LILLY POV
The next morning, everything felt louder.
Birds chirped like alarms. My alarm clock buzzed like a warning siren. And my heart? It wouldn't calm down, no matter how many deep breaths I took.
I kissed Luca.
Twice.
Or maybe once and a half—because the second one, I started.
My lips still tingled from the memory.
I sat up in bed, hugged my knees, and tried not to overthink everything. Tried not to remember the exact way he'd looked at me afterward—eyes wide, like he hadn't expected me to kiss him back.
Like he was scared of what it meant.
I hadn't heard from him all morning. Not a single text.
And that made it worse.
I told myself he was busy. That maybe he needed time. But deep down, I was spiraling.
What if I ruined everything?
---
LUCA POV
I'd written three different messages and deleted all of them.
I wasn't good at this.
I could charm a whole lecture hall, shut down gossip with one stare, navigate high society dinner parties without blinking—but this?
This girl?
She turned me into a mess.
I kept replaying the moment in my head: the sound of her laugh, the way she looked up at me, the way her hand found the back of my neck and pulled me down again.
I'd never been kissed like that. Not just because she wanted to—but because she trusted me.
I wanted to text her. Call her. Drive over and see her face.
But I was terrified.
What if she regretted it?
What if I read it wrong?
I pulled on a hoodie and shoved my phone in my pocket.
I needed air.
---
LILLY POV
I wandered into the student café with my notebook in hand and nerves riding my spine. I didn't want to see him. I did want to see him. I wanted something—anything—to anchor me.
Instead, I saw Ethan.
He waved me over with a grin. "Lilly, come sit. I was just talking to Julian about the Showcase. You signing up yet?"
I sat slowly. "Still thinking about it."
"Luca said he thinks you'd be amazing," Ethan added casually.
Julian raised an eyebrow at him, but didn't speak.
I looked down at my notebook, tracing the corner with my thumb.
So Luca had been talking about me. That should've made me feel better.
Instead, I felt more unsure.
"Do you know if he's... okay?" I asked quietly.
Julian gave me a small look—knowing, but kind. "He's probably overthinking. It's what he does."
"What happened between you two?" Ethan asked, but there was no judgment in his voice—only curiosity.
I hesitated. "We... kissed."
Julian leaned back, crossing his arms. "He's been quiet since last night."
"I haven't heard from him."
"He's scared," Ethan said simply.
I looked up. "Of what?"
"Of losing you. Of messing it up."
The words hit harder than I expected.
Because I was scared too.
---
LUCA POV
By the time I made it to campus, I'd circled the quad twice and still hadn't figured out what I was going to say.
Then I saw her.
She was sitting with Ethan and Julian, her hair catching the sunlight like threads of gold. She was laughing, but not like everything was fine. It was the kind of laugh that covered up uncertainty.
I almost walked away.
But I didn't.
Instead, I approached.
Ethan looked up first. "Speak of the devil."
Lilly turned, her smile faltering for a second, then returning—but it didn't reach her eyes.
"Hey," I said softly.
"Hey."
Julian gave me a look, stood, and pulled Ethan with him. "Come on, we have... anywhere else to be."
The table was quiet.
She looked down. "You didn't text."
"I know."
"I thought maybe... you regretted it."
"I didn't."
Her eyes flicked up. "Then what?"
I sat down across from her, heart pounding. "I was scared."
She blinked. "Of me?"
"Of losing what we have. Of wanting more and not knowing if you want that too."
Silence stretched between us.
"Do you?" I asked finally. "Want more?"
Her lips parted. Her fingers tightened on her notebook.
"Yes," she whispered. "But only if we go slow."
I exhaled, a shaky breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
"Slow's good."
She smiled then, small and real. "Good."
I reached across the table and touched her hand.
And this time, she didn't pull away.
But then I sat forward, gathering every ounce of courage I had.
"Lilly," I said. "I need you to know something."
She blinked. "Okay?"
"I'm in love with you."
Her breath caught.
"I didn't know it at first, and then I thought maybe I was imagining it. But I can't sleep without thinking of you. I can't even breathe right unless I know you're okay. That kiss—both of them—it wasn't just heat, or confusion, or timing. It was you. It's always been you."
Lilly stared at me like I'd set fire to the sky.
Then, slowly, she stood.
Walked around the table.
And sat beside me.
She placed her hand on my cheek.
"I'm not ready for everything. But I'm ready for this. For you."
I leaned into her palm.
And this time, when she kissed me, I knew—this wasn't the end of something uncertain.
It was the start of everything we never dared to hope for.