Page 25 of All at Once

This is the perfect opportunity for him to jab. Buthe doesn’t?

Instead, he states simply, “It’s just a game.”

Life is starting to feel more and more like a game lately. One that I can’t seem towin. For once I let go and actually say what I’m thinking. “Maybe to you and everyone else playing.”

“Are you trying to tell me something?” Luca asks, puzzled.

“No,” I say. “I’m just giving my observation.”

“Your observation sounds pretty passive aggressive to me,” he expresses dryly.

“Forget it.” Arguing with him is pointless. I gesture toward the exit and say, “You don’t need to be here. You can go back to playing your fun game.”

He doesn’t know what I’m going through.None of them do. To not relate to the simplest of things that come so naturally to people your age.

Luca orders a drink before I feel his eyes on me. “I never said I thought it was fun.”

Although that’s surprising to hear, it also explains his lack of interest during the game. I turn toward him and say, “Seems like your friends have quite the experience.”

He shrugs. “I don’t know about that. Half of them are probably lying.”

Even if he’s bending the truth to make me feel better, it still does. I assume that having oral sex on a first date isn’t what theaverage person relates to, but then again, maybe it is? I wouldn’t have a clue.

Raising my brows, I reveal, “I was a little surprised that you didn’t drink to any of those.” At least Luca and I have one thing in common.

He takes a sip of his drink and then replies, “I don’t like to kiss and tell.”

That’s enough to spark my curiosity. “So have you?”

His brows furrow. “Have Iwhat?”

“Done any ofthosethings,” I say, too embarrassed to repeat any of the sexual responses.

I sense that he can also tell how uncomfortable I sound. His expression implies that he doesn’t understand why, however. “I don’t think that’s anyone’s business,” he says, “not yours or anyone else’s at the game.”

“I agree, some things should be kept private,” I reply.

“Unless you want to make them public,” Luca clarifies. “It’s just not my style.” His blue eyes somehow continue to glow even more vividly in the dim light. It’s hard to concentrate on his words as he adds, “Your Spotify comment was hysterical though.”

So he thinks I wasjoking. If he only knew why I left.

“I’m glad someone found it funny,” I reply sarcastically while swinging my left arm, when my drink spills and lands right onto his lap.

Not this shit again.

He jolts at the contact from the cold liquid. Ironically, this is the first time I see Luca smile this wide. He’s probably thinkingthis girl’s demented. And I mean, he would have a point.

Quickly grabbing a damp napkin, I lean over and start patting on his thighs. I didn’t think this is how I’d be touching a guy’sthighs for the first time, but what makes sense at this point? Absolutelynothing.

Among other things that don’t make sense is how toned his legs feel over barely pressing onto them. I almost don’t even hear him when he says, “I’m pretty sure you’re just making it worse.” I abruptly move my hands away, embarrassed if that made him uncomfortable. He glances up at me as he places a napkin on the stain, while biting back a smile. “Remind me to wear a Hazmat suit the next time I see you.”

“Maybe I should wear one instead,” I suggest as I shift in my seat at the angle he just looked up at me from.

“You’d still find a way to destroy something,” he says, his lips lifting into a cocky grin.

“Fair enough,” I accept defeat. “I’m sorry.Again. Maybe you could send me your laundry bill?”

He puts the napkin onto the table and bluntly replies, “I’m afraid you’d go broke before you left.”

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