The walk home from Ridgecrest was always the same. Students peeled away into luxury cars or onto private buses while I trudged to the edge of the campus, where the wealth and privilege abruptly ended. My route took me past gated mansions, sprawling lawns, and perfectly curated lives.By the time I reached my neighborhood, it felt like I’d crossed an invisible line into a world that Ridgecrest refused to acknowledge existed.At home, the front door creaked open to the sound of my dad’s voice barking at someone over the phone. I stepped inside, careful not to draw attention to myself.“There you are,” he said as soon as he saw me. His voice carried the sharp edge of frustration. “Did you buy groceries like I told you?”I winced, guilt twisting in my chest. “I didn’t have time after practice—”“Not this again,” he snapped, cutting me off. “Do you think the bills pay themselves? Or that food just appears in the fridge?”“I’ll go tomorrow,” I said, keeping my voice low.“You’ll go now,” he
Home smelled like rosemary and garlic when I walked through the front door, and the warmth of it hit me like a wave. My mom’s cooking had a way of doing that—wrapping around you, making you feel like the world wasn’t such a bad place after all.“Luca, is that you?” her voice rang from the kitchen, light and musical like it always was.“Yeah, it’s me!” I called back, dropping my bag by the stairs.“Dinner will be ready in ten minutes! Invite your friends if you want!”I smirked. She always said that, whether or not my friends were actually coming over. Mom loved nothing more than a full house. She thrived on it—feeding people, asking a million questions, making them feel like part of the family. It was one of the reasons Jake and the guys practically lived here.I stepped into the kitchen and found her exactly as I expected: apron tied around her waist, hair pulled back into a messy bun, and a wooden spoon in hand as she stirred something that smelled incredible.“Rough practice?” she
Chapter 10LucaThere are certain things I’ve learned to tune out over the years—Coach’s endless shouting during practice, Jake’s bad jokes, and Amanda’s persistent need to be the center of attention. But when she cornered me after practice today, I knew tuning her out wasn’t going to cut it.“You’ve been ignoring me,” Amanda said, her arms crossed as she leaned against my locker. Her tone was a mix of irritation and that fake sweetness she used when she wanted something.I sighed, tossing my gear into my bag. “I’ve been busy, Amanda.”“Too busy to reply to a text? Too busy for me?” she pressed, stepping closer.I looked at her, trying to find the words that wouldn’t completely blow this up. Amanda and I had been… something for a long time. Not dating, not serious, just a comfortable arrangement that neither of us questioned. But lately, it wasn’t comfortable anymore.“Yeah, I am,” I said finally, slinging my bag over my shoulder.Her eyes narrowed, and I could feel the shift in her d
It was too quiet.I stared at the ceiling in my room, the soft hum of the streetlights outside barely filtering through the thin curtains. My mind was racing, unable to settle on anything but the drive home with Luca earlier that evening. The way he looked at me, the way his voice softened when he spoke—it was so different from what I was used to.For weeks, he’d been hovering at the edge of my life, breaking through the walls I’d built. And now, after tonight, there was no denying it—he was in my head, taking up space I couldn’t afford to give.A soft knock on my bedroom door pulled me out of my thoughts.“Sienna?” my mom called.I swallowed, trying to steady my voice. “Yeah?”“Lights out soon, okay? It’s late.”“Okay,” I replied, listening as her footsteps faded down the hall.The next day at school, it felt like everyone was watching me. I could feel the weight of their stares as I walked through the corridors, their whispers trailing behind me. It wasn’t unusual—being the new girl
I couldn’t stop thinking about her.All day, every day, she was there—haunting me in ways I didn’t understand. The quiet way she carried herself, the fire in her eyes when someone tried to knock her down, the way her lips had felt against mine under the bleachers. It was maddening.I had it bad, and I knew it.So when I saw her walking out of school, her head down like she was trying to make herself invisible, I didn’t think twice. I jogged to catch up, falling into step beside her.“Need a ride?” I asked casually.She glanced up at me, her expression cautious. “I’m fine.”“Sienna, come on,” I said, grinning at her. “Let me give you a ride. It’s better than the bus, right?”Her lips pressed together in thought before she sighed. “Okay, fine.”The car ride started out quiet, the kind of silence that felt heavy with unspoken things. I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye, noticing the way her hands fidgeted in her lap.“You’re nervous,” I said, breaking the silence.“No, I’m not,”
I barely slept.Every time I closed my eyes, I felt Luca’s hands on me. His lips. The heat between us. The way he had pulled me into him like he couldn’t get close enough. And the way he stopped the second I told him I wasn’t ready.I’d never had a boy listen to me like that before.It scared me.I wasn’t sure if it was because of how much I liked him or because, for the first time, I felt like I was handing over pieces of myself to someone else. And Luca? He was the kind of boy who could crush me without even realizing it.I pulled my covers over my head, willing my heart to slow down.Because whether I wanted to admit it or not—he had already gotten under my skin.The next morning, I felt like I was walking on shaky ground.I was still thinking about last night as I made my way through the school hallway, my fingers gripping the strap of my bag a little too tightly. I wanted to see Luca, but at the same time, I was terrified of what might happen when I did.Would things be weird? Wo
I knew she was avoiding me.I saw it in the way she darted down different hallways when she spotted me, how she kept her head down in class, pretending to be focused when I knew damn well she wasn’t.And when I walked into the cafeteria, the tension was so thick I could taste it.Amanda was sitting at her usual table, flipping her hair and laughing loudly—probably trying to get my attention. It didn’t work. My eyes went straight to Sienna, who was sitting stiffly across from Cassie, her shoulders tense, her face carefully blank.Something had happened.I knew Amanda well enough to know she had probably said something to Sienna. And I also knew Amanda was the type who hated losing, even when the game was over.I clenched my jaw, grabbed my tray, and made my way straight to Sienna’s table.Cassie noticed me first. She narrowed her eyes and nudged Sienna, who finally glanced up. The moment our eyes met, something flickered across her face—relief? Guilt? I couldn’t tell.“Scoot,” I told C
I wasn’t sure how much longer I could keep pretending like everything was fine.It had been three days since Luca sat beside me at lunch, demanding answers I wasn’t ready to give. Three days of trying to act normal while my mind replayed every second of our last conversation. Every touch. Every stolen breath.I had been the one to pull away, yet I was the one suffering for it.Luca wasn’t avoiding me—not exactly. He was still everywhere. Still looking at me with that intense, unreadable expression. Still managing to be in my space without actually saying a word to me.And somehow, that was worse than anything Amanda could’ve said.At home, things weren’t much better.My dad had been working longer hours at the garage, and Mom was stuck in one of her moods again, barely speaking to anyone. It wasn’t unusual, but it still made the house feel heavy, like I was tiptoeing through a minefield.Dinner was quiet, the only sounds coming from my little brother, Ben, as he chattered about his fo
(Sienna’s POV)The house was alive with laughter, the scent of fresh flowers and warm food mingling in the air as the guests arrived one after another. It felt surreal—this moment, this day. A day that marked the beginning of something far greater than Luca and me. It was the start of a new legacy, a new generation.I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the delicate lace on my white and gold dress. The fitted bodice hugged my waist, the flowy skirt cascading down to the floor in elegant waves. It was tradition to wear white for purity, for new beginnings, and today, everything felt pure.“Are you ready?” Luca’s voice came from behind me, deep and soothing.I turned, and there he was—my husband, the father of my children, the love of my life. He looked breathtaking in his custom-fitted navy-blue suit, the gold cufflinks matching the accents on my dress. His dark hair was styled to perfection, but it was his eyes—the way they softened when they met mine—that made my heart race.“As
(Sienna’s POV)The house was finally quiet. It was a fragile silence, the kind that came after hours of soothing newborn cries, calming restless toddlers, and making sure everything was set for the next day. I stood at the doorway of the nursery, my fingers gripping the frame as I watched my daughters sleeping soundly in their cribs.Elena and Isabella.It still felt surreal, even though I had spent the past eight weeks holding them, feeding them, memorizing every little detail about their tiny features. The gentle rise and fall of their chests, the way Isabella’s little fingers always curled around her sister’s when they were placed beside each other, the way Elena would turn her head in search of my voice.A soft smile tugged at my lips.It wasn’t just them that made my heart feel impossibly full—it was everything. The house, now brimming with life. The sound of Matteo and Alessandro’s giggles echoing through the halls. The way Luca looked at me with a depth of love that made me wea
(Luca's POV) Sienna was asleep.After more than fifteen hours of labor, screaming, crying, and a near bone-breaking grip on my hand, she had finally drifted into a well-earned rest. Her body was utterly exhausted, her face soft in slumber, strands of hair still sticking to her forehead.But me? I couldn’t sleep. Not even for a second.Because right in front of me, in the transparent bassinet beside Sienna’s hospital bed, lay our daughters.My daughters.I still couldn’t wrap my head around it. It didn’t feel real. How could it? One moment, it was just the two of us—just me and Sienna, figuring out life, navigating chaos, and now… now there were four of us.My heart clenched.They were so tiny. So fragile.One of them let out a small, soft sigh in her sleep, her tiny fingers twitching before settling against the soft pink blanket wrapped around her. Her sister lay beside her, her lips pursed slightly, looking just as peaceful.Matteo had arrived with Alessandro a few hours ago, and af
(Luca's POV) Time had never felt so slow and so fast at the same time.The past eight months had been a whirlwind. From setting up the nursery to attending doctor’s appointments, every single day had been a countdown to this moment. And now—now it was here.Sienna was in labor.And I was losing my goddamn mind.I had rehearsed this moment a thousand times. I had planned, prepared, and memorized every step of the process. But all of that went out the window the second Sienna gripped my arm and gasped, “Luca… my water just broke.”For a solid five seconds, I stared at her like a complete idiot.Then chaos erupted.“Okay—okay! We’re ready! We have the bag! We have the—where’s my phone?!” I patted down my pockets, my movements jerky and uncoordinated. My heart was pounding so loudly in my ears that I barely heard Sienna groan.“Luca,” she exhaled, gripping the kitchen counter as she breathed through a contraction. “Stop panicking.”“I’m not panicking,” I lied, my hands shaking as I reach
(Sienna's POV) The news of our twin girls spread like wildfire. By the time Luca and I had finished calling everyone in our immediate circle, our families had already told their friends, and somehow, I suspected half the neighborhood knew too.Luca’s mother had called again—twice—to ask if she could start planning the baby shower immediately. My own mother had sent me a list of name suggestions before I could even finish breakfast. Even Cassie had texted me with an absurd amount of baby girl outfits she wanted to buy.And through all of this, Luca looked like a man who had been hit by a freight train.“Are you okay?” I asked him as he slumped against the kitchen counter, staring at his phone.He let out a slow breath. “I just got a message from my uncle. He says congratulations, and that we should start looking into bulletproof windows for when the girls are teenagers.”I snorted. “He’s not wrong.”Luca groaned, rubbing his face. “Sienna, do you realize how much trouble I’m in?”I ra
(Luca’s POV)I didn’t know how long I sat there, staring at the ultrasound screen like a man who’d just had his entire world flipped upside down. Twin girls.Two.Jesus Christ.I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply as I tried to process the reality of it. One baby had already been enough to completely wreck me in the best possible way, but two? I was so f***ed.Sienna was watching me, her fingers squeezing mine, probably waiting for me to say something more profound than the string of curses I’d already let loose. But my mind was short-circuiting.Twin daughters.“Luca,” she murmured, her voice softer now, like she was worried about me.I shook myself out of the trance, blinking at her before looking back at the screen, where two tiny, indistinct shapes flickered with life. My daughters.I swallowed hard, my chest tightening with something dangerously close to tears. “They’re so small,” I rasped.Dr. Caldwell chuckled. “That’s because they’re only about ten weeks along. But I
(Sienna’s POV)I sat on the edge of the bed, my fingers idly tracing the fabric of my nightgown. The past few months had been a whirlwind—recovery, adjusting back to normal life, and trying to find a sense of peace after everything we’d been through. Luca had been my rock, never leaving my side, always knowing exactly what I needed before I even said a word. And now, as the early morning light filtered through the curtains, I found myself staring down at the pregnancy test in my hands.Two lines.Two lines.I blinked. My breath hitched.No. This couldn’t be right.I grabbed another test from the drawer—one of the fancy digital ones. My hands shook as I followed the instructions, waiting the agonizing minutes for the result.“Pregnant. 3+ weeks.”A choked gasp left my lips. My heart pounded so hard I could hear it in my ears.Pregnant.I pressed a hand to my stomach, a thousand thoughts racing through my mind. We hadn’t been trying, not exactly, but we also hadn’t been preventing it. I
Luca's POV I never thought the sight of home would make my chest ache the way it did today. As the car rolled up the driveway, the massive wrought-iron gates slowly opening, I tightened my grip on Sienna’s hand.“We’re here, baby,” I murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple.Her head rested against the seat, exhaustion still etched into her delicate features, but when she lifted her gaze to meet mine, I saw something there—relief. Hope. A softness that had been missing for too long.She smiled, small but real. “Home,” she whispered, as if testing the word on her tongue.It had been months of uncertainty, months of fighting battles that neither of us had been prepared for. The long nights in the hospital, the painful procedures, the endless waiting for answers that never seemed to come fast enough. But we had made it through.And now, we were finally back where we belonged.The front door swung open before the driver even fully stopped the car. My mother rushed out first, wiping her ha
(Sienna’s POV)The hospital doors slid open, ushering in a crisp breeze that smelled like rain-soaked pavement. It was the scent of freedom, of normalcy, of the life we had fought so hard to return to. After what felt like an eternity inside these sterile white walls, we were finally walking out as a family again.Luca held Matteo in his arms, pressing a soft kiss to our son’s temple. Matteo had always been a light sleeper, but today, exhaustion had won, and he rested against his father’s chest, his small fingers curled into the fabric of Luca’s hoodie. Alessandro clutched my hand tightly, his grip firm as if he were afraid someone would try to pull us back inside. He had been so strong through all of this, stronger than any five-year-old should ever have to be.Outside, Dr. Caldwell and Dr. Moreau stood near the entrance, watching us go.“Remember,” Dr. Moreau said, adjusting the glasses perched on his nose, “his immune system is still delicate. Keep him away from crowded places for