Chapter 0406

“More inconspicuous,” he murmurs, opening the door for me. When I slip inside and buckle my belt, he goes around to the driver’s seat and climbs in, starting the car.

“Such a new leaf, Luca,” I say quietly, turning in my seat to smile at him. “No press at all?”

“No press,” he says, giving me a sad, ashamed little smile as he starts to pull out of the garages. As we go, I note that another car follows us – black, but likewise inconspicuous. Almost assuredly filled with bodyguards that my dad sent after me. If Luca notices, though, he doesn’t say anything. And neither do I.

“Where are we going?” I ask, looking out fondly at our beautiful city as it passes by. Night is already encroaching on this, the second-darkest day of the year. Everyone complains about it – wanting summer sun at all hours – but honestly, I kind of like it. Something about the brief days and the long, quiet nights…I don’t know. It’s peaceful, and mellow, and full of secrets.

“Not far,” Luca says, smirking a little as he drives, being a bit cagey on purpose. He glances at me and I just smile at him, happy to let him have his secrets. He’s not wrong, though – we drive about fifteen minutes towards his neighborhood and then stop, to my surprise, on what feels like a random street by a public park.

When I see the groups of people – families mostly, little kids eagerly clutching their parents’ hands – I gaps, delighted.