I wasn’t patient.Never had been.And waiting for Sienna to talk to me? It was killing me.All week, she had been distant, her mind somewhere else, her body tense like she was holding onto something she couldn’t let go of. And the worst part? I knew it had nothing to do with me. Not really.Which somehow made it worse.Because if it was about me, I could fix it.I could make her laugh, distract her, pull her out of whatever hole she had buried herself in.But this?This was something bigger than just us.And it scared the shit out of me.Saturday Night – Luca’s HouseI had barely been able to sit still all day.Every time my phone buzzed, my stomach clenched, my fingers twitching to grab it, only to deflate when it wasn’t her.So when the doorbell rang at half-past nine, I nearly tripped over my own damn feet getting to it.And there she was.Sienna.Standing on my porch, hood pulled over her head, her cheeks flushed from the cold.I didn’t say a word.Just stepped aside and let her i
I woke up warm.Too warm.For a second, I was disoriented, my brain sluggish as I tried to remember where I was. The scent of Luca—clean soap, mint, and something undeniably him—filled my nose, and it all came rushing back.Last night.The way he touched me. The way he held me like I was something fragile, something precious. The way he kissed me like he was memorizing me.My cheeks burned as I slowly opened my eyes.Luca was still asleep, his arm draped heavily over my waist, his face buried in the pillow beside mine. His dark hair was messy, his lips slightly parted, his breathing slow and steady.And he was shirtless.Oh God.I swallowed hard, my eyes involuntarily trailing over his broad shoulders, down the sharp lines of his chest. My fingers twitched with the memory of tracing over them the night before, feeling the heat of his skin, the way his muscles tensed beneath my touch.Stop staring.But how could I not?This boy—this infuriating, cocky, insanely attractive boy—had spent
I was dead.Officially, completely dead.Because my mother wasn’t just mad—she was furious.I could see it in the way she stood, arms crossed, lips pressed so tightly together that they had practically disappeared. Her foot tapped impatiently against the pavement, and I swore I could feel the rage rolling off her in waves.My stomach clenched as I slowed my pace, trying—and failing—not to look as guilty as I felt.“Mom, I—”“Inside.” Her voice was deceptively calm, which was somehow way scarier than if she had just started yelling right away.I swallowed hard and obeyed, stepping past her and into the house. The door shut behind me with an ominous click, and my heart sank straight into my stomach.Shit.She didn’t speak right away, just followed me into the living room, her gaze burning into the back of my head.I stood there, shifting uncomfortably, waiting for the inevitable explosion.It came about five seconds later.“Where were you?”I winced. “I—”“All night, Sienna. You were go
I was restless.Which was fucking annoying, because I was never restless.Not like this.Not in the way that made me want to grab my keys, get in my car, and drive straight to Sienna’s house just to make sure she was really okay.But I couldn’t do that.Because she was grounded.And if her mom had been even half as pissed as she sounded over text, I was lucky she hadn’t stormed over to my house to kill me herself.I ran a hand down my face and sighed, leaning back on my bed. My phone sat on my stomach, Sienna’s last message still staring back at me.TBD. Probably forever.I hated that she was in trouble because of me.No. Not because of me.Because she had stayed out all night. With me.And okay, maybe I had pushed things a little too far—maybe I had gotten caught up in her, in the way she looked at me, in the way she felt against me, in the way she trusted me.But I wasn’t sorry about it.Not even a little.I shifted, staring up at the ceiling.It was fucking weird, this whole… thing
I wasn’t stupid.I knew I’d pushed my mom too far this time.I had broken curfew before—gotten a lecture, maybe lost my phone for a few days—but this?This was different.Because this time, I hadn’t just come home late.I hadn’t come home at all.And I knew—I knew—that had scared her.Which meant I was in for hell.I exhaled slowly as I climbed the steps to my front porch after school, my heart pounding in my chest.It was ridiculous, really. I was sixteen, not some little kid afraid of getting grounded.But the moment I stepped inside and saw my mom waiting in the kitchen, arms crossed, eyes sharp—I felt sixteen.I felt guilty.And worst of all?I felt like a disappointment.I set my bag down slowly. “Hi, Mom.”She didn’t return the greeting.Instead, she exhaled, shaking her head. “You scared me, Sienna.”I swallowed. “I know.”“No, I don’t think you do.” Her voice was quiet, but firm. “Do you have any idea what it’s like to wake up and realize your daughter never came home?”My st
I knew something was wrong the second I stepped into the school hallway the next morning.Sienna wasn’t at her locker.She wasn’t at her usual spot near the courtyard.And when I finally caught sight of her?She was avoiding me.I caught the hesitation in her steps when she saw me, the way she turned her head like she hadn’t noticed me, the quick shuffle toward class.Like she was trying to escape.Not happening.I moved fast, closing the distance before she could disappear. “Sienna.”She froze.Then, with a deep breath, she turned to face me.Her expression was neutral. Too neutral.That was my first red flag.“What’s going on?” I asked, cutting straight to it.“Nothing,” she said.Lie.I crossed my arms. “Try again.”She shifted on her feet, her fingers tightening around the strap of her bag. “I just—” She sighed, then met my gaze. “I can’t see you, Luca.”The words hit like a slap.My entire body went tense. “What?”“My mom—she’s—” She exhaled, frustrated. “She banned me from seein
This was a terrible idea.A reckless, stupid, absolutely insane idea.But here I was—standing in my bedroom at ten o’clock at night, watching Luca climb through my window like he did this sort of thing all the time.“Are you actually insane?” I whisper-hissed, rushing to grab his arm before he tumbled straight onto my floor. “What if my parents hear you?”Luca grinned, completely unbothered. “They won’t.”“You don’t know that!”He shrugged, tossing himself onto my bed like he owned the place. “Then I’ll charm them.”I gawked at him. Charm them? He was out of his mind.I closed my window, heart pounding, and turned to glare at him. “Luca, you cannot just break into my room whenever you feel like it.”He propped himself up on his elbows, gaze raking over me lazily. “Sure, I can. And I will.”I exhaled sharply, crossing my arms. “You are unbelievable.”His lips twitched, and I knew he was about to say something ridiculous.“You like it.”I threw a pillow at him.He caught it easily, laug
I knew I should have left.It would’ve been the smart thing to do. The right thing.But Sienna was lying beside me, wrapped up in her blankets, staring at me with those big, stormy eyes, and I couldn’t move.Didn’t want to.“Luca,” she whispered, voice uncertain.I reached out without thinking, brushing a loose strand of hair from her cheek.She sucked in a breath.“Tell me to go,” I murmured. “And I will.”Her lips parted.Silence stretched between us, thick with something neither of us wanted to name.Then—so softly I almost didn’t hear it—she whispered, “Stay.”And that was all it took.❀I kissed her before I could stop myself.Soft and slow—like I had all the time in the world.Sienna let out a tiny gasp, her fingers curling into my shirt, pulling me closer instead of pushing me away.That was all the permission I needed.I rolled her onto her back, caging her in beneath me, careful not to press my full weight against her.She tasted like strawberries and secrets, and I wanted to
(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