Chapter 0511

“It’s okay,” he murmurs back. “What I want is…not the most important thing. I just…feel like I’m losing you, Ariel.”

“What?” I gasp, whipping my head up to look at him.

He shakes his head sorrowfully at me, raising a hand to trace his thumb across my cheek. “I don’t want you to feel bad. I probably shouldn’t have said anything -”

“Of course you should, Luca,” I whisper, my eyes filling with tears. “You’re allowed to have your emotions too – and I want to hear them -”

He just shakes his head again, his mouth a determined line. “You’re growing closer to him. I guess I…didn’t think that would happen – thought that when you spent time with him you’d realize he’s dull as a brick and then come running back to me. But…he’s not, and you’re not. And it’s just… terrifying to me. I don’t want to lose you, Ari.”