Page 45 of All at Once

“I think social media just makes it seem that not as many guys listen to her,” he says, “but I remember in college I knew quite a few guys that did.”

“I think you’re right. I also love how herFolkloreandEvermorealbums widened her audience a lot more,” I say. “It made me happy to see people who maybe dismissed her work before finally appreciate her artistry.”

“Evermorewas her first album that had no skips for me,” Luca shares.

When his eyes light up as he says this, my heart skips a beat. I could talk to him about this all day. “Someone has taste,” I say. “Favorite song?”

“OnEvermore?” he asks.

“No,” I say. “In general.”

“That’s impossible to choose. It depends on my mood.”

“That’s fair.”

“Although recently I can’t stop listening to ‘Hoax,’” he says.

“The bridge in that one is actually sickening,” I add.

There is so much to unpack here. Finding someone who shares a similar passion that spans decades of admiration for arguably my favorite artist is something that only happens once in a blue moon.

I want to know more, and so I ask, “Have you always liked her music?”

“Not until I listened toSpeak Now,” Luca replies, “but Sofia’s been a fan since the beginning.”

That explains the purple theme for the bracelet.

I no longer care if my smile looks embarrassingly wide. “This is amazing. We have so much we need to discuss.”

“I’m guessing you’re a fan,” he says with a smirk. “Do you have a favorite album?”

“Sometimes my favorite changes, but I thinkFearlesswould have to be my favorite overall. You?”

“Speak NoworFolklore,” he answers. “There’s a few songs fromFearlessthat I also really like. I’ve noticed even if an album might not be my favorite, some of my favorite songs can still be on it.”

“I know exactly what you mean,” I express. Being used to vague descriptions from guys in regard to music, Luca’s responses are not only making him evenmoreattractive, but it’s also so refreshing to see. As I glance out the window, I’m reminded of the song he just brought up. “Now I can’t get the background music of ‘Hoax’out of my head,” I say before I attempt to hum the melody.

He snorts so loudly that I almost don’t hear the music that’s still filling the car. “Are you sure you were singing a Taylor Swift song just now?”

Before I even have a chance to react, I finally read what the bracelet says. “Shut up!”

Luca almost jolts in his seat. “What?”

“This says ‘Foolish One,’” I explain, my eyes beaming. “That’s one of my all-time favorite songs from Taylor.”

“Sofia made that one for me,” he says with a tone that implies confusion on his sister’s song choice for her brother.

“So she also thinks you’re delusional when it comes to love?” I tease, noting how that doesn’t sound like Luca from the little I’ve learned about him.

He raises a brow, his lips curving to the side. “I wouldn’t say I’masdelusional as you, but I’ve definitely had my moments.”

OhnowI’m intrigued. “What kind of moments?”

“Ones where I don’t particularly feel the need to share,” he replies a little cockily.

“So they’rerecentmoments?” I guess.

He glances over at me, a flicker of amusement tracing his eyes. “Has anyone ever told you that you ask a lot of questions?”

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