Page 110 of The Destruction You Desire

"I'm not sure I like the sound of that," she mutters.

"You don't have to. You can just breathe easy knowing that he's not going to be showing his face anytime soon." Her eyes narrow on me. "Seriously, I have no clue what's going on. Other than that I need to get changed." I gesture at my current outfit. "And that I need to go and see Lib. I'm going to spend the night with Luca, if that's okay?"

"O-of course. Are you two…"

"I think we're going to be okay." I can't fight the smile that twitches at the corners of my mouth as I say those words.

I've been fighting it for so long that finally letting go and accepting that there really wasn't any other outcome for the two of us feels really damn good.

"Oh, sweetie," she breathes, taking a step forward and wrapping her arms around me. "He's a good boy, that one." I nod against her. "I'm so glad you found your way back to each other."

"We've still got a way to go," I say, releasing her and going back to my closet and rummaging around for something to wear.

"I know, but I've got a good feeling about it."

"Me too. Feels good after so long."

"I can imagine."

"Will you and K be here in the morning? Luca wants to meet him properly. Thought maybe we could take him for breakfast or something."

"That sounds like a great idea. Let me know what time and I'll make sure he's ready."

"Thank you."

In the end, after finding some clean underwear, I decide against replacing Luca's shirt. Being surrounded by his scent feels too good, so I just pull on a pair of leggings and tie the too-big shirt up around my waist. I shove my feet into my Chucks and throw Mom's leather jacket on the top, and despite the fact I've got a glowing bruise on my cheek and a split lip, I feel good. Really freaking good.

Kayden is watching his before bed cartoons when I poke my head into the living room, and he's so absorbed in them that I'm able to kiss him good night without him actually looking at me, which is a relief.

After saying goodbye to Aunt Fee, I head back out to the car.

"Whoa, you look hot," Luca says the second I drop into the passenger seat.

"The badass look suits me, huh?" I ask.

"It does." He lifts off the seat a little and pulls at his jeans. "A little too much."

"I can't take you anywhere. Come on, let's go visit Libby, then if you're lucky, I'll fix that little situation for you."

"Little?" he asks, sounding affronted.

Reaching over, I wrap my hand around his thigh and squeeze gently.

"I've got no complaints, Dunn."

* * *

The smile that lights up Libby's face as we walk into her room hand in hand makes me realize just how badly everyone else wanted to see us put our issues behind us. That is until she catches sight of the bruise, then her face drops and her lips thin in anger.

"Who did that?"

Luca takes a seat beside her bed and pulls me onto his lap as my sister's eyes drill into him.

"You can stop looking at me like that, I wouldn't lay a hand on her, and you know it."

"Unless I ask him to," I add, unable to keep my mouth shut.

"Peyton Banks," my sister chastises. "What happened to my sweet little sister?"