Page 99 of All at Once

It’s a stick figure with long straw-like strands of hair.

“Okay,” I say. “Maybe it’s a good thing that you’re doing finance now.”

Luca rolls his eyes, and then hands me another sheet.

Woah.

“You didn’t just draw that,” I say. At this point I don’t even bother wondering how odd I must look right now, with my jaw open wide, and my eyes resembling more of the stick figure than this one. “You even got the tiny mole by my right eye.”

He looks at the drawing with creased brows. “Oh is that what that was? I thought it was some melted chocolate.”

I playfully punch his arm. “In that case, you also have some right here,” I say as I brush my finger over the side of his neck,indicating his mole. One that I noticed since the first day that I met him.

He freezes. He looks at me like I’m crazy for a second. Then snaps out of it. “You know, you act like you don’t know how to flirt, but what do you thinkthisis?”

His eyes are still on mine as he gets up from the couch. Then he turns around and goes into the kitchen, while I stare after him into space. Did he really just say that? Is that whatI’vebeen doing? Is that whatwe’vebeen doing?

I try to turn my focus back to the drawing, the way it had my attention just a few seconds ago. It’s all interrupted though, when Luca returns with two small cups that fill the living room with the most comforting scent of espresso. At 3 am and with just two cakes to go, this was a pretty phenomenal decision on his part. Considering now we’re both wide awake.

“Okay. I really needed that,” I say, after finishing the last sip of the soothing beverage.

He places his cup onto the table. “I told you espresso fixes most problems.”

“Now that we for sure can’t sleep, do you have a puzzle we can work on?”

He glances toward his hallway. “I might have a couple. Let me go check.”

When Luca’s back, he’s not just carrying a puzzle. It looks like he’s holding another box that looks unrecognizable from this distance. “I brought something that I think you might like more. But I could be wrong…” He gives me a knowing look, before handing me a clear box that appears to be filled with an assortment of beads and string.

I immediately sit up with intrigue. “Are we going to make friendship bracelets?!”

“You said you wanted to go to theEras Tour, right?” he says. “Well you can make a bracelet for her next tour to look back on.”

And now I’m two seconds away from bawling. Just kidding. I’m currently on an emotional rollercoaster and frankly haveno ideawhat’s even going on at this point.

“Luca, this is so sweet,” I say, before I hug him tightly. I’m not delirious enough yet to not notice how flustered he looks when I pull away from the embrace.

“Sofia left this here from when we made them together for the concert.” His confidence returns when he shows me the puzzle. “I’m guessing you don’t want this then?”

“Hey, that’s hardly a fair competition,” I say. “You know that puzzle had no chance.” He grins as we move to the floor. “Okay, let’s make a bracelet for each other,” I suggest.

“Are we doing a theme or just something random?” he asks.

“It could be a surprise,” I say.

I’m really trying not to laugh. But it’s hard not to, considering how exaggeratingly focused Luca appears to be while making my bracelet. I’m such a mess that I almost drop a few of my own beads, without having a single clue yet as to what I’m going to make for him.

Once it’s time to exchange our bracelets, I take mine from him so quickly that he softly laughs at how impatient I am to see what he decided on for me.

Then my heart flutters when I read the message the beads have created.

“‘Foolish One,’” I say out loud. “Luca!” I’m too overwhelmed with joy at such a simple gesture. But it’s the nicest gift anyone’s ever given me. I feel as if I just received a love confession on Valentine’s Day from my crush in high school. And having never actually received a valentine before, this means more to me thanhe’lleverknow. Awestruck by the different shades of purple and gold beads next to a few butterfly-shaped ones at the ends, I squeal, “This is perfect. Thank you.”

“Just so you don’t steal mine,” he says with a smirk. “You know I forgot what that song sounded like until you brought it up the other day? After listening to it again, I can really see how that’s your favorite song by Taylor.” I playfully nudge his shoulder. “What?” he says, while raising a brow at me. “Now you know I also relate to it.”

I had my suspicions that he did. And am nowelatedto learn that he does.

I can’t help but realize that this means he listened to the songafterI mentioned it to him. This might seem simple. But after recommending songs to my previous crushes, who never even bothered to give any time of day to my interests, this meanseverythingto me.

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