Page 52 of All at Once

“Wait,” she asks, puzzled, “why Luca?”

“I needed to talk to someone, and he was the only one there,” I explain.

“Did you tell Enrique?”

“No. I also told Lucanotto tell him.”

“Why would you tell his best friend of all people?” Georgia asks, sounding more perplexed.

“What did you want me to do?” I defend. “Tell a stranger at the resort or the bartender?”

“Both would have been more normal. Yes.”

“In what way?”

I hear her sigh through the phone. “I’m not trying to be negative, but even if Luca told you he won’t tell Enrique, I wouldn’t bet on it.”

“Thanks for the encouragement.” My nerves return, now second-guessing if Luca will in fact tell him.

“You know I’m always going to be realistic with you,” Georgia reasons. “So what did Luca say when you told him?”

My shoulders relax, remembering his reaction. “He was really cool about it actually, like intelligent and level-headed and also pretty encouraging. It made me feel a lot better about the whole situation if anything.”

“Those are pretty specific adjectives you’re bringing up about someone you don’t like,” she says knowingly.

“Georgia, I don’t like him. Sure I think he’s a little cute…or maybe a lot.” I hear her snort. “And maybe he’s nicer than I previously thought, but we’re just acquaintances at best.”

What I hoped would be a conversation mostly discussing my first kiss turns into a debate about Luca.

Why I told him, if I like him, and more abouthim.

Georgia isn’t here. But she knows me better than pretty much everyone. So why do I disagree with her so strongly about this?

Admitting I have a crush has never been the hard part for me.

Maybe it’s the fact that it feels scary getting to know someone who you could potentially be pretty compatible with, only to not have a single clue howtheyfeel aboutyou.

CHAPTER 8

“Gold Rush” – Taylor Swift

IT’S BEEN NICE TO SLEEP without any interruptions. That is, until the loudest drumbeat makes me immediately jolt out of my bed.

My eyes struggle to open as I grumble at the blinding sun also directly hitting my face. Trying to avoid the sound, I cover my face with a giant pillow. I look over to check my alarm, only to find out that I still have one more hour of sleep left.

My window.I forgot to close it again. It’s just so damn hot.

Then my ears pick up on the familiar melody.

As soon as I recognize the song that’s embedded in my mind from my childhood, I know this is all Luca.

It’s thePirates of The Caribbeanmain theme song. And it’sSo. Fucking. Loud.

I scream, “Luca! Very funny! Now shut it off!”

When there’s no response, I run to his suite and poundon his door.

The music abruptly stops right before he opens the door with the smuggest grin on his face. “Good morning.”

---