to be too loud, too much, too noticeable.I used to think every home was like this—silent, heavy, a place where love was measured in rules and expectations rather than warmth and affection. But after spending time at Luca’s house, I knew better.His home was alive.His mother was warm and affectionate, always checking in on him and making sure he had eaten. His father was the kind of dad who actually talked to him, joked with him, treated him like an equal rather than just a responsibility. Their home had this ease to it, like no one was afraid of saying the wrong thing.Mine was the opposite.My dad worked late most nights, coming home just long enough to eat, shower, and sleep before repeating the cycle. When he was around, he wasn’t unkind—just distant, like I was another obligation he barely had the energy for.My mother, on the other hand,
I needed to hit something.Hard.I should have been on the pitch right now, burning off the frustration, but training had been canceled last minute, and I was left with too much energy and nowhere to put it.I drove aimlessly for a while, winding through town with the windows down, music low. My hands gripped the wheel, fingers flexing. The tightness in my chest hadn’t eased since last night. Since her message.Not tonight.Two words that shouldn’t have felt like a punch to the gut, but they did.She had needed me—I could feel it through the phone, could picture her curled up in bed, wrapped up in whatever storm had been raging in her head—but she hadn’t let me in.I knew better than to push.Sienna was like that. Careful. Controlled. Always keeping just enough distance, always holding something back.And fuck if I wasn’t desperate to get past that wall.I pulled into my driveway and killed the engine, my knee bouncing as I sat in the quiet. The house was lit up, laughter spilling fro
I wasn’t used to this.Not the hand-holding. Not the constant checking in. Not the way he looked at me—like I was something he wanted to protect, something he wanted to keep.And I definitely wasn’t used to the kissing.Because Luca kissed like he meant it.Like every touch, every movement, was a promise.It should have scared me.It did scare me.But right now, standing under the streetlights, our fingers still intertwined, I wasn’t thinking about fear.I was thinking about him.“Do you want to go for a drive?” he asked, voice low.I should have said no. It was late. My father would kill me if he found out.But the thought of going back inside—to the walls, the expectations, the rules—felt suffocating.So I nodded. “Okay.”Luca didn’t say anything. He just squeezed my hand and led me to his car.We drove in comfortable silence, the hum of the engine filling the space between us. Luca’s hand rested on the gear shift, close enough that I could reach out and touch him if I wanted.I wan
I wasn’t used to feeling this way about a girl.It was fucking with my head.The way Sienna got under my skin so easily, the way my body reacted to hers without hesitation—it wasn’t normal for me.But nothing about Sienna was normal.She was different.I could feel it in the way she kissed me, the way she looked at me like she was scared of wanting this but couldn’t stop herself.And I was completely screwed because I wanted her to want me.Not just for a night. Not just for the moment.I wanted everything.Which was why, when I pulled up outside her house later that night, I didn’t let go of her hand.I should have. I should have let her go, watched her walk inside, and left before I did something stupid.But I didn’t.She sat there in the passenger seat, Luca’s jacket still wrapped around her small frame, her bottom lip caught between her teeth like she was working through something.I wanted to lean over and kiss her again.To make sure she knew.But I held back.Instead, I watched
I had never felt this out of control in my life.Not when my father walked out on us.Not when my mother sat me down and told me we’d have to move into a smaller house because things were tight.Not even when I started a new school, walking into the building knowing no one but Cassie, praying I wouldn’t drown in the unfamiliarity of it all.But this?The way Luca could completely consume my thoughts with just one look?The way his voice alone could send shivers down my spine?The way I wanted him, even though every single thing about him screamed dangerous?I was spiraling, and I had no idea how to stop it.Maybe I didn’t want to stop it.That was the thought that plagued me as I sat in the kitchen that night, pretending to eat my dinner while my mom and younger brother, Eli, talked about their day.I tried to focus.I really did.But my phone sat beside my plate, taunting me with its silence.Luca hadn’t texted.Not since he kissed me against that wall at school, not since he claimed
Luca's POV Mondays were a bitch.Mornings were worse.And early mornings, like this one? Downright cruel.I slumped against my locker, yawning so wide my jaw cracked. The weekend had been a blur—training, Sienna, dealing with my dad’s never-ending attempts to “connect”—but none of that prepared me for the hell that was the first day of the week.“Mate, you look like you got hit by a bus.”I cracked one eye open to find Ethan smirking at me, arms crossed over his chest. He was fresh, energized, annoyingly awake, which only made me scowl harder.“More like a truck,” I muttered, rubbing a hand over my face. “Didn’t get much sleep.”“Wonder why.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain dark-haired girl, would it?”I shot him a look. “Shut up.”“Ah, come on. You’ve been spending all your time with her. When’s the wedding?”I groaned, slamming my locker shut. “Piss off.”Ethan just laughed, but whatever comeback he had was drowned out by the usual Monday morni
The bus ride back to school was nothing short of chaotic.The lads were still buzzing from the trip, making noise in the back like they hadn’t just spent the past few days running on barely any sleep. Someone had smuggled a speaker onto the bus, blasting music loud enough that the teachers had already given up trying to control it.I should’ve been right there with them—laughing, messing around, enjoying the last few moments of freedom before we were dumped back into reality.But my head was somewhere else.Or, more accurately, on someone else.Sienna sat near the middle of the bus, headphones in, staring out the window. She wasn’t talking to anyone, wasn’t engaging in the chaos around her.I knew that look.She was overthinking.I sighed, running a hand through my hair.The thing was, I knew what Amanda had said to her. I knew the way her mind worked, how doubt crept in no matter how many times I tried to shut it down.And I hated it.Hated that she still questioned this—us.I wasn’t
The crisp morning air bit at my cheeks as I stood outside the cabins, watching the sunrise spill soft gold over the hills. The trip was almost over. By this time tomorrow, we’d be back in school, drowning in assignments and pretending like this excursion had been just another ordinary event.But it wasn’t.At least, not for me.Not after last night.Not after the way Luca had looked at me at breakfast—like he wasn’t willing to let me slip away.A shiver ran through me, though I wasn’t sure if it was from the cold or the weight of everything that had happened.“Hey.”Cassie’s voice pulled me from my thoughts, and I turned to see her approaching, a steaming cup of tea in her hands. She held it out to me.I took it without question. “Thanks.”She arched a brow. “You okay?”I hesitated, then gave a small nod. “Yeah.”She huffed, clearly unconvinced, but didn’t push. Instead, she glanced toward the mess hall, where students were still trailing in and out, finishing breakfast. “So, what’s o
The sun was barely rising when I cracked my eyes open, but I knew, before I even turned my head, that I was alone.Sienna was gone.I sat up slowly, rubbing a hand over my face as last night came rushing back.Her lips.Her body pressed against mine.The way she looked at me—like she wanted to stay but didn’t know how.Like she was afraid to want this as much as I did.I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair.I should’ve expected this.Sienna had always been the type to run when things got too real.And last night?It was real.Too real.With a grunt, I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood, stretching out the stiffness in my muscles. The room was still dark, but I could hear movement outside—the rest of the students waking up, getting ready for the last day of the trip.Right.The trip.The whole reason we were here.It was easy to forget that this wasn’t just some weekend getaway—that we were technically on a school excursion, meant to be soaking up educational
I should’ve pulled away.I should’ve told him no.I should’ve done something other than let Luca Russo—cocky, infuriating, undeniably irresistible Luca—drag me through the house like I belonged to him.But I didn’t.Because deep down, in the place I tried so hard to ignore, I wanted this.I wanted him.The music pounded through the walls, the thrum of bass rattling through my chest as we weaved past people drinking, laughing, making out in corners like they had nothing to lose.But I barely noticed them.Because all I could focus on was Luca’s hand wrapped tightly around mine.The way his grip never faltered.The way he never once looked back, as if he already knew I wasn’t going anywhere.And the worst part?He was right.We reached the bottom of the stairs, and my pulse kicked up.Oh God.Where was he taking me?I should’ve asked.Should’ve stopped him.But instead, I let him lead me up, past more partygoers, past people I barely recognized.By the time he pushed open the door to hi
I couldn’t stop thinking about it.The kiss.Sienna.The way she’d grabbed me in front of everyone, like she’d finally snapped, like she had to prove something—to Amanda, to herself, to me.But she didn’t have to.Not to me.Because I already knew.Knew she wanted me. Knew she felt this, whatever the hell this was, just as much as I did.And now?There was no going back.I leaned against the porch railing, watching the lake, trying to get my head straight.It wasn’t working.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her.The fire in her eyes. The way her lips had trembled against mine. The way her whole body had melted into me, like she belonged there.Like she wanted to belong there.And now, she was running.I had seen it the second she stormed off after breakfast, Cassie struggling to keep up.She was panicking. Probably overthinking. Probably trying to convince herself it didn’t mean anything.Too bad for her—I wasn’t letting her do that.The cabin door creaked open, and I turned just as
I had officially lost my mind.That was the only explanation.Why else would I have grabbed Luca in the middle of breakfast—in front of everyone—and kissed him like I had something to prove?Because I had snapped. That was why.Amanda’s words, her smug little smirk, the constant taunting—I had reached my limit. And instead of ignoring it like I always did, I had thrown gasoline on the fire.And now I was burning.The moment my lips had touched Luca’s, the rest of the world had vanished.I hadn’t thought about Amanda.Or the people watching.Or the fact that Luca was Luca—the same boy I had spent the last few months trying to keep at arm’s length.All I had thought about was him.His hands in my hair. His lips moving against mine. The way he made me feel like the ground beneath me was shifting.And now?Now, I had to deal with it.I practically sprinted out of the breakfast area, ignoring the whispers and the knowing looks.Cassie was right on my heels. “Sienna—”“I don’t want to talk
I woke up to warmth.Soft. Comfortable. Dangerous warmth.For a second, I forgot where I was.The rain had slowed to a soft drizzle, the occasional rumble of thunder still rolling in the distance. The tent smelled like damp fabric, grass, and something undeniably Sienna.And then I realized—She was still wrapped around me.Her head rested against my chest, her fingers curled into my hoodie. One of her legs was tangled with mine, and my arm was still draped over her waist, holding her way too close.Fucking hell.I forced myself to stay still, even as every muscle in my body screamed to do the opposite.I should wake her up.I should move.But I didn’t.Instead, I let my eyes trace the curve of her cheek, the way her lashes rested against her skin.She looked so soft like this.So unguarded.I had the sudden, reckless urge to run my fingers through her hair, to tilt her chin up and kiss her awake.Instead, I swallowed hard and forced myself to breathe.What the fuck was happening to m
I was so fucked.And not in the good way.Standing outside the tent, watching Sienna wrestle with the poles like they’d personally offended her, I had to bite back a smirk.“Need help, Sunshine?”“Don’t call me that,” she snapped, not looking up as she struggled to drive a stake into the dirt.I shoved my hands in my pockets. “Alright, Sienna—do you need help?”She huffed. “I got it.”Yeah. Sure she did.I watched for another thirty seconds before stepping in, easily driving the stake into the ground with my boot.She scowled. “I could’ve done that.”“Of course you could’ve.” I grinned, grabbing the other pole and securing it in place. “But at this rate, we’d be sleeping outside.”She muttered something under her breath, but I was too busy not staring at the way her shirt had ridden up to expose a sliver of smooth, golden skin.Focus, Russo.By the time we finally got the tent up, the sky had darkened, the campfire was lit, and dinner was being passed around. But before we could even
The ride was long.Too long.The bus rumbled along the highway, filled with chatter and occasional outbursts from overly excited students, but I barely heard any of it.Not with him sitting just a few rows behind me.Not with his presence burning into my skin like a brand.Cassie had long since dozed off, head resting against the window, but I was wide awake, pretending to be engrossed in the scenery outside when, in reality, I was painfully aware of every single move Luca made.His laugh, low and lazy, floated through the air.The rustling of his hoodie as he shifted in his seat.The occasional murmurs as he spoke to Ethan.I hated it.I hated how aware of him I was.I squeezed my hands together, nails biting into my palm. It’s just a school trip, Sienna. Nothing else. Keep your head down, and get through it.But of course, the universe had other plans.The moment we pulled up to the campsite—a massive stretch of land nestled between thick woods and a lake—our teacher, Mr. Harrison,