Page 56 of All at Once

It reads as “foyers.” “Okay. But they sound so similar though,” I argue, still not seeing the big deal that he seems to be making.

“The definitions couldn’t be further apart,” he explains. “A foyer is a hallway. A voyeur is someone who likes watching other people have sex.”

And nowmyjaw is practically on the floor. While my face must be as red as a tomato. Especially with how close he’s sitting next to me.

I quickly look up the Google Search definition for it with my now slightly trembling fingers, and to my extreme dismay, he’s right…

The definition isevenmore descriptive than what he tells me, most likely sparing me the additional embarrassment.

I play the Google audio for both words right after each other, my ears pressed closely to my phone, and I swear each time it sounds more and more similar to each other.

“Sounds the same to me,” I say confidently, sounding delirious at this point.

Luca tilts his head down at me. “Did I really fuck up your sleepthatbad?”

My back almost presses against the couch, his words trickling a warmth between my legs at a completelydifferentinterpretation.

Pulling myself together, I continue playing the audio, trying to hear what I’m missing. “Theyliterallysound the same, Luca.”

He scoffs. “This was your payback, right? I’ll be having nightmares of that guy’s voice saying, ‘foyer, voyeur, foyer, voyeur, foyer, voyeur.’”

“Okay.Okay.” I shrug. “The hallways are pretty nice.”

He chuckles, a sparkle reflecting from his blue eyes. “Just clarifying, so you’renotinto voyeurs then?” He bites down on his bottom lip.

I throw a pillow at him as he snorts.

I not-so-secretly like that we’re joking about things that I’ve never talked about before.

He was right. Not being used to things in and of itself has made me panic even more when I realize howfunthis just was.

Then a text from Enrique interrupts our conversation:

Enrique: How does hiking at 11 sound tomorrow morning?

Jasmine: It sounds like a plan :)

Enrique: Luca and Sofia are coming too. Is that alright?

Jasmine: Yeah! Of course

Enrique: Sweet. See you then

Since today didn’t quite work out, I feel a bit bummed that he doesn’t ask to go alone, the mixed signals continuing to leave melost.

I wonder if Luca moved back to the chair by his bed since he saw me text Enrique. “It looks like Enrique and I are going out tomorrow,” I say as confidently as someone who doesn’t really know what’s going on can.

“But?” He must see the dazed look on my face that’s not matching my words.

“What?” I say. “I’m excited.”

“Okay. My bad then,” he says, turning his attention back to his phone.

But my composure lasts about two seconds at best. “Is it even a date if you and your sister are going to be there?”

The moment I start talking, Luca glances up from his phone again, with a look that confirms that he knew there’s more than I wanted to let on. When his brows crease, I clarify, “At the hike.”

“It could be,” he replies.

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