Chapter 32: Moment

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Drinks at Ace and Martina's apartment would've made me so anxious before. However now, I found myself so excited about it. I really started to find my old self again. The old self that made part of a group of friends. The old self that enjoyed having fun and not overthink about how everything was gonna be. Everything will go fine if you're with the right people.

And I was.

Some days, Luca for some reason I could not understand, enjoyed embarrassing me and making me blush. Today was one of those days.

"Riri!"

Oh great, he's tipsy already.

Luca closed the door behind me, hugging me tight, almost lifting me up, making me tiptoe. "How was your exam?" He asked pulling apart, staring at my eyes with determination.

"It was just a test, it was easy." I shrugged.

"That's because you're smart as fuck." He smiled, grabbing my cheeks to pull me in for a kiss. When I noticed everyone's eyes on us, even with the music so loud, I turned my head quickly, breathing out a nervous laugh, Luca ending up kissing my cheek.

I walked forward as everyone gazes drifted to another place. "Martina." I called.

As Martina came towards me with a smile on her face, I turned quickly to Luca who was staring at me confused. "This is for you guys." I announced, giving her a paper bag.

"Oh my god, why?" She opened her mouth wide and opened the bag. "Thank you so much!"

Since they finished decorating the apartment, I decided to get them a few candles. Nothing too out of this world, but I knew she loved them.

"I'm putting them on that table right now." I grabbed her arm and stopped her.

"Maybe you wanna wait till we all go out." I suggested, knowing just at that time that Martina was already a little tipsy too.

"You're right." She smiled and gave me a kiss on the cheek. "I'll go keep them in my bedroom."

Okay, she was drunker than I thought.

"What did I do?" I heard from behind me as I walked towards the kitchen to grab a drink, Luca closing the door after him.

"What do you mean?" I took a cup and filled it with red vodka.

"You're mad."

I laughed. "Am I?"

"Yes." He looked down and rested his hands on the isle, leaning his body forward. "Is it because I'm already drunk and you were in a test? I should've picked you up."

"You're drunk?" I feigned ignorance. "I didn't notice."

"Yeah." He ran a hand along his face. "I drank half a bottle of whiskey."

Oh my god. I would've been on the floor already.

"What do you want me to say, Luca?" I asked, trying to hide the smile on my face.

"I want you to tell me that I shouldn't have drunk so much. I should've waited for you."

I sighed. As sad as it was, sometimes Luca needed someone to set his feet back on the ground. Since his mom wasn't in the picture, he needed someone to tell him when he was doing things good, but also when he didn't.

"You shouldn't have drunk so much." I stated approaching him. "Now I have to match you." I added with a little smile, caressing his face.

"We need to do our dance in front of everyone." He said all of a sudden, as spontaneous as always.

I blushed. "No way."

He made me learn a couple dance. He saw it on an Instagram video and loved it. He tried to convince me for two days straight. I was horrible at it but we had fun practicing. I didn't know why I agreed on it but he always made me make things I never thought I would ever do.

It started with a cool handshake and it ended up with me in his arms.

"Why?" He took my hand and started making me do the handshake. I'd admit we've done it sometimes when we saw each other. I stared at him as we moved our hands.

"Luca, those things embarrass me. Do you want me to have a heart attack?"

We ended the handshake with a kiss on our fingers, our faces close. A little smile played around his lips. "Come on, just once."

I shook my head in horror, already imagining the situation. Heat coming up my neck. "I swear I'll leave if you make me do it."

He let out a little chuckle and changed his expression into a serious one, almost scaring me.

"What's wrong?"

His eyes searched mine, his face calm, in contrast with the speed in which his chest moved up and down. "I'm so fucking in love with you, Riley."

I stayed quiet, speechless. I felt that so deep, my body felt heavier. As if I was already drunk and I didn't even take a sip. Since our lips were already close, I just had to approach my face a little so that my mouth closed around his, melting our tongues into a deep and meaningful kiss.

Someone cleared their throat.

Luca didn't even care but I pushed him gently and saw Ace walking towards the fridge. "Please, not in my kitchen. We eat in here." He said taking a beer.

"We were having a moment here-" started Luca until Leo also entered the kitchen.

"Luca, dude. Your team's losing."

"What?" He frowned and started walking, leaving me there. "That's fucking impossible-"

End of the moment.

I rolled my eyes amused and finally took a sip of my drink. Ace was still there, putting chips into a bowl.

"This apartment is great." I said, not really knowing why I was starting a conversation.

"It's not bad. Martina did a great job, though." He said, giving me a little half smile.

I ended up helping him with the snacks, preparing a big plate of nachos so we could melt the cheese on top of them.

"You like cooking?"

"I do." I smiled. "Martina told me you're a good cook too." I didn't even try and be modest, it was the one thing I knew I was good at, I had to embrace it.

"I try." He shrugged.

We stayed in silence working together, Ace starting to make a pizza putting some ingredients on the base. "Are you happy with Luca?" He asked all of a sudden.

"I am." I nodded. "Why? Did he tell you the opposite?" I stopped.

"No, no." He shook his head. "I've never seen him this happy. Especially after... you know." I nodded slowly. "You've made Martina happier too." He started talking absentmindedly. "She's never had really good friends and I'm glad she has someone who she can trust now, other than me. Nathan's a little crazy sometimes, you know? He doesn't really focus for long. Sarah... well, you met her, didn't you?"

I nodded. "She's really focused on her boyfriend."

"Exactly." He sighed. "She has lots of friends, yeah. But not a best friend, someone who's always, always there. No matter what." He looked at me and I got hypnotized by the intensity of his amber eyes. "Luca and I have been really lucky in that aspect of our lives, that's why I'm glad you came into the picture. I don't know what it is you have in there, Riley." He narrowed his eyes. "But they both love you a lot. I can tell you that."

I let out a little chuckle. "I don't really know how to take that."

"I- I mean it in a good way." He continued with the pizza, averting his gaze. "I don't know what you have in there, but I want to. I would... like to know you better." He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye, waiting for my reaction.

I was on the edge of tears. "Oh, Ace!" I wrapped my arms around him tight, startling him for a second. "I would like to know you better too, we can hang out sometime." I offered.

He let out a chuckle, ruffling my hair. Why did he always have to do that? "Okay, okay. You're crushing me."

"I'm sorry."

"Help me with the other pizza, please."

"Sure." I said happily.

After a moment of working in silence, pizzas already cooking, I stared at him. "Can I ask you a question?"

"I can't promise I will have the answer."

"What happened with Luca's father?"

Ace got all serious, pursing his lips. "I don't think it's my place to tell you about it."

"But he won't tell me. He ignored me the last time I asked, saying that he didn't want to talk about it.

"It's delicate. Only his family and people he really cares about knows."

"I thought he cared about me." I stated firmly.

"I didn't mean it like that." Ace sighed, running a hand along his face. "Look-"

"Whatever." I walked out of the kitchen and went to look for my friend.

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As Luca's drunkenness left his body, I got more and more drunk myself. Even if he told me not too long ago that he was in love with me, I still felt like he didn't trust me completely. As if I would just go and tell everyone his secrets.

First of all, I knew nobody.

And second of all, I loved him too much for that.

We walked to my apartment, I told him I wanted to talk to him and that way we could sober up a little.

"Luca."

"Are you cold?" He asked, his arm pressing me against the side of his body.

"A little, yeah. But it's not that." He stayed quiet and waited for me to continue. "Why don't you tell me about your dad?"

He frowned and looked to his right, avoiding my gaze. "Why is it important to you? He's not in my life, he doesn't matter."

"Because it is important to you."

"Well, it's none of your business." He said slowly.

"Woah, okay." I started walking faster, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Riley-" he grabbed my arm and spun me around.

"I asked Ace about it." I blurted out.

"What?" He furrowed his brow, shaking his head. "Why? Did he tell you?"

"No, he didn't. You're the one who should tell me. You're my boyfriend." I added angrily.

"You shouldn't have done that, I don't like that you go behind my back." He said quickly, continuing to walk.

"I wouldn't have to go behind your back if you told me!" I yelled a little too loud.

"Stop it already! I won't talk about it, okay?" He exclaimed, deep brown eyes so dark, their intensity looked scary.

"You don't trust me Luca, I've trusted you with all my secrets." I said slowly.

"Because of things like the one you did tonight is why I don't trust you."

"What things?" I asked with a frown.

"Asking Ace instead of me."

"But I had asked you already and you didn't tell me!"

"Well, you should respect that." He pursed his lips.

I stared at him narrowing my eyes before I sighed and walked faster. "You don't make any sense. You can't love me if you don't trust me-" I looked to my right and he had been fast to follow me. "Go home, you don't want me near you, I might tell your secrets." I said stubbornly with a childish voice.

"Stop with that attitude, I'm the mad one here." He talked authoritatively, as if he was my father.

"Then stop following me."

"I'm not leaving you walk home alone. I'll leave you there and then I'll go sleep at my apartment, don't worry." He said bitterly. Why did he have to be the bigger person? Leave me alone dude, make me even madder letting me walk home by myself.

I let out a frustrating breath and continued walking. "Fuck you." I muttered to myself.

"What?" He turned his head towards me, an eyebrow raised.

I shook my head. "Nothing."

He nodded. "That's what I thought."

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Hello guys! Here's another chapter! Hope you liked it. I won't be able to update soon, with Christmas and all, so I wish you all a merry Christmas!🎄

What do you think is the matter with Luca's father? What happened? 🤔

Thanks for reading! Don't forget to vote and let me know what you think in the comments ❤️

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