Page 44 of All at Once

He doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he glares at the road, before replying, “I think the more you think about something, the more everything around you starts to feel like it revolves around that one thing. And then you mistake a coincidence for fate when yourawarenessis what really changed.”

His lack of a direct response doesn’t go unnoticed.

More signs point toward an opposition, but he also didn’t flat out sayno.

I reply, “Yeah, my reasoning sounds a lot more fun.”

“Totally.Convincing yourself something’s true even when it’s notdoessound fun. And super healthy too,” he says.

“Well it’s what’s kept me sane all these years,” I argue. “So I’d appreciate it if you would just let me continue to live in my delusions.”

His features soften, and he looks like he’s about to say something but doesn’t.

While rolling down my window, a string of purple beads catches my attention. “I think someone left their bracelet here.”

“What?” Luca asks, glancing over for a moment.

It probably would be best not to distract him while he’s driving, and so I pick up the piece before speculating. “Wait.” My increased volume only reflects my growing excitement. “Is this anEras Tourfriendship bracelet?!”

He gives another quick glance and confirms, “Yeah. Where did you find that?”

“In the door pocket,” I reply.

“I must have left it here after the concert,” he explains. “Sofia and I made them for the Madrid show.”

“I can’t believe you got to go.”

“We almost didn’t. Sofia, my mom, and I were glued to our phones as soon as the international tickets were released, and somehow my mom managed to get two tickets.”

“I guess you got lucky. How was it?” I ask.

“Insanely good,” he says with a slight curve to his lips. “And that’s saying a lot since I think I saw the filmat leastthree times before we went.”

“Okay I think your sister and I might be just as obsessed.” I smile wide. “It’s nice that you went with her.”

“Our friends don’t really listen to Taylor Swift’s music as much as we do so we decided to go together,” he says.

My eyes widen. “You listen to Taylor too?”

“I thought that was obvious,” Luca says, his brows creased.

“Whywould that be obvious?”

“Why would I go to her tour?”

“I thought you went for Sofia,” I say.

“And why’d you ask it likethat?” he says, looking at me with brows raised.

“Ask what like that?”

“That I listen to her music,” he clarifies. “You sounded so surprised.”

“I don’t know. I guess I kind of am. I know Enrique doesn’t really listen to her,” I explain, remembering this detail from years ago.

“So you just assumed I don’t as well?” he says, amused.

I shrug. “Okay. My bad. I just haven’t met many guys that like her music. I think it’s amazing that you do, though.”

---