Chapter Sixty-Eight

It’s the day of the big move.

I call it ‘big move’ because this is the only time that I’ve ever left home. I didn’t go away to college, and I only ever spent a few nights away from home. Two weeks at most when I went on trips with Brett and Victoria.

Luca comes to fetch me. There are two cars with him, one behind and another in front of his. The security guards start loading my things into the cars. Luca looks at my baggage and asks, “This is it?”

I frown. “You don’t think that this is a lot?”

“I was expecting a lot more,” he says, then smiles. I step into his embrace and he kisses the top of my head. “How are things?”

“The same,” I sigh. “There’s no sign of her.”

“Same with Miguel. I don’t know how you managed to come across him at the mall, if I’m being honest.”

My parents leave the house and walk toward us. We stand waiting for them to reach us. Luca shakes my father’s hand, and then my mother steps toward him and kisses his cheeks.

“Won’t you come inside for a coffee or maybe a