Page 78 of The Deception You Weave

"I know, Let." He pulls my hands away from my face and cups my cheek, forcing me to look into his dark green eyes.

His concern bleeds through his own lingering anger and I almost sob again at the sight.

"I'm s-sorry." My voice cracks.

"I know." He gathers me into his arms once again and holds me tight, letting his support warm me.

I stay like that for another ten minutes before he allows me off him. I wipe my cheeks with the back of my hand and hold my head up high.

At no point does he ask me any questions, he just allows me to talk if I wish—which I don't right now. Telling Ella this afternoon was draining enough.

"I should go, let you get back to enjoying your night."

"You can stay as long as you need."

I shake my head at him. "I've got a ton of work to do. This weekend hasn't exactly gone as planned."

He stands as I make my way to the door, but his deep voice stops me before I get to pull it open.

"Let?"

I look back over my shoulder, my eyes locking with his.

"I'm right here. If you need to talk, about whatever, I'm all ears."

I smile at him. "I haven’t forgotten our deal." I wink, remembering him telling me that he'd tell all if I did only a few short weeks ago.

Something akin to panic flashes through his eyes at my words telling me that whatever he's hiding, he's far from ready to talk about.

"Thank you," I say softly with a smile. "Can you check on Luc? I'm worried about him."

"He'll be fine, Let. Things are just intense right now."

Guilt threatens to swallow me whole. I don't want to put any more pressure on Luca's shoulders, I know he already carries enough weight with the team and insane expectations from his father.

I nod, pulling the door open.

"See you tomorrow."

"You got it."

Leon walks me to the door and drops a kiss to my forehead before I wave goodbye to him and head out to my car.

The second I'm in the driver's seat, I turn toward the house and look up to the third floor.

It's dark out now but with the light shining behind him, Luca's silhouette is clear to see in the window.

Everything inside me screams to go back into the house and force him to talk, to shout, scream whatever it is he needs. But I know he doesn't want that.

I've known him long enough to know how he deals with stress, and this is it. He locks himself away and no matter what I do right now, his stubborn ass isn't going to accept it.

Leon is right. I just need to give him time.

We'll be okay. We always have been in the past.

I swallow down the little voice in my head that screams at me that things are different now because I don't want to accept that things are changing.

I start my car and regretfully rip my eyes from him.