022

Caterina.

I didn't resist when Luca finally helped me up. Didn't even question where he was taking me.

It didn't matter.

Everything around me felt muted and distant, as though the world was spinning too fast, and all I could do was struggle to keep up.

My chest ached, my head throbbed, and all I wanted to do was forget the past hours.

I barely registered getting into the car, barely noticed the soft hum of the engine as he drove us through the city. All I could do was stare blankly out the window, watching the streetlights blur past, while my mind kept on playing the scene from the restaurant over and over again.

The waitress’s sneer.

The cold slap against my cheek.

The way those people had recorded, whispering about me, judging me. And worst of all, the fact that I had let it get to me.

Luca didn't speak.

He didn't ask me if I was okay or try to do some shitty ass comforting. And for that, I was grateful.

"We're here."

I had to blink multiple times to realize we were in some sort of underground parking lot. Luca exited the car without another word, walking around like some sort of gentleman to open the door.

Where was this place?

I took a few seconds before stepping out, my legs unsteady.

Luca led me toward an elevator, pressing the button for the top floor.

A rooftop.

That was actually so cliché.

The night air was even cooler now when we stepped out onto the open space. The city was stretched out before us, a sea of lights flickering like distant stars.

It was quiet, save for the occasional honk of a car far below. That was the little muffled hum of life continuing without me.

"Damn you, Alessandro." I inhaled the night air deeply, trying to steady myself.

I was far away from the chaos now, so why didn't I feel calmer now? I was away from prying eyes, away from the whole humiliation stuff.

But I didn't feel calmer.

I just felt restless.

Empty.

I turned to Luxa, who stood with his hands in his pockets, watching me with that unreadable expression of his.

He always did that... looked at me like he could see straight through me.

Like he knew things about me that I wasn't ready to admit to myself.

I hated it.

I hated him.

Maybe that was why I did it.

I moved before I could stop myself, pressing against him, my lips crashing onto his with desperation and need. It wasn't some sort of soft or even careful kiss. This one was raw, fueled by anger, by sadness, by the desire to prove something... to him, to myself, to the whole goddamn world.

He didn't waste a second to respond.

His lips moved against mine, slow at first, teasing, before deepening the kiss. It was so hot that it sent some sort of rush through me, making me feel alive.

This was what I needed.

I slid my hands up his neck, fingers threading into his hair, nails scratching against his scalp.

I needed more. I needed to drown in him, to disappear into the warmth of his body. It took seconds for my hands to move lower, over his chest, feeling the hard planes of muscle beneath his shirt.

My own body was heating up now, my core aching with want.

I needed him to touch me...

He stopped.

Luca's hands, which had barely been touching me, pushed gently against my arms until there was distance between us.

"What..."

He shook his head at me as he took another step backwards. His jaw was tight.

“Not like this,” he said, his voice low but firm.

My stomach twisted.

I felt exposed, like I had just thrown myself at him, and he had recoiled in disgust. My heart pounded against my ribs as I straightened, my fingers now curling into fists at my sides.

"What do you mean 'not like this'?" I demanded, not caring about how I sounded defensive. "Are you not attracted to me?"

Luca exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “You know that’s not it.”

"Then what is it?" I snapped, crossing my arms while actively trying to ignore that sting of rejection blooming in my chest. "You don't like me enough to even kiss me?"

He let out a humourless chuckle, shaking his head. “Caterina, kissing you right now... when you’re like this... would be the dumbest thing I could do.”

"And why is that?"

“Because I just had sex with Rissa.”

It would have been better if he had just told me he wasn't attracted to me.

Silence.

The rooftop suddenly felt too big, too open. The city lights blurred as my vision clouded with something that could only be described as hot and painful.

Why did this even hurt?

I shouldn't care about Luca.

We didn't mean anything to each other.

And yet.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing my expression to one of neutrality, making sure I acted like it didn't matter.

Because it didn't.

"Well," I said, my voice surprisingly steady despite the tightness in my throat. "Wouldn't want to do something stupid, right?"

He sighed. “Amorino...”

“Don’t.” I shook her head. “Don't call me that.”

I turned away from him, walking toward the edge of the rooftop, gripping the cold metal railing.

Maybe I should have just remained with Alicia. Or better yet, fallen asleep... so I wouldn't have to feel anything at all.

Luca remained in that position for a while. I could hear him breathing behind me, hear the way he shifted slightly, like he wanted to say something but wasn't sure if he should.

That feeling didn't last forever, though.

“Maria is coming to visit soon.”

"Who's that?"

“My sister.”

He had a sister? Were the parents still in the picture?

I had never thought about that. I said nothing, though, just continued my staring contest with the skyline as I waited for him to continue.

“She thinks I don’t know she’s dating Raphael,” he said, a hint of amusement laced in his tone. “She sneaks around like I wouldn’t notice. Like she could actually hide something from me.”

I said nothing.

“She was always like that,” he continued. “A troublemaker, but a smart one.”

Again, nothing.

Luca exhaled softly. “I remember when we were kids,” he said, his voice quieter now. “Maria used to follow me everywhere. Drove me insane. She always wanted to prove she was just as tough as me, just as strong.”

He paused.

“I let her believe it.”

I spared a glance at him from the corner of my eye. He wasn't looking at me anymore, but past me, now lost in thought, the tension in his shoulders lighter than before.

This felt strange... hearing him talk like this. Talking about something real, something that mattered to him.

I didn't respond.

I didn't want to respond.

Because if I did that, I would have to acknowledge the way my chest felt tight, the way I suddenly felt more exposed than before.

Another stretch of silence passed.

Then, finally, just as my eyes started to droop, just as exhaustion began pulling me under, I felt it.

A touch.

Luca’s fingers, warm and careful, brushing against my cheek.

It was the last thing I felt before sleep claimed me.