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Chapter sixty-four

Luca

I can’t help the smug grin plastered across my face right now. I’ve been stewing all morning over Samara being on this date. While I had absolutely started to come to terms with the fact that I no longer wanted this relationship to be fake, I hadn’t anticipated just how fucking jealous I’d be when I watched her leave this morning for brunch with another man.

And when I saw him coming in for a kiss, I wanted to body-slam the fucker, but seeing her turn her face away made lightning strike right through the center of my goddamn heart. I’m happy that he just wasn’t doing it for her. And even more than that, I’m elated that apparently, I do.

That simple fact almost washes away the last bit of contempt I’m still holding onto that his lips got to touch a single part of her.

“Come on, princess, let’s get changed. We’re meeting your family.” I smirk.

She looks at me warily, releasing a groan. “For what?”

“It’s a surprise,” I tell her, grinning.

“Luca, I thought we’d already established that I don’t like surprises.”

I tap my chin, pretending to mull this over. “Yeah, ya know, I really don’t think we ever did establish that. And too bad because we’re going. Besides, it seemed you really enjoyed yesterday’s surprise.”

She flips me off, stomping into the room the moment we get to our door. God, I love it when she’s cranky. It just means I get to watch her perfect ass as she leaves.

***

We spend the day enjoying the sun with Samara’s parents, Vea, and her family.

The weather’s been gorgeous, but despite everything I could be looking at right now, considering this is a glass-bottom boat tour, I still can’t keep my eyes off Samara.

Her deep chestnut coils are blowing in the wind, and with my sunglasses on, I get to outright stare at her. I take in her every feature. The way the sun highlights her high cheekbones and how her denim shorts hug her thighs.

She’s been doing a good job at ignoring her family’s comments while we’ve been out here, and I imagine it must be the only way she can truly enjoy her vacation. Just ignoring them and letting them roll off her.

Unfortunately, I don’t find it that easy.

Even if I don’t show it, I’ve always been someone who internalizes every comment made about me. And right now, I’m holding onto every ill word her family speaks of her.