Gio and I have been friends since our kindergarten days, our parents' close relationships cementing our o

" I assured him, my voice low and confident. "Dovey is...diff

eptical. "You're sure about this, Luca?

shoulder. "I'm sure, Gio. I've g

ut our friendship. "I trust you, Luca," Gio said, his voice la

ut behind him. I watched him disappear from view before turning back t

cushions, her chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm. I stood there for a mo

xposed and vulnerable, so I decided to carry her to her room. I scooped her up gently, cradling her in my arm

a moment, our gazes met, and I felt a jolt of electricity run through me. Then, her

connection between us. I knew that this was just the beginning of a complex journey, one that would test my resolve, my h

**

a thick layer of fog had rolled in, obscuring my memories. But I pushed the question aside, focusing on the bedside clock instead. My eyes widened in alarm, my pupils

ing hooky like a truant schoolgirl. But then I remembered I hadn't filled Emily in on my situation with Luca y

e me jump like a startled rabbit. I rushed to answer it, my hair disheveled, my clothes rumpled from sleep, looking like I'd been put through a wringer. And there he was, st

hi," I stammered, feeling my face heat up with embarrassment, as if a thousand suns had burst into flames on my cheeks. I mentally facepalmed mysel

nt smile, as if he found my disheveled state endearing, charming even. "Good morning, Dovey," he said,

ely above a whisper, my eyes fixed on his suit-cla

tter-of-fact, as if it was the most obvious answe

f with a raised hand. "I'm taking you now, go shower," he said, his eye

eriously planning to chauffeur me around like some kind of pampered princess? But before I could gather my

humbs flying across the screen with a speed and dexterity that left me in awe. He was smirking, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and I couldn't help but wonder who he was texting. Wa

nto mine with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat. "Ready to go?" he asked, his v

nded me a sandwich and a coffee, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he said, "You didn't have breakfast." My heart warme

s a force to be reckoned with, a man who knew what he wanted and went after it with a single-minded determination that left me breathless.

about to leave, he held my hand, his fingers wrapping around mine with a warmth that sent shivers down my spi

on. Why did he want to know? Was he planning to pick me up again? Take me out for dinner? The thought sen

e better of me, my eyes fixed on his wi

it was the most obvious answer in the world. And with that, he rele