Like it didn't happen. Like we just didn't came just by frotting our bodies against one another.

We were currently sitting on the couch around the chimney, babysitting. I almost forced my sister and her husband to go out. They went out to have dinner. Keith was playing with some LEGO on the carpet and Lauren was already asleep.

Luca was eyeing a diary he found from when I was thirteen. He was laughing hard at everything he read.

"Cameron just looked at me. I wish he liked me. I love his braces." Luca laughed and stared at me. "His braces?"

I shrugged with a little smile. "I was into guys with braces, I don't know."

"I had braces." He said with a smirk.

We then both seemed to remember what happened just a couple hours before and looked away nervously.

The tension was unbearable.

He cleared his throat and continued turning the pages. My face felt hot. I didn't think it was possible for me to blush so often.

"What is this?" He showed me a list where different elements were crossed off, others had little hearts beside them. Everything in multiple colors.

"Oh, that's all the places I wanted to go."

"You don't wanna go anymore?" He asked, his eyebrows knitting together.

"Of course I do." I chuckled. "I'm just more realistic now."

"More realistic?"

"Yeah, I-" I breathed out of my nose closing my eyes and then stared at him. "My parents were still alive, we didn't have money issues and I don't know... I guess I was more of a dreamer."

"But you can still go to all these places. Money won't be a problem the moment you become a successful physiotherapist-" I rolled my eyes amusedly, "-and you're young, you should still be a dreamer. We'll go together to some of these destinations! Where do you wanna go?" He asked excitedly.

I chuckled. "Luca, don't be silly-"

"Come on, what is your top one?" He said tapping both my hands.

"Mhm." I bit my lips, feigning I was thinking about it when in reality I was trying not to get nervous at the contact. I had my dream destination already very clear in my mind. "Iceland."

"Ooh. Interesting. I knew you weren't the type to say Hawaii, Maldivas or something like that." He chuckled. My hands, that were resting on top of his, were squeezed and lowered to a pillow that was in the middle of us. He intertwined our fingers slowly and I was so dazed looking at them, that I didn't notice the opening front door and the voices and steps approaching.

"Hey, guys." My sister was radiant. She smiled widely and had a little blush in her cheeks that made her look younger. I'm pretty sure she was tipsy.

"Hey." Luca and I both said. I smiled at her knowingly. Luca never letting go of my hands.

Jeremy carried Keith to the bedroom to put him to sleep and my sister sat on the armchair beside us, she wouldn't stop looking at our hands and as much as I wanted to pull them apart, I couldn't do it just now, it would be weird.

"Did you guys have fun?" I asked nervously.

"It was amazing." She sighed with a little smile and took off her scarf. "Why don't you guys go for some drinks?"

"I- I don't know." I replied.

"Come on, it's Friday. I'm pretty sure the whole youth of the town is out there having fun."

Yeah, and that's the problem.

"Yeah, why not?" Asked Luca. "Let's go have a drink."

"Yeah..." I nodded slowly. "Okay."

Luca laughed watching my face as he pulled me up with our hands still together. "Don't be so eager."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I closed my black leather jacket and held my breath.

Sometimes when I see something I like too much, I hold my breath. I'm staring, I'm admiring and then I remember I'm not breathing.

That's what happened to me when I looked at Luca.

He looked so handsome in just some black jeans and a grey hoodie. He was having difficulties trying to put on a denim jacket on top of it all and I was there, simply contemplating him.

"Don't just stay there. Where's the other sleeve? Shit, help me." He pouted like a little kid.

I let out a small laugh and brought my arms forward to help him.

We walked around the town for a bit, I showed him some of the prettiest places. The town square, the town hall, a little church not so far of my sister's house. All of that in our way towards the bars where I thought the 'youth in town', as my sister had said, would be. I was, to be honest, trying to prolong the time before going to the bars.

Luca was asking me questions about everything. My favorite color -which was yellow-, my favorite number... I had to tell him the last time I watched the night sky in the woods, since he had never done it. I promised him we would do it someday. He even asked which were my favorite cereals when I was a child.

I also learnt lots of things about him. His favorite color was blue and he hated the last sip of every drink he took.

We talked, we laughed and we walked. We walked a lot. My nose and hands were freezing and my eyes felt watery.

I didn't want to go. Luca didn't seem to mind, just enjoying my company seemed to be fine, until he asked me where did the people in town use to go out.

With a sigh, I guided him towards the area where several bars where. The most famous one, called The lost boy, quickly drew his attention. "Can we go there?"

"Sure."

The sudden warmth in the place hit our faces when we opened the door. I let Luca walk in first. All stares in the place bored into him. I got in right after, and even though I didn't let my eyes wander around so I wouldn't recognize any of the people that was there, I exchanged glances with some familiar faces.

"This is nice." Luca said, totally oblivious to the tension we just created. I'd give it to him, though. I noticed it because I knew people in this town, I knew how closed minded they were. How mistrustful of new people they were. Music was loud, the place was crowded and people instantly continued to play pool, talk and drink.

"Yeah." I gave him a smile.

"Do you wanna go sit down over there? I'll get some drinks."

I nodded gazing at the booth in the corner. He was clever not to choose a table in the middle of the place.

"Beer?"

"Yes, thanks."

I sat down next to the window, taking off my leather jacket. I was wearing a long sleeve shirt I wouldn't have worn before since it had a little bit of cleavage. Maybe I would've worn it, but those two extra buttons wouldn't be open.

I was beginning to enjoy and appreciate how my body looked.

I tapped my nails on the wooden table as I waited for Luca to arrive. I glanced at him a few seconds ago but my eyes would rest unconsciously on his amazing derrière and that would made me extremely nervous, memories of what happened this evening crossing my mind.

"Riley?"

Oh, no. That voice.

I turned around, a tight smile on my face. "Corinna, hey."

"Long time, no see." She smiled fakely. "How are you? I heard by your sister that you left." She ran a hand through her red hair, examining my outfit with her green eyes.

I felt a little self conscious, people in this town were used to see me wearing baggy clothes and now I was even wearing make up, but I tried not to show it. It's incredible how two months away from this place had changed me.

"Yeah, I moved to the city."

Just at that moment, Luca appeared. He passed her by and let the two bottles on the table.

"Hi, I'm Luca." He smiled at her, always so polite.

"Corinna." She said shaking his hand. Luca sat down in front of me and took a sip of his beer.

"Is he your boyfriend?" She asked, eyeing him down. Luca had taken off his hoodie and jacket, the muscles in his arms showing off as he rested his elbows on the table.

"He's a friend." I simply said.

"I heard Max has a new girlfriend." She added all of a sudden.

"Good for him." I muttered giving her a small smile.

"He moved on too quickly, don't you think?"

She had another thing coming if she thought I would criticize him behind his back.

"In matters of the heart, nothing is written in stone."

She nodded slowly, a smirk and a raised eyebrow on her face. "It was good to see you, Riley."

I smiled tightly and raised the bottle to my lips, watching her turn around.

"We don't like her, right?" Asked Luca, staring at her as she walked away, his nose scrunched up like every time he didn't like something.

"No." I laughed. "She was rumored to have slept with Max when I was with him. Although I know it wasn't true."

"Why?"

"He can be a lot of things, but he isn't a cheater. He's possessive, he likes to give all his attention to just one person. Can't say that she didn't try, though." I sighed and gave her a last glance. "She's pretty."

Luca stared at her and made a face. "Meh. You're prettier." He added nonchalantly, taking another sip of his beer.

I smiled to myself blushing a little.

Looking at people around the bar, brought a really good sensation to my heart that I thought I would never feel. I felt proud of myself, I felt satisfaction. I didn't envy any of them, not a little.

"I was a little reluctant to come here-"

"You don't say." Luca laughed.

"But-" I said with a little smile, "-now I'm glad."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, I- I thought this was it. This is all you could aspire to. I already knew the little clinic I would work in, I knew I would get married at twenty three, maybe twenty four, I knew where my house would be..." I bit my lips. "And now I have this range of possibilities, this... uncertainty. But in a good way, you know?"

Luca nodded with a smile. "Yeah."

He kept staring at me for a while.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Why are you looking at me like that? What's with that smile?" I asked putting a hand on his arm to pressure him.

He shrugged and took a sip. "I just enjoy listening to you talk."

The skin in his arm was burning my hand, his eyes bored into mine.

I smiled, already feeling the alcohol in my veins. I was like that, I would get tipsy simply with half a bottle of beer.

"I like you too."

You didn't just say that.

Luca opened his eyes a little wider and my heart starting beating faster at the realization of what I just confessed. Pulling my hand away, I got up quickly. "I- I need to go to the toilet."

"Riley, you're so stupid..." I muttered to myself as I walked. "So fucking-"

"Riley?"

Blood drained from my face, my limbs felt weak all of a sudden. I forgot how to walk. I didn't know hearing his voice would affect me so much.

"Max." I whispered.

He was still the same. Same haircut, same fierce blue eyes. I didn't remember him being so bulky though.

"I didn't know you were here." He said softly.

"I- I just came for thanksgiving." I managed to say, playing with my rings nervously. His eyes fell down to my figure, focusing on my chest.

"You look different."

"Thanks." I replied, taking it as a compliment. I didn't care how he saw me, I knew I was a lot better now than when I was with him.

"Are you alone?"

"No."

"That outsider over that booth is your boyfriend?" He asked pointing towards Luca, who was scrolling down his phone, two new beers on the table.

"He's- he's a friend."

God, I hated me so much. Why did I have to talk like that when I was nervous?

"No need to be nervous, Riley. It's just me." Max said with a little smile.

I wasn't nervous, no. I was scared. Images of the last time we were together came to my mind. The time he raised his hand, the time he hit me.

I swallowed and nodded.

"How have you been? I've been trying to call you, have you changed your number?" He asked cocking his head, his hand coming to rest on my bicep.

I winced and stepped back quickly, refusing to let him touch me.

"No. I just blocked yours." I deadpanned.

"Riley, you know I'm sorry for what I did. I would've never done it, you know me."

"But you did. And no, I don't think I know you at all." I said, my chest quickly moving up and down.

"Come on, Riley. We were good together." He stepped forward and I stepped back, until my back met the wooden wall. "I'd never loved anyone like I loved you. I still do."

Max was talking softly, like he always did when he wanted something from me. He knew how to get there, but I was stronger than that. I didn't believe his lies now. People who love you don't do the kind of things he did. I was a bird in a cage afraid to get free.

But now that I knew what freedom was like, the cage could burn in hell for all I cared.

"I heard you have a girlfriend." I stated, looking at him straight in the eyes.

"Who said that?" He asked surprised.

"It doesn't matter."

He bit his lips and frowned, glancing a way for an instant. "My father wants me to settle down. But I don't love her, I could break up with her if you asked me. Have you thought about coming back?"

"No."

"I could give you anything you want, and you know it." He raised a hand to my face, pulling a hair away of it. People around us said nothing. They were used to see us together, besides, he was important in town, people didn't dare to say anything to him. He could do whatever he wanted.

"I don't need anything, thank you. Now if you excuse me-"

I passed below his arm that was resting in the wall behind me and took two steps when he span me around hard, squeezing my arm to stare at him. "Where do you think you're going?" His voice still gently.

"Let me go, you're hurting me."

"Is anything wrong?"

I didn't need to look to know that Luca was standing right behind me. Max raised his gaze and smiled at Luca. "We were just talking."

"Then let go of her arm."

Max complied. As I said, he was important in town, he could do whatever he wanted. Except for getting into trouble. People talked fast, he didn't need that reputation. He had it before and he tried so hard to change it. It wasn't good for their company.

"You are...?" Max asked with a smile.

"Luca." He said, not even bothering to return the question.

"I'm Max. I'm Riley's boyfriend."

"Not so sure about that." Luca scoffed.

"Look." Max approached him. He was a little taller and his muscle mass was definitely bigger. Despite of it all, Luca didn't seem the least bothered about it. "I can ruin your life in just two seconds. I have money, I have contacts. Just leave her with me and go to wherever you fucking came from." He still had that sick smile on his face as if he just suggested to be friends.

My blood was boiling and tears were prickling the corner of my eyes out of impotence.

"Look, whatever your name is." Luca began. "You don't know who the fuck you're talking to, so shut the fuck up and leave her alone. I've got nothing to lose. I have money and contacts too, so what is your point? She clearly wants nothing to do with you anymore. Learn to understand the word no."

Luca took my hand gently and pulled me towards him. We both walked away quickly, leaving everyone's stares inside the bar. We took our jackets and get out of the place in less than a heartbeat.

We walked side by side, Luca still squeezing my hand. He looked furious, I had never seen him like that.

"Are you okay?" He asked when he calmed down a little, stopping in his tracks to look at me, both his hands on my shoulders.

I nodded biting my lips. "I hate how weak I become when I'm around him. It's like he has control over my body and I can't do anything to put remedy to it."

"How long were you guys together?"

"Almost four years."

"It's normal, Riley. You were manipulated for that long, it's not easy to get out of that." He ran a hand along his face tiredly, as if all of this had drained the energy from his body. "If it makes you feel any better, I'm proud of you. I think you put him in his place. He's just stronger physically than you, and sadly, you can't fight against that."

He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me into a hug. I rested my head against his chest, encircling his waist with my arms. "He scares me. That's not love, that's obsession."

"He's sick." Luca simply said. "He seriously needs help or who knows what damage he can do to the next person that crosses his mind."

"Thanks for getting us out of there. You didn't need to do what you did."

"I know. But you were taking too long and I just didn't want you to be wasting a beautiful night listening to his bullshit."

"A beautiful night?" I asked glancing up at him with a smile.

"Every single minute with me is precious, Riley. You should already know that." He said with a cheeky smile.

"Oh yeah. How silly of me." I tapped my forehead.

He took a deep breath, his smile leaving his face as we stared at one another. "Riley..."

"Mhm?"

"I like you too."

Luca read the surprise in my eyes and cleared his throat. "You're- you're like my best friend. I'm glad I have you in my life."

I tried to put on a smile, and gazed away. "I'm glad too."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm actually so proud of myself for writing so much lately 😂

Here there is, another chapter! And a really long one!

Thoughts about it?

Thoughts about Riley and Luca relationship in general?

Thoughts about Max?

Hope you liked it, thanks so much for reading! Don't forget to vote and let me know what you think in the comments ❤️

Be excited for the next one!!