Page 84 of All at Once

I also strongly resonate with his sentiment, so I admit, “I’ve felt that way when listening to songs, but also just with people’s speaking voices.”

His eyes smile. “It’s interesting how nuanced falling for someone can be like.”

Okay. I’mdefinitelyhallucinating now.

It’s a good thing he’s driving again, since my eyes are probably glued wide open at the moment.

I didn’t think anything else could make me more shocked than I am by him, until my favorite Vance Joy song comes on next. With brows raised, I say, “How are you doing this?”

“Doing what?” He grins amusedly yet cluelessly.

“Compiling all of my favorite songs together,” I explain. “I have a feeling your ‘space’ playlist will be my favorite without even hearing the others.” Although now I want to hear themall.Then grow momentarily sad at the thought of never getting to.

“I remember years ago thinking how this was one of the best ballads I’d ever heard,” Luca shares, “and I still think that to this day.”

“I’m personally not the biggest fan of ballads, but there’s just something about this one that I adore. It’s funny though, my best friend’s name is Georgia,” I add, referring to the title of the track that’s playing. “She really wanted to come to Spain with me, but she’s working.”

His smile drops a bit. “I’m sorry. That’s disappointing. I know trips can be a lot more fun when you go with your friends. Is she the same friend that you mentioned before?”

He remembers that?Surprised by his memory again, I confirm, “Yes, the same one. She’d love it here. She’s also not the most athletic person like me, but I know she would have really enjoyed all the architecture and food.”

“Does she also think that every little thing is fate?” Luca asks, glancing over for a moment.

I roll my eyes. “Actually, we’re not that similar, which makes sense why she thinks you’re funny.”

Fuck.That last part was supposed to stay in my head.

He tries to bite down on his smirk. “You’ve talked to her about me?”

“I might have mentioned a thing or two,” I say coyly.

He raises his brows. “A thing or two?” I don’t like how arrogantly he asks that.

I also love it.

“I’ve told her aboutallof you,” I add nonchalantly.

“So she also knows about everyone else’s sense of humor?” he asks, his confidence only building.

“Not sure. You’d have to ask her,” I say, flustered.

Before he has the chance to ask anything else, I look over the rest of the tracks on the same playlist, and choose the song he told me was his recent favorite from Taylor Swift. “I don’t think that I’ve ever listened to ‘Hoax’ in the car at night before,” I admit.

Once Luca parks his car, he turns up the volume, before looking at me with such an expression of curiosity. “Close your eyes, and focus on the piano.”

I listen. And instantly feel like I’m immersed in the actual song.

Too awestruck to articulate a response, he looks at me once I open my eyes. “Everything okay?”

The glance from his wistful eyes snaps me out of my alternate reality. “Yeah,” I answer. “I just sometimes listen to music and put myself in the other person’s shoes while listening to it.”

His timid expression gives away that he senses what I just implied. That I’m listening to the song fromhisperspective. I look at him equally as shy, wondering what he’ll think when he realizes that Iam.

“Yeah, I know what you’re talking about,” he says, his lashes fluttering. “I do that too.”

For a moment it feels like we’re on a date. Like there’s a string between us, tugging us closer together.

I continue to marvel at the song. “I just noticed how the piano keys sound like little rain droplets turning into crystals.”

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