Page 30 of The Deception You Weave

"I know, I just…"

She reaches over and wraps her arm around my shoulder. "I know. And he'll be fine, and one day soon you'll get to tell him everything."

"He doesn't want to hear it."

"He will. Just give him time. He dove off the deep end pretty bad last week. Things can't always be fixed overnight, Let. And sometimes they're worth waiting out."

"You're saying you think he's worth it?"

She shrugs. "I mean, all the clues point toward him not being. But, I know as well as anyone that when it comes to love, our heart doesn't always care."

"L-love?" I stutter.

"You like him, Letty. I see the way you look at him, and the way he gazes at you when he thinks no one is watching. Under all that simmering hate, is something so much deeper."

"No, you're wrong," I state full of confidence.

"Maybe. Only time will tell. Subject change?" she asks with amusement as Luca and Leon step around the building, both of their faces brightening at the sight of us. "And then there's these two. Scarlett Hunter is just unknowingly breaking hearts all over the place," she whispers.

I shoot her a stare before I'm swallowed up in strong arms.

"Ella." Leon nods in greeting and her entire face burns red. For someone who claims to know about matters of the heart, she sure is a goof around a good-looking boy.

"We picked you up a coffee," Luca says, releasing me and passing me the cup I didn't notice in his hand.

"Aw thank you, you didn't have to. I know how busy you are with—"

He presses two fingers to my lips and quirks a brow.

"If I want to get you coffee, I'll get you a coffee, Let."

"Thank you," I whisper, taking it from him when he hands it over. My heart constricts as our fingers brush because I just don't feel the same spark as I do when Kane and I connect, and I'd give anything for it to happen with either of these boys.

They make so much more sense. They'd treat me right, love me right.

But my heart doesn't beat for them.

Only for him.

And I hate myself for it.

"You ready to get to work?" Luca asks after I've taken an awkward sip of my too-hot coffee.

"Yes, let's do it."

We say goodbye to Ella and Leon who head off in a different direction and the two of us walk toward the Baskerville Building.

We've only taken two steps when Luca's fingers brush mine and then grip my hand tightly.

I look up at him, feeling his eyes on me, and smile, although I don't really feel it as I once again beg for that fire to erupt at his touch.

The hate stares I feel from all the girls loitering around campus burn hotter as we walk together.

"You're aware of how many hearts you're breaking right now, right?" I ask, trying to defuse the tension that's fallen between us.

"I don't give a shit about them. You, on the other hand." He tugs me into his body as we step inside the building. "I'm worried about." He takes a step toward me and my back bumps against the wall.

"I-I'm fine,” I stutter as his mesmerizing green eyes stare down into mine.